spending $1k+.. SIII 10-50x60 vs Leupold Mk4 8.5-25x50?

A

ADHDCanuck

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
10   0   0
Location
Edmonton Alberta, Canada
Both these scopes review 5/5 across the board, both have everyone going nuts for them who own them... pictures of 400yard sights and shots are great for both....

the leupold is lower magnification but fantastic clarity... but usually $250 or so more.

How is one to decide?

Shooting 7.62x54 from an SVT.

Neither choice is "wrong" per se...... but theres a lot out there. Sightron has an excellent warranty reputation, leupold has a strong brand name among shooters.... both feel great and have comparable features...
 
You'd swear Little Airwolf was sponsored by those guys...

Why do you want 50x?? I can see maybe for BR shooting, but typically I shoot 1000+ yards at 12 or 16x. Not once did I wish I had more than 24x, and the new razor is only 20x.

I'd consider the 6-24x and 8-32 models.
 
i wanted the 50x because i have never seen one before and the reviews on the sightrons are all universally world class.. comparing to the nightforces as near identical.
with what is availabel right now in the used market from reputable people, I was able to get a nice selection of the leupold 8.5-25x50 and sightron 10-50x60mm which is supposed to be absolutely epic out past 32x

so its been a real hard choice narrowing between the two.
 
They are good. World class?? Well, no. For the money they are very good bang for the buck. Nightforce NXS isn't great either. Optically they are bright, but IMO, lack clarity. Sightron's are bright in good light from my experience, and have very good clarity for the price (you have to remember the equivalent NSX is $1850, ~$700? more). I've only shot a sightron 8-32 in dimming light once and didnt have a NF to compare it to at that time.

Optically, everthing will degrade at higher magnification. Just have see how much use it will get at 32+ or if you need that lesser zoom the other models provide.

Look at the internal adjustment. Not all sightrons are the same. Some have a lot more adjustment then others.

My minor complaints with the ones I've shot (6-24 and 8-32) were windage and elevation knobs being a bit too light, although providing a nice positive click, and the parralex being too stiff, especailly in cold weather where it will easily upset the gun positioning when trying to turn it. I'm also not keen the coloured lettering, but that's pretty minor.
 
Last edited:
little_airwolf said:
4scopes.com three day shipping to your door! Over $200 less after shipping/taxes/customs compared to Canadian prices!
Click to expand...

Sightron S3 10-50 mildot (1/8th clicks) is $968.88, after Cdn conversion it's $1032.92.... Mystic has the same scope for $1159

Sightron S3 10-50 LRMOA is $998, after Cdn conversion it's $1064.91.... Mystic has the same scope for $1189

Shipping from 4scopes is quoted at $35...

Conversion rate from Visa/Mastercard can also differ (higher) from what I posted...

There will also be duty...


Doesn't look like "over $200 less" to me.
 
tyes it seems to be a "world class, considering the price" kind of qualified statement.. but moving up from bushnell banner series, i know its going to be pretty nuts any way i go.

i picked up a falcon optics FFP scope to hold me over while I sort this out. $415 for a 5.5-25x56mm FFP and its in mildot which I like... and the reviews are good on it...
when I go big for the 7.62x54R later, i can move the falcon over to my 17HMR and outperform the ammo with the optics lol


Shibby! said:
They are good. World class?? Well, no. For the money they are very good bang for the buck. Nightforce NXS isn't great either. Optically they are bright, but IMO, lack clarity. Sightron's are bright in good light from my experience, and have very good clarity for the price (you have to remember the equivalent NSX is $1850, ~$700? more). I've only shot a sightron 8-32 in dimming light once and didnt have a NF to compare it to at that time.

Optically, everthing will degrade at higher magnification. Just have see how much use it will get at 32+ or if you need that lesser zoom the other models provide.

Look at the internal adjustment. Not all sightrons are the same. Some have a lot more adjustment then others.

My minor complaints with the ones I've shot (6-24 and 8-32) were windage and elevation knobs being a bit too light, although providing a nice positive click, and the parralex being too stiff, especailly in cold weather where it will easily upset the gun positioning when trying to turn it. I'm also not keen the coloured lettering, but that's pretty minor.
Click to expand...
 
