Leupold, Nikon Monarch, or Sightron III SS LR

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Q

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I am having a 6mm BR made to the specs of a bench rest rifle, but I am putting a vamint style stock on it instead of an F class and the Jewell trigger wll start off being set at 18oz. I intend on using it to punch paper and varmint shooting primarily, although I won't rule out going to an informal bench rest match just for the fun of it once in a while. I never intend to use it for serious competition. It will have a 12" twist so my bullet limitations will be probably 85 grains, although I will try heavier bullets in it and see what happens.

I am undecided on what to use for optics. The gun ran a bit more money than I had anticipated. I want to get a good scope for it without spending more than necessary. I have been checking out specs for a while now by going online and speaking directly to the manufacturers, as well as getting opinions from competitive shooters. I will spend what I feel is necessary. I realize that you can't shhot what you can't see.

I am looking for a variable power scope that would range anywhere from 8-10x on the low end of the spectrum and at least 32 and maybe up to 50x on the high end of the magnification end. I am entertaining the thought of a 10-50x. Realistically, I probably will end up with an 8-32 or 36 x with a 50-60 mm objective. I want the option of the lower magnification in order to have a larger field of view when I can get away with it. Also, the side focus would be an important feature. A high magnification fixed power is not being considered at all. Maybe I am asking for too much?

I don't see anything in the Leupold line that satisfies my needs and I think that they are a bit overpriced anyhow. I have several of them ranging fron VXIIs to VXIIIs. They are a good scope and have good customer service, but I think they are beginning to realize that they are not the only game in town. This is evidenced by them changing their line again and lowering their prices.

I have looked at the Nightron line. I am not ruling them out at this point, but I am hoping to get something a bit more reasonably priced. I am kind of leaning towards the Sightron SS III LR 8-32X and also thinking about the Nikon Monarch with the same magnification.

Unfortunately, one can't go into very many gun shops to take a look at or through this particular line of scopes, so I'm hoping to get