I was recently in the market for a new rifle scope. I was looking for a good quality scope at a reasonable price. I wanted a 8-32 variable power scope with 1/4 Moa adjustments. After doing a bit or research and reading various reviews, I decided to purchase a new Sightron SIII 8-32x56mm Mildot. I mounted the Sightron on my 223 F/TR rifle. I am very pleased with the clarity of the optics. For me, tracking and repeatability are the most important parts of a rifle scope. I decided to do a box & tracking test to try out my new scope. I tought I would share the results.
For reference, I consider my rifle to be a 1/2 MOA rifle when I do my part. It will shoot smaler groups but not consistently with my current load & skill level. Conditions were not ideal, it was overcast with periods of showers and winds 3-5 MPH from 10:00-2:00. All shots had the same point of aim (lower left corner). No adjustments or corrections were done for wind. The target was set at a distance of 100m. Shots were fired from a bench using a front rest and rear bag. Bullets were Berger 80 Gr VLD, lapua Brass, H4895 powder & Rem Br primers.
I drew the target using a cad program. There are horizontal lines at various MOA adjustements corresponding to my come-ups at various ranges. I went from 0-29.5 MOA elevation. There is also a vertical reference line 8.75 MOA to the right.
My first shot was fired with 1 MOA right windage and zero elevation. The shot hit approx. 1 MOA right at correct elevation. I then raised the elevation in 5 increments (4.25 MOA, 10.5 MOA, 14.5 MOA, 23 MOA & 29.5 MOA) and fired a shot at each elevation. I then returned to zero and repeated the same procedure. The scope tracked very well vertically.
The impact point at 14, 23 & 29.5 MOA are a bit heigher than my reference lines due to the construction of the target frame. The paper had to go over a cross member which slighty shortened the distance between these adjustments. Had it not been for this cross member, the impacts would have been at my reference MOA lines. The MOA adjustments on the scope are quite accurate IMHO.
I returned the scope to zero, and adjusted 8 MOA right windage and 29.5 MOA elevation did a third downwards sequence from 29.5 MOA to 0 elevation and maintaining the windage at 8 MOA. Once at zero, I fired a fourth sequence from 0-29.5 MOA elevation with 8 MOA windage. After these 24 Shots, I was pleased to see that the scope tracked very well and was repeatable.
I had 7 rounds left. I decided to dial in varions elevation and windage combinations at random to see if the scope was repeatable. All the shots fell within the group and in most cases went through previous bullet holes, meaning the scope was tracking very well. The last shot was fired at o elevation and 1 MOA windage and it fell between my first 2 shots at this setting.
Following 2 targets are just the first one split in 2 for clarity. The small marks represent bullet holes.
This is my first Sightron but is certainly wont be my last based on my testing thus far. I find the Sightron SIII 8-32x56mm Mildot to be an excellent value for the money. I would certainly recommend it to others.
For reference, I consider my rifle to be a 1/2 MOA rifle when I do my part. It will shoot smaler groups but not consistently with my current load & skill level. Conditions were not ideal, it was overcast with periods of showers and winds 3-5 MPH from 10:00-2:00. All shots had the same point of aim (lower left corner). No adjustments or corrections were done for wind. The target was set at a distance of 100m. Shots were fired from a bench using a front rest and rear bag. Bullets were Berger 80 Gr VLD, lapua Brass, H4895 powder & Rem Br primers.
I drew the target using a cad program. There are horizontal lines at various MOA adjustements corresponding to my come-ups at various ranges. I went from 0-29.5 MOA elevation. There is also a vertical reference line 8.75 MOA to the right.
My first shot was fired with 1 MOA right windage and zero elevation. The shot hit approx. 1 MOA right at correct elevation. I then raised the elevation in 5 increments (4.25 MOA, 10.5 MOA, 14.5 MOA, 23 MOA & 29.5 MOA) and fired a shot at each elevation. I then returned to zero and repeated the same procedure. The scope tracked very well vertically.
The impact point at 14, 23 & 29.5 MOA are a bit heigher than my reference lines due to the construction of the target frame. The paper had to go over a cross member which slighty shortened the distance between these adjustments. Had it not been for this cross member, the impacts would have been at my reference MOA lines. The MOA adjustments on the scope are quite accurate IMHO.
I returned the scope to zero, and adjusted 8 MOA right windage and 29.5 MOA elevation did a third downwards sequence from 29.5 MOA to 0 elevation and maintaining the windage at 8 MOA. Once at zero, I fired a fourth sequence from 0-29.5 MOA elevation with 8 MOA windage. After these 24 Shots, I was pleased to see that the scope tracked very well and was repeatable.
I had 7 rounds left. I decided to dial in varions elevation and windage combinations at random to see if the scope was repeatable. All the shots fell within the group and in most cases went through previous bullet holes, meaning the scope was tracking very well. The last shot was fired at o elevation and 1 MOA windage and it fell between my first 2 shots at this setting.
Following 2 targets are just the first one split in 2 for clarity. The small marks represent bullet holes.
This is my first Sightron but is certainly wont be my last based on my testing thus far. I find the Sightron SIII 8-32x56mm Mildot to be an excellent value for the money. I would certainly recommend it to others.