ADHDCanuck said:
Both these scopes review 5/5 across the board, both have everyone going nuts for them who own them... pictures of 400yard sights and shots are great for both....

the leupold is lower magnification but fantastic clarity... but usually $250 or so more.

How is one to decide?

Shooting 7.62x54 from an SVT.

Neither choice is "wrong" per se...... but theres a lot out there. Sightron has an excellent warranty reputation, leupold has a strong brand name among shooters.... both feel great and have comparable features...
Click to expand...

Hate to say it, but you'll never be satisfied with the precision/accuracy of this platform. There are no good modern SVT scope mounts (yes, I did see the thread you started, the thing still looks like it'll be a headache/no good).

Most guys shooting 1000 yards are using tuned bolt action rifles with handloaded ammunition and match triggers. A $350 Savage axis with cheap Bushnell scope will out-shoot the SVT all day. You'd be much better served finding a used Remington 700 or Stevens 200 on the EE and throwing the Sightron or Leupold on that.
 
Sightron is a +++ for me!

I agree with AR180 ..... save your $$ on a cheaper scope and get a whole bunch of ammo for your SVT and have fun.



Ar180shooter said:
Hate to say it, but you'll never be satisfied with the precision/accuracy of this platform. There are no good modern SVT scope mounts (yes, I did see the thread you started, the thing still looks like it'll be a headache/no good).

Most guys shooting 1000 yards are using tuned bolt action rifles with handloaded ammunition and match triggers. A $350 Savage axis with cheap Bushnell scope will out-shoot the SVT all day. You'd be much better served finding a used Remington 700 or Stevens 200 on the EE and throwing the Sightron or Leupold on that.
Click to expand...
 
one day I may.
but I'm committed to my platforms for the moment, I see some other people doing some pretty nice things with them out to 500m which is where I want to be and theyre cheap as heck.
the 700 setup (in the store) that i wanted was in the $3,000 range before optics. i'll hold off if I can get a lot of enjoyment meantime out of a $200 SVT..

performance for dollars, theyre about the best gun in the world that I've come across.. especially with the fun factor and bit of history added on :)


Ar180shooter said:
Hate to say it, but you'll never be satisfied with the precision/accuracy of this platform. There are no good modern SVT scope mounts (yes, I did see the thread you started, the thing still looks like it'll be a headache/no good).

Most guys shooting 1000 yards are using tuned bolt action rifles with handloaded ammunition and match triggers. A $350 Savage axis with cheap Bushnell scope will out-shoot the SVT all day. You'd be much better served finding a used Remington 700 or Stevens 200 on the EE and throwing the Sightron or Leupold on that.
Click to expand...
 
i bought a falcon optics 5.5-25x56mm FFP scope for half the sightrons used price, and it reviews very well.. i should be able to do what i want on the SVT with it for now and learn what I can.. and by the time i'm where I want to be i'll know what I need to upgrade to for a platform.
and i'll be out of 54R ammo ;)
 
In my opinion, like many things in life, magnification falls under the catagory of "it's better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it". I would go with the Sightron and have the option of 50x magnification even if you never use it.
 
ADHDCanuck said:
one day I may.
but I'm committed to my platforms for the moment, I see some other people doing some pretty nice things with them out to 500m which is where I want to be and theyre cheap as heck.
the 700 setup (in the store) that i wanted was in the $3,000 range before optics. i'll hold off if I can get a lot of enjoyment meantime out of a $200 SVT..

performance for dollars, theyre about the best gun in the world that I've come across.. especially with the fun factor and bit of history added on :)
Click to expand...

You can get a pretty decent bolt action to get in to the long range shooting world for around $1000 before optics. Don't think you need a $3000 rifle to get in to the game. The $1000 bolt gun (basic Savage or Remington) will easily outshoot the SVT, even with bulk ammo, and you have a much wider variety of components for hand loading.

Also, don't get me wrong on the SVT's. I own 2 and they're great rifles, but they're not 1000 yard rifles, not by a long shot. The design does not scope well, and is better left with irons or one of the repro sniper scopes/mounts (if you can mount them to the rifle). A low powered scope (1-4 or 1.5-5) is much better suited to the rifle, if you must scope it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom