Looking for first hand experience on Siii, And Viper Pst

If you do much LR shooting mixed with short or intermediate-range work, FFP is awesome. Windage holds, ranging and sizing, and using the thick posts on low power and the thin hairs on high power, all without having to think about what magnification you're on, is extremely nice in applications where you use your scope on more than just max magnification.

Looking through one is one thing, but actually using FFP is where you learn to appreciate how much easier and worry-free much of what you used to have to think about really has become. It's just one less thing you have to worry about when time is ticking. "Are my mils true mils on this setting? Am I on 10x? What is the spacing between the tick marks on 20x?" Etc. All those questions just float away when using FFP. When the windage tick mark in the reticle says 10MOA, it's always 10MOA. No matter what.

It's more a matter of simplifying the entire LR shooting process, than anything else.
 
I'm very happy with my SIII 6-24LRMOA.

I've considered Vortex a couple times but after hearing how many people love to talk about how great the warranty was for them it really turns me off. Don't get me wrong, I love it when companies replace their product without screwing you around but the frequency that Vortex products going back under warranty is pretty sad. I would much rather buy a product where I don't brag about how quickly they replaced my defective product again and again. I dont have a hate on for Vortex so please don't take this as such. I'm sure they have a lot of very happy customers throughout their range of products. Even in this thread a lot of positives (glass and turrets, etc), I just choose to spend my money elsewhere for that reason. Love having a great warranty but I'd rather not have to use it.
 
they both work great.
PST for hunting and SIII for BR for me and it does seem like pst are tad bit more tanky than SIII but glass quality does differ.
for shooting 1000+ yards, i love the clear lens on SIII and for hunting i love the durability of PST.
 
Dsniper22 said:
I'm very happy with my SIII 6-24LRMOA.

I've considered Vortex a couple times but after hearing how many people love to talk about how great the warranty was for them it really turns me off. Don't get me wrong, I love it when companies replace their product without screwing you around but the frequency that Vortex products going back under warranty is pretty sad. I would much rather buy a product where I don't brag about how quickly they replaced my defective product again and again. I dont have a hate on for Vortex so please don't take this as such. I'm sure they have a lot of very happy customers throughout their range of products. Even in this thread a lot of positives (glass and turrets, etc), I just choose to spend my money elsewhere for that reason. Love having a great warranty but I'd rather not have to use it.
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I don't think anybody likes to have to use the warranty, but only a fool would prefer to fight to get his product serviced, rather than having a no-fault, no-trouble repair or replacement ;)
 
He has a point by saying exceptional warranty, but look at how many times it's being used...

Ie, vehicles having 160,000 KM warranty, but they do that by reducing quality control in the factory = more claims on warranty, but people buy them because "oh well, I'm covered till 160K". This is VERY well known in manufacturing.

Ie, I have a Vortex, and my scope isn't perfect. I do like the fact I don't have to replace it right away, but am hassled by neither Vortex, OR The Shooting Edge in Calgary not getting back to me about my issues.

Sadly, I don't want to send it in and lose time shooting. I claimed the issue prior to even using it and had TSE gunsmith confirm the issue.
 
Yeah that is true, a great warranty is awesome, but then if your needing to replace the scope you have the hassle of sending it away and waiting for the repaired/new scope to return. Which means downtime from shooting. So my understanding right now is... The SIII is a better built scope with better glass and a not as great warranty but on the other hand not as many problems with them. And the PST Has not quite as good glass but a lot more features and not built as great but come with a great warranty? If this is true then I will probably go with the SIII because I do not have time for a scope that I know im going to have a problem with eventually but will be replaced. Is this a accurate understanding?
 
I own both scopes and must say the feedback on this particlar thread IMO is very accurate...both scopes do have their pros and cons

If you are using the scope strictly at the range I would go with the SIII, the glass is a bit better...if you are using it in the field for varmint hunting as well I would go with the PST, I feel it is a little bit more suited for field use and having the iluminated reticle for low light and the zero stop is helpfull for quick adjustments.
 
To clarify the warranty, Sightron has a lifetime warranty that is transferable. Turnaround is one of the fastest in the bus wrt to companies that don't stack the shelves with scopes so they can swap bum ones :)

I would put the Sightron up against any Vortex for optics and tracking. For LR shooting and competition, we dial our scope relentlessly. having fancy knobs and stops don't mean much if the scope doesn't track each and every time. See my website for a test for the scope. Give it a try and see how it fares.

A scope is an optical device that allows the shooter to compensate for conditions and distance. I would prefer to have the best of both features in my scope for the money spent.

Warranty is very important but I don't choose a cruise ship based on the number of life boats they offer...

There is a reason you find very few Vortex scopes in competition...
Jerry
 
TacShooter said:
... I do not have time for a scope that I know im going to have a problem with eventually but will be replaced. Is this a accurate understanding?
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I wouldn't go that far.....

TONS of Vortex's out there with no issues what so ever. There's a huge backlog to have certain models so their factories are probably working overtime. Hence some slip out with an issue.

I would consider this, but I wouldn't say they are problematic.
 
Mystic Precision said:
There is a reason you find very few Vortex scopes in competition...
Jerry
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Not necessarily true. Each discipline has its equipment followers. Perhaps the discipline that you participate in is more geared towards Sightron, but I see more Vortex than Sightron scopes in this list...

FYI

Precision Rifle Series Finale Invitations to the Nation's top 50 (US)

Equipment list:

1 Shannon Kay 243, S&B
2 2 Chase stroud 6 creedmore premier 5-25
3 3 Francis Kuehl 260, Vortex Razor
4 4 Wade Stuteville Surgeon 6x47, SB 5-25
5 5 John Sommers Surgeon .260 S&B
6 6 Dustin Morris Surgeon 6xc S&B 5-25
7 7 Jeff badley Gap 6cm bushnell HDMR
8 8 Patrick Morris Surgeon, 6xc, Schmitt and Bender
9 9 Jonathan Berry Surgeon, 6xc Vortex Optics
10 10 Ryan Kerr 243, Bushnell
11 11 Rich Emmons Surgeon 6.5 cm / S&B
12 12 Tim Long .260/S&B
13 14 scott parks 6.5x47 vortex optics
14 16 Charles Roberts GAP .260, Bushnell
15 17 Bryan Yeung GA Precision Templar, 6.5 SAUM, Bushnell
16 18 Kevin Elpers 6.5CM, Vortex
17 19 Stan Owens .260. S & B
18 20 FLOYD COOK 6mm/S&B
19 21 Regina Milkovich 6XC, USO
20 22 Jason Keim AIAX, 243, S&B 5-25
21 23 Bryan Morgan 6cm, S&B
22 24 Tom Lancaster 6SLR, S&B
23 26 George Gardner G.A. Precision Templar, 6mm Creedmoor, Bushnell 3x21 HDMR
24 27 Jim See 6xc or 260ai, vortex rz
25 29 Terry Cross .260 Rem / S&B
26 30 Michael G Nitzschke 6x47 Lapua US Optics SN3 3.8-22
27 32 Matt Tederman 6x47 S&B 5-25
28 33 Charles Tate Moots FNH SPR 6.5 Creedmoor, Leupold
29 34 Jason Christian 6xc vortex
30 35 Ryan Castle GAP 260, USO SN3
31 36 Lonnie Devine 243 S&B
32 37 Bryan Richman 6mm, s&b 5x25
33 38 Adam Lucksinger 6.5 Creedmoor, 5-25 S&B
34 39 Rick Reeves Surgeon 6.5 Creedmore/Votex Razor
35 40 Adam Williams 243, HDMR
36 41 Bradley Bell .243 Win. 5-25 S&B
37 42 Todd Morris 6.5x47 S&B pmII
38 43 Travis case 2 sixty Schmitt
39 44 Tim Milkovich 6XC US Optics
40 45 Dean Morris 6.5 x 47 Lapua - Schmidt Bender
41 46 Zach Scurlock AW .243, Premier
42 47 Mark Quintana 0.243 vortex optics
43 49 Joe Walls 6XC, SB 5x25
44 50 Vince Guiffreda Spartan or Animal 260 Rem,Premeir, Surgeon , Bertlein, AI Chassis, Atlas Bipod
45 51 Steve Eacret Surgeon/Bartlein 6.5 Creedmoor. US Optics SN3
46 52 Scott Bartels 6x47 Laqua, S&B PMII 5-25
47 53 Bannon Eldridge Red Ryder, BB, Tasco
48 55 Tony McCollum .243 or 7 saum. Premier or march
49 56 Lowe Weidman 6.5 SLR, HDMR
50 57 David Kerley Woody, 6.5 LRP, Bushnell
51 58 Adam Roberts 6.5
52 65 matt parry 284
53 66 Joey Thompson .284 win, Night Force
54 67 Bob Nugmanov 260 Remington, 5-25x56 Premier
55 73 Robert Baker
56 85 Matt LaVine 6 Super LR, Bushnell HDMR
57 103 Josh Ruby Surgeon .260, Vortex Razor
58 123 BJ Bailey 6.5
59 125 Michael Voigt 6CM
60 127 Garrett Donley 6x47 -Premier
 
Jordan Smith said:
Not necessarily true. Each discipline has its equipment followers. Perhaps the discipline that you participate in is more geared towards Sightron, but I see more Vortex than Sightron scopes in this list...

FYI

Precision Rifle Series Finale Invitations to the Nation's top 50 (US)

47 53 Bannon Eldridge Red Ryder, BB, Tasco
Click to expand...
I see what you did there, subtle
 
Vortex Razor is something like $1800 isn't it ? If I am spending $1700-2500 I am buying ( and do buy ) Nightforce. If I am spending more I am buying ( and do buy ) S+B. As I've said many times for the price ( around $1K ) Sightron Siii is the value buy.
 
I wonder how that equipment list will look like next season if Sightron enters the FFP world?

And yes, If spending high teens, I really don't think I would choose either bushnell HDMR or Vortex Razor

But then I have not seen a HDMR so....

Yes, I have seen a low mag Razor and it wasn't very impressive.
Jerry
 
Vortex Razor is something like $1800 isn't it ?
Click to expand...

Closer to $2200 and it doesn't have anything whatsoever in common with the PST series so that list doesn't really apply if comparing the Viper PST and Sightron. Personally I'm a fan of some Vortex products (Viper series and higher). Have a regular Viper on one of my varmint rifles and used to have a PST which I ditched in favor of another Nightforce. If Sightron made a 4-16 SIII I probably would have bought that instead just to save some bucks. There's no arguing that the PST line has had it's fair share of issues, hopefully Vortex gets that straightened out because the PST does have an attractive list of features for the money.
 
Shibby! said:
He has a point by saying exceptional warranty, but look at how many times it's being used...

Ie, vehicles having 160,000 KM warranty, but they do that by reducing quality control in the factory = more claims on warranty, but people buy them because "oh well, I'm covered till 160K". This is VERY well known in manufacturing.

Ie, I have a Vortex, and my scope isn't perfect. I do like the fact I don't have to replace it right away, but am hassled by neither Vortex, OR The Shooting Edge in Calgary not getting back to me about my issues.

Sadly, I don't want to send it in and lose time shooting. I claimed the issue prior to even using it and had TSE gunsmith confirm the issue.
Click to expand...

I think you mean, How many people are voicing there problems about Vortex on CGN.

I see lots of problems with Ford vehicles going in for warranty and being that I'm not a Ford guy does that mean that all Fords are made of lesser quality??? To me yes but like I stated, I'm not a Ford guy. Just because there have been many a threads about Vortex scopes going in for warranty doesn't mean they make an inferior product, it's just that people are voicing more about it. I'm sure Sightron has had many a scopes come back in for warranty.

I too was in the same as the OP looking to buy a Vortex and Sightron and what sold me on Vortex was the recital. To me it seemed that Sightron was more geared up for the F Class shooter who typically like either a dot or at least and uncluttered glass and I was wanting hash marks for holdovers not to mention I wanted FFP as well
 
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