Sightron SIIISS 6-24x50 LRMOA~good varmint hunting scope?

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Hey guys~everything I've read suggests it likely is, just looking to see if anyone here has this exact scope...and..whether or not it's being used in a hunting role. The "ideal" SIII for me would top-out around 18X, but this model seems to be about the closest to what I need. I shoot prone, on mostly static targets. That burrow in the ground here in S. Ontario. :)

I don't look every day, but I don't think I've seen this exact model in the EE either...
 
Not a sightron, but I tried a 24x on my varmit gun and swapped it out for a 16x shortly after, while fine for target shooting and loved it for that, I lost way too much field of view with the 24x, 16x is more than enough to shoot out to 500+ yards, especially if it's good quality glass, higher end the better, makes a world of difference and you can give up a lot of magnification.
 
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No, its an excellent varmint hunting scope! I used a bushnell 6500 6-24, then swapped to a SIII 8-32 LRMOA for ground hogs to coyotes. The only issue I had with it was the reticle was too fine to see in low light. I switched to nightforce, then to leupold VX6 illuminated, and I have to tell you, I LOVE the VX6 3-18 but wish it had a little more magnification. The next step up unfortunately has a 34mm tube and is a bit of a tank. What you will find is that in any kind of sunlight on a warm day, you will see tons of mirage at max magnification, and need to dial it down a bit. The 6-24 will always be clear at 18x, where my vx6 has mirage at 18x often, so I have to dial back to see clearly. My 8-32 was always good at 24x. Contrary to a lot of opinions on here, I don't think you are overscoped at all with a 6-24, in my opinion that is the optimal range.
 
Hey guys~everything I've read suggests it likely is, just looking to see if anyone here has this exact scope...and..whether or not it's being used in a hunting role. The "ideal" SIII for me would top-out around 18X, but this model seems to be about the closest to what I need. I shoot prone, on mostly static targets. That burrow in the ground here in S. Ontario. :)

I don't look every day, but I don't think I've seen this exact model in the EE either...


are you planning on doing lots of dialing with the turrets? If not, the Sightron STac 3-16x42 and 4-20x50 would also be a good choice as they have the same reticle, very good glass but are significantly cheaper.
 
Sightrons are excellent scopes and I doubt you will be disappointed with one. I would consider the FFP version of the same scope. That way, regardless of what magnification you are on, you can use the reticle to correct misses on the little critters.
 
I have on on my T3 sported. I just use it for punching paper though. They are a great scope for the price. It is a step up from the vortex PST I have had.

I should note, I've had a 4-16 PST and a 6-24 SIII as well as a 8-32 SIII. The glass on the Sightrons has been much better than Vortex glass to my eye.
 
Thanks for the replies guys, greatly appreciated.

are you planning on doing lots of dialing with the turrets? If not, the Sightron STac 3-16x42 and 4-20x50 would also be a good choice as they have the same reticle, very good glass but are significantly cheaper.

^quick answer~no. However, I currently have a Vortex Viper HS (which I like well enough) in a 4-16x. Maybe it's my eyes, maybe it's a brief stint this past summer shooting an SIII (and a Swaro, and a US Optics) that has me wanting something a bit better. I KNOW I like the SIII, but have never looked through an STAC anything...or even an SII. I wish I could see them side-by-side to compare. I think if even the SII was a step-up from the Viper HS, I'd consider it. I hear good things about the STAC series, but don't know anyone who has experience with all of them and can give me an unbiased opinion.

Would be great if anyone here has (or as had) a Viper HS...and can comment on how it stacks-up against the SII and STAC. I think I know how it stacks-up against an SIII.
 
I have a couple of the SII Big Sky scopes. I believe the difference between the two are the SIIBS have 1" tubes while the SIII are 30mm but the glass and coatings are the same. The SIIB 6-24x42 is a nice scope and about $300 less.
 
I have an SII bigsky in 6-24Ă—44 while decent I don't think the glass is as good as my PST 6-24Ă—50 or my HST. I'm also not a fan of the sightron reticles. I'm not a fan of dots I prefer a simple hash reticles.
 
Well I have Leupold FX3 6x, Leupold Var-X III 4.5-14x40 AO Tactical, Big Sky II 24x42, SWFA SS 16x42, & I just ordered another New SWFA SS 12x tonight for a late Cyber Monday sale held over.

