Info on the Sightron S III 10-50x60 FT scope

[whitefox545]

Hi all!  looking to purchase this scope for use in the Hunter class U.S.A. field target game but cant seem to find out if the scope has a #16 setting on the magnification ring as that is required in the Hunter class!!  Thank's in advance  J.L.

[TleVta]

Not sure if the new ones do, but if you send one to their service center they will mark your ring at 16X. You pay shipping.

[Motorhead]

Don"t remember if the 16X is marked being i sold my 10-50x60 sightron a year or so ago.
But do vividly remember when having it ... that when at 12x ( pre 2018 AAFTA rule ) it ranged no better than my optisan viper 4-16x50 set to 12x & actually performed IMO LESS THAN it 

The BIG Sightron is really a GREAT Open or WFTF class scope suited to clicking best ... your mileage may differ however 

[whitefox545]

Guy's,  Thank's for the reply's!!  I thought that sense the Sightron only focused from 10 yards or so to 60 yards ( some sites say 300 )  that it might snap in and out of focus quicker than other scopes not set up strictly for Field Target like it is so posed to be? Guess not!! (THANK"S SCOTT )  Up to a few week's ago I had been using a Hawke Airmax 4-16 with pretty good results but thought I could find a better scope so I ordered a new Optisan evx 6-24x50 FFP scope and have found it not to be as good as the Hawke that I had !! (sold it to a friend, he loves it) so then I had a wheel made for a Meuller I had on a .22 target rifle that I liked pretty well but it is VERY slow at focusing and hard to get repeated readings with so I am still looking and thought that the Sightron looked to be the answer but I guess not by what Scott said as far as use on 16 power!!   I had it in my mind that a scope of higher possible magnification turned down would be better than a scope set at it's highest setting for ranging?  that doesn't seem to be the case so far as I have seen!!  Any comments on that guy's?   Thank's again!!  J.L.

[dan_house]

I have one.... it does snap into focus, but Im runnign it at 29 power .......

[whitefox545]

Dan, Thank's for the reply!!  I will only be using it on 16 power as is aloud in Hunter class.  I don't want to buy another scope that's no better than the last two I purchased!!  Scott seems to think it wont be any better than what I have or have had?  I thought being set up the way it is only focusing from 10 yards to 60 or so that it would be better??   If you wouldn't mind turn yours down to 16 and see what it focus's/ looks like to you and let me know.  What size wheel do you use on yours? The one that comes on it?  how far around the wheel do your marks go for 10 to 55 yards?   Sorry for all the questions but I hate to spend another thousand dollars only to find it's no better or not as good as  my original Hawke Airmax was!! Any help you can give me is much appreciated!!! Thank's in advance,  Jeff L.

[Motorhead]

Dan, Thank's for the reply!!  I will only be using it on 16 power as is aloud in Hunter class.  I don't want to buy another scope that's no better than the last two I purchased!!  Scott seems to think it wont be any better than what I have or have had?  I thought being set up the way it is only focusing from 10 yards to 60 or so that it would be better??   If you wouldn't mind turn yours down to 16 and see what it focus's/ looks like to you and let me know.  What size wheel do you use on yours? The one that comes on it?  how far around the wheel do your marks go for 10 to 55 yards?   Sorry for all the questions but I hate to spend another thousand dollars only to find it's no better or not as good as  my original Hawke Airmax was!! Any help you can give me is much appreciated!!! Thank's in advance,  Jeff L.

Rifle optics in a way can be viewed similar to the older SLR camera lens.  In that the Larger the glass was ( faster the lens was ) in that it allowed in more light giving it a broader depth of field at all aperture settings.

In rifle optics we DO NOT have a per-say Aperture, but the tight spot within the scope is that area across / passing threw the reticle portion of tube.
So what's similar is that BIGGER the scopes OBJECTIVE LENS becomes, greater is the scopes depth of field at all X power settings.  Tho it does get shallower as X power is raised and why for high X power scopes range so well.

When viewed side by side to a scope of equal X power setting ( We're speaking of 16X here ) A BIG glass scope like the Sightron 60 mm viewed along side 40-50mm objective glass it has been my experience the smaller objective lens scope ranges better because it more times than not has a shallower depth of field at the same X power setting.

There will be exceptions to this loose rule, but it does seem to hold true more times than not.

JMO ....
Scott

[whitefox545]

Scott,  Thank's again for the reply!!  I guess I some what understand what your saying about the lenses and the light passing through them and I have seen you write about the smaller mm lens scopes usually working better in the past!  I have been trying to pick out a better scope for this for a while know but having made two wrong choices I am leery to take a chance again on my own.  If you were going to purchase a scope today what choice would you make knowing what you know and being the reigning National Champion ?  Don't be afraid to name a few scopes as If it dosn't work out for me I will understand and would never blame you in any way!!  I highly respect any Info you offer!  Thank's again!!  Jeff L.

[Motorhead]

Scott,  Thank's again for the reply!!  I guess I some what understand what your saying about the lenses and the light passing through them and I have seen you write about the smaller mm lens scopes usually working better in the past!  I have been trying to pick out a better scope for this for a while know but having made two wrong choices I am leery to take a chance again on my own.  If you were going to purchase a scope today what choice would you make knowing what you know and being the reigning National Champion ?  Don't be afraid to name a few scopes as If it dosn't work out for me I will understand and would never blame you in any way!!  I highly respect any Info you offer!  Thank's again!!  Jeff L.

Like most who wish to excel in "hunter" class FT, the holy grail search for the 12 or 16x scope is what we all seek.  being my search of the past few years found the optisan viper 4-16x50 to be that scope i'm good and not seeking another.   In these past few years with that scope no longer being produced and highly sought after by those in the search, really not heard of or seen among our FT club members or at matches any scope that does as well generally speaking 

I've got nothing to suggest .. but would fall back on known scopes that have seen much success such as the HAWKE sidewinder series in 10x half mildot and others you will find spoken of.

sorry 

[whitefox545]

Thank's Scott!  Appreciate your truthfulness!!  J.L.

[TleVta]

Last year a friend let me borrow his HW97 during a piston match. It had a UTG 4x16x44. Even though John had a good range card set up for it, I still liked focus ranging with it. You may want to try that scope. Very affordable as well.

The Sightron SIII FT scopes are set up to 55 yards, but their CS guys will adjust it out to 300 yards if you send it to them.  Then you have more room on your sidewheel for marking yardage info.