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Sightron vs Vortex |
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Skytrash
Optics Apprentice Joined: October/07/2014 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 79 |
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Posted: October/07/2014 at 16:02 |
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Hello! I've been on this forum many times, and am now a registered member I'm currently in the market for a 3-9x40 ish hunting scope to go on a .308 mauser type rifle. I am looking at a $200-$300 budget. The Sightron SII is @ the top of my list, but I am also considering the Vortex Viper. I already have an SII 6x42, and think highly of it, but I hear good things about the Vortex glass. I would appreciate any opinions and insight on these products. Thanks Walt |
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I wish I was now, what I was, when I wished I was what I am now.
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bugsNbows
Optics God bowsNbugs Joined: March/10/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 11201 |
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IMO, both are rather dandy and would be fine.
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If we're not suppose to eat animals...how come they're made of meat?
Anomymous |
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LRSMike
Optics Journeyman Slightly Stoopid Joined: January/28/2010 Location: Melissa, Texas Status: Offline Points: 721 |
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+1. And welcome to the OT!
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You don’t know what you don’t know.
And those who don’t know and never try, never will. |
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Skytrash
Optics Apprentice Joined: October/07/2014 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 79 |
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I figured that there would be a fanboy of one or the other here. Maybe it's that optics junkies are much more mature and objective then they are on the gun-forums. I was really hoping to get some more/better feedback on the Viper, and how it stacks up to scopes I have the most experience with (SII's & VXIII's). Thanks for the responses. Walt |
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I wish I was now, what I was, when I wished I was what I am now.
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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I've had several vortex scopes, been happy with all of them and their customer services is second to none if you have an issue. I've only delt with a couple sightrons but what I have use have been fantastic.
Glass wise I think youre probably looking at a wash. Another option if your open to demo/used is SWFA's samplelist - http://www.samplelist.com/Riflescopes-C3391.aspx
Here is a SII Big Sky, which would have better optics -
or even this Zeiss
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Welcome to Optics Talk. Love The Deliverance picture.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Tip69
Optics Master Extraordinaire Tip Stick Joined: September/27/2005 Location: Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 4155 |
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Great... now I'll have dueling banjo's running thru my head all day!
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take em!
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Skytrash
Optics Apprentice Joined: October/07/2014 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 79 |
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Wow! I wish I had more money. That's kind of how it goes with optics, for $50-$100 you can get this. The next thing you know you've $50 dollered yourself up to a Leica's or Nightforce. Thanks |
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I wish I was now, what I was, when I wished I was what I am now.
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Skytrash
Optics Apprentice Joined: October/07/2014 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 79 |
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"SVT_Tactical"
You planted a bug in my brain with that "Big Sky" link you sent me. I just got through ordering an SIIB 3.5-10x42. I'm a happy camper. Thanks & Cheers!
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I wish I was now, what I was, when I wished I was what I am now.
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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I think you'll be happy
PS -
Hopefully you purchased from SWFA!
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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Viper is a touch better optically than current production SII.
SII Big Sky is a little better than the Viper. All three are better than Zeiss Terra, for what it is worth. ILya
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eas
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/06/2012 Status: Offline Points: 84 |
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I agree with Koshkin on all 3 listed...
Big Sky = Best Viper = Better SII = Good The Big Sky is an exceptional scope for the money. Glass is nearly equal to my Z3's and a touch better than the conquest line. Plus they are lightweight, nice adjustments and very bright. Not the greatest reticles but everything else is pretty awesome. I really love my Big Sky! PLUS the Big Sky has hydrophobic coatings!!! |
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338LAPUASLAP
Optics Master Scope Swapper Joined: October/17/2009 Status: Offline Points: 2596 |
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This doesn't add much since you purchased...
I have downgraded some uber optics and have not found myself to be missing many things for the Sightrons SIII and SII Big Skys that I replaced the uber optics with. While they might not have the turrets or feel they have the tracking. They are seemingly bright and crisp with little distortion or whiting effects at the higher magnifications. This alone speaks volumes to me... a 3.5-10 is just a near perfect scope for any situation!!! |
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No one
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Skytrash
Optics Apprentice Joined: October/07/2014 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 79 |
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Thanks for all the feed back. I should be ready to go for the start of the November whitetail season. I'm also looking @ an AR varmint setup, and will be looking harder @ the Viper, or maybe even an SIII. (next year) We have some "Goliath Squirrels" that are getting out of control, is .223 going to be big enough?
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I wish I was now, what I was, when I wished I was what I am now.
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Lennyo3034
Optics Apprentice Joined: April/01/2010 Status: Offline Points: 59 |
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I'm a big fan of the Sightron SIII line. Glass and tracking are far above it's price range in my opinion.
However, I bought a SII big sky last year for a hunting rifle, and am not a fan of it at all. Glass quality is good. I've never had it side by side with the SIII, but I would say it's close. However my complaint is the reticle design (hunter holdover) and turrets.
The hunter holdover has two hash marks at 2.5 MOA and 5.5 MOA at highest magnification. I would have much rather preferred 2.0 MOA and 4.5-5.0 as that would better match the 200 yard and 300 yard drop of many common hunting cartridges. It's not a huge concern, more of an annoyance.
What's a much bigger concern is the turrets. I understand these are not target turrets and are not meant to be cranked often like the SIII series. However, they still feel incredibly cheap. In fact, just this week when I was sighting and reseting them, I broke the elevation turret when I pulled up on it too much. I think I got it back together ok, but this is just something that I shouldn't have to deal with.
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