I have talked to guys in Utah that use the Sightron SIIISS 6-24x50 LRMOA and they love it. But it's too rich for my blood,
I would love to try or buy a used Sightron STAC series 3-15 scope but then again I won't pay more then $500 for a scope, but that is just me.
 
bear in mind the 50% rule when using variable scopes in the field, expect to cut back the power 50% for most shooting conditions, this is where they seam to shine. If you ideally want a 18x scope most of the time then get something with 32x zoom, as light fades or you get mirage you'll find at half zoom they are still usable
 
I am a fan of Sightron but for varmint shooting I would seriously consider a Leupold VX3 6.5 x 20.

^I've owned that exact scope with the VH (=VHR) reticle. Nothing NOT to like about it. Didn't "wow" me like the SIII did but I never got a chance to compare the two. Maybe part of the SIII's charm was that it was mounted to a Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 CR....and I was shooting gophers with it! lol Would have loved nearly any scope in that situation.

Well I have Leupold FX3 6x, Leupold Var-X III 4.5-14x40 AO Tactical, Big Sky II 24x42, SWFA SS 16x42, & I just ordered another New SWFA SS 12x tonight for a late Cyber Monday sale held over.

I have talked to guys in Utah that use the Sightron SIIISS 6-24x50 LRMOA and they love it. But it's too rich for my blood,
I would love to try or buy a used Sightron STAC series 3-15 scope but then again I won't pay more then $500 for a scope, but that is just me.

Too rich for mine too, to be totally honest. It's why I'm sweating over this instead of dusting the cobwebs off the credit card! lol I DO know I liked the SIII I got a chance to use...and...I DO know I seem to always regret not going with the scope/rifle I want.

bear in mind the 50% rule when using variable scopes in the field, expect to cut back the power 50% for most shooting conditions, this is where they seam to shine. If you ideally want a 18x scope most of the time then get something with 32x zoom, as light fades or you get mirage you'll find at half zoom they are still usable

Noted, though scope size (it's physical size) will always play a small part in the decision. My only Sightron (besides some great binos) so far is on a Yo-Dave-equipped CZ. For the record. :)
 
^I've owned that exact scope with the VH (=VHR) reticle. Nothing NOT to like about it. Didn't "wow" me like the SIII did but I never got a chance to compare the two. Maybe part of the SIII's charm was that it was mounted to a Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 CR....and I was shooting gophers with it! lol Would have loved nearly any scope in that situation.



Too rich for mine too, to be totally honest. It's why I'm sweating over this instead of dusting the cobwebs off the credit card! lol I DO know I liked the SIII I got a chance to use...and...I DO know I seem to always regret not going with the scope/rifle I want.



Noted, though scope size (it's physical size) will always play a small part in the decision. My only Sightron (besides some great binos) so far is on a Yo-Dave-equipped CZ. For the record. :)

I live for varmint hunting. In the summer when the gophers are out in droves, I will spend 8 hours in a field behind the gun. Taking a look at my notes from last year, I spend a total of 6 hrs behind the glass, and 2 hours taking lunch breaks, hydration breaks and a few walks to get pictures.

With SIGHTRON, I do not suffer from 'scope eye' like I did from leupolds (eyes not focusing after long periods peering through high magnification) I also did not suffer from a migraine after either (chromatic aberration like leupys/Vortex trigger this in me)

So for me, the cost of SIGHTRON is that I can stay in the field, doing what I enjoy for longer periods of time.

Money well spent.
 
As I read through I keep hoping to see a little review of the STAC 2.5-17.5 x 50. Been deliberating between this and the much less expensive 3-16 x 42 as price is always a factor.

As for the SIII's, I have a 6-24 LRMOA as well as an 8-32 LRMOA. The 6-24 is on a .223 and its a great scope in the field. I much prefer it to the 8-32 which doesnt have much practical purpose in my area, or the type of shooting I do these days.
 
As I read through I keep hoping to see a little review of the STAC 2.5-17.5 x 50. Been deliberating between this and the much less expensive 3-16 x 42 as price is always a factor.

As for the SIII's, I have a 6-24 LRMOA as well as an 8-32 LRMOA. The 6-24 is on a .223 and its a great scope in the field. I much prefer it to the 8-32 which doesnt have much practical purpose in my area, or the type of shooting I do these days.

Believe it or not, my 8-32 is on my Walther .22lr Olympic gun.... talk about fun. Shooting gophers at 300m with .22lr... watching the bullet blur from the bottom to the top of the scope, then come back down is hilarious fun :)
 
I have only owned one Sightron an SII Big Sky, and I was not at all impressed. All of my varmint rifles now wear Zeiss HD5-3-15X42 Lockplex scopes. They are clear, bright, and I really like the design of the Lockplex turrets, as they can't easily be turned accidentally, but they are quick and easy to adjust.
 
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