Sightron S3 6x24x50 vs Vortex Viper PST 6-24
- Thread starter bryan.14
- Start date
Me too.
I've shot with the SIII lots, and personally I don't see a massive improvement. I do like the reticle a bit more, but I like the Vortex knobs and firm click better and the zero stop to me means a lot. I don't care if it's a shim. It works.
At the time the Sightron was 200$ more and couldn't justify the cost. Still can't really. ~1500 shots on a 308 in about 9 months.
IMO, the Vortex is well priced at around 800, and the Sightron is well priced around 1000. You can't compare the two when there is 200$ difference but they get compared often because there isn't much in this price range that's better.
So.. 800 = Vortex, 1000 = Sightron.
Bigger question is if you want to pay the extra 200$.
(assuming the pricing is still the same for when I bought)
Well I will be using .308 and I intend to shoot till my barrel is burned out. I have a 700 PSS circa 1990's that has about 500 rnds through it. So thats going to be a while. I plan to burn the barrel out as I continue to learn to shoot then eventually put a custom barrel on it. I am glad someone mentioned this shot life thing about Vortex I had no idea it would potentially crap out after 500 rnds. That is not even a fraction of what I intend to put through this rifle.
Quite believing the hype.
That was the first time I've heard of that, and although this isn't a proper solution or fix, but Vortex will replace it, no questions asked IF it does get damaged.
Mine has gone well past 500, the guy was blowing smoke up your ass.
200$ will get slightly better glass and maybe some additional elevation. Quality might be better too. You lose the zero stop, firm clicking knobs, and warranty if that matters. Sightron might be good though I don't know.
Their both good options, but you have to remember the Vortex is 200$ cheaper.
easy on the vortex boys lol. I run a 6-24 pst and it has held up to approximately 700 rounds of hot handloads through my 338 lapua mag. it repeats its zero every time. it does however get a little foggy at high magnification. I have bouncedthis scope onto a few different rifles how ever one was a heavy barrel 223 and the other being a 223 ar-15. so recoil is almost non existant. I was at prophet river last week finger banging a sightron and could not seem to get it to focus at and distance past a few hundred yards. I adjusted the ocular focus and parallax with out any luck. the sightron tho seems to have a more tactile click in the turret and is a little stiffer to adjust. but after not being able to get it to focus clearly at distance past a few hundred yards I wouldn't buy one. and then I picked up a nightforce and looked down the block across the tracks and out of town and everything still seemed clear. I suggest save your pennies and buy a nightforce. they will give you good hard wood.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
That is interesting your experience cause LR focus is where Sightrons Excell.
If it focuses at SR, it should be a no brainer to focus at LR as it is so much easier for the optics to produce a good LR image if the glass is up to the task.
No matter.... if you ever want an enlightening experience, visit a range where LR F class is shot and you will get to meet all the the typical high mag brands. If you can, do a side by side on a target and see what works for your eyes.
Simple answer.... there is no 1 perfect scope regardless of price. They all have compromises and that can be surprising to some given the price of some product.
If there was a bestest product, believe me, we would all be using it.
The 4 mains you will find are Sightron, NF, March and S&B pulling up a distant 4th.
Jerry
If it focuses at SR, it should be a no brainer to focus at LR as it is so much easier for the optics to produce a good LR image if the glass is up to the task.
No matter.... if you ever want an enlightening experience, visit a range where LR F class is shot and you will get to meet all the the typical high mag brands. If you can, do a side by side on a target and see what works for your eyes.
Simple answer.... there is no 1 perfect scope regardless of price. They all have compromises and that can be surprising to some given the price of some product.
If there was a bestest product, believe me, we would all be using it.
The 4 mains you will find are Sightron, NF, March and S&B pulling up a distant 4th.
Jerry
The only reason I got a Nightforce was because the rifle I had up for sale or trade for a Sightron caught the eye of a member with an NXS 8-32 up for sale. If I had to buy another on my dime alone I'd grab a Sightron. I wouldn't trade my NXS for one but they are next on my wish list. I haven't had a chance for a side by side but from what I can gather there are only a couple areas where NFs performance squeezes past Sightron. In good conditions there are shooters on both sides preferring one over the other by a hair, no landslide win. Weigh your options with your needs and put your money on the most sensible choice within your budget. I would not put a Vortex on anything I own.
For 800, you got a 200 scope with 600 worth of marketing and warranty behind it. Personally, I don't purchase or endorse items that were made in a sweat shop.
Are you F*ing serious?
You cannot live without supporting the sweat shop. Our culture is so damn ignorant of that fact. Posting something as stupid as that makes any claim you make complete BS.
Comparing a Vortex to a 200$ scope is the next most retarded comment I've heard past the 500 round lifespan.
Sorry to everybody else for flying off the handle. I'm tired of CDN's being completely short sighted.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Kelbly in the US is the main importer and there is lots of info on various precision sites.
They have done very well in specific sports. There are several being shot in F class at the National level in Canada. Have had the chance to view them on target and do side by side with other products. Are they the end all? No. Are they good? In some respects, excellent.
In other respects, depends on your tastes and useage goals.
Not something that appeals to my visual tastes and style of shooting.
Jerry
Yes I'm serious. I don't endorse or use sweat shop junk on any of my rifles or gear. If you in fact think that your pst is quality kit or comparable to a sightron, you re the one who is short-sighted.8
I have looked through nightforce many times at the range and to my eye, they always seem cloudy with a bluish tint. I have two sightrons and couldn't be happier, the sight picture seems very natural to me and very clear and sharp. I am in no way discrediting nightforce. Infact, if the SIII 8-24 LRMD/CM on my 50BMG fails, I will be replacing it with a nightforce (cause I don't have S&B money 
).
I do have friends with vortex and they have no complaints. I haven't looked through them in the outdoors but in the stores they are very crisp to my eye. I was considering purchasing a vortex viper pst 8-24 for my 223 just to try them out. There is so much positive feedback on this thread alone and I will likely skip the vortex experiment and just get another sightron.
It's nice to see that many people share the opinion that Sightrons are incredible scopes for the price and they do work very well.
). I do have friends with vortex and they have no complaints. I haven't looked through them in the outdoors but in the stores they are very crisp to my eye. I was considering purchasing a vortex viper pst 8-24 for my 223 just to try them out. There is so much positive feedback on this thread alone and I will likely skip the vortex experiment and just get another sightron.
It's nice to see that many people share the opinion that Sightrons are incredible scopes for the price and they do work very well.
vortex fanboy, what else did you think we were discussing? This is the precision rifle forum.
Shelldrake
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Right behind you,,
I think you need to substantiate your statement that Vortex optics are made in "sweat shops".
I would hope that you don't believe that everything made in Japan or the Phillipines are made in sweat shops.
Anyway, the PST I have is comparable with the leupold Mark 4s I have, and with the features I prefer, and at a price point that is quite good.
That's a very good point and something everyone looking into budget minded LR optics should see. I hear from some who just barely prefer NF or just barely prefer Sightron but never have I heard "I looked through both and one was amazing the other wasn't comparable". That says a lot about Sightron. NF NXS might be a tougher scope and all have illumination but the real performance on civi rifles just isn't $900+ worth of difference. Again not to discredit NF I do like them just a little better but Sightron is a brand I intend to spend more money on. Vortex? Maybe if it was bought dirt cheap for a .22. They look cool I guess but I wouldn't put them in the same class as Sightron. They should cut back on the super warranty and drop prices by $200+. Until then everyone who has never used better will think they're the best.
I have looked through nightforce many times at the range and to my eye, they always seem cloudy with a bluish tint. I have two sightrons and couldn't be happier, the sight picture seems very natural to me and very clear and sharp. I am in no way discrediting nightforce. Infact, if the SIII 8-24 LRMD/CM on my 50BMG fails, I will be replacing it with a nightforce (cause I don't have S&B money
I do have friends with vortex and they have no complaints. I haven't looked through them in the outdoors but in the stores they are very crisp to my eye. I was considering purchasing a vortex viper pst 8-24 for my 223 just to try them out. There is so much positive feedback on this thread alone and I will likely skip the vortex experiment and just get another sightron.
It's nice to see that many people share the opinion that Sightrons are incredible scopes for the price and they do work very well.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
BS baffling brains has been taught to way too many product managers and with optics, dominates the landscape. They have seen the massive increase in margin that fancy boxes, bulky knobs and 'colourful' TV commentators can have on sales. Scopes in general have gone backwards in quality given how far tech has come.
the customer has a price point that fills expectations and companies are all too willing to exploit that. Some are even leveraging their corporate reputations to flog consumer grade goods as "better'er".
if a no questions warranty is desired, price it into the retail price.
If a premium price ensures confidence in a slightly upgraded product, by all means. Worked in the auto industry for decades... still does.
So buy whatever makes you happy but when given a chance, do an honest side by side comparison. I remember seeing 1 dealer putting paper bags over their scopes when doing an onsite demo so shooters wouldn't prejudge what they would see. Under those conditions, the most popular was not the most expensive
Scopes are an optical device... if 1 product lets you see more and better for your eyes, then that is the scope for you... assuming all other function features are to your liking.
In todays market, you most certainly do not always get what you pay for. do more then watch TV or buy based on a fancy box or what you may read in a post..... get out there and use the stuff.
You either see or you don't. It either tracks or it doesn't. It either works or you miss.
YMMV.
Jerry
the customer has a price point that fills expectations and companies are all too willing to exploit that. Some are even leveraging their corporate reputations to flog consumer grade goods as "better'er".
if a no questions warranty is desired, price it into the retail price.
If a premium price ensures confidence in a slightly upgraded product, by all means. Worked in the auto industry for decades... still does.
So buy whatever makes you happy but when given a chance, do an honest side by side comparison. I remember seeing 1 dealer putting paper bags over their scopes when doing an onsite demo so shooters wouldn't prejudge what they would see. Under those conditions, the most popular was not the most expensive
Scopes are an optical device... if 1 product lets you see more and better for your eyes, then that is the scope for you... assuming all other function features are to your liking.
In todays market, you most certainly do not always get what you pay for. do more then watch TV or buy based on a fancy box or what you may read in a post..... get out there and use the stuff.
You either see or you don't. It either tracks or it doesn't. It either works or you miss.
YMMV.
Jerry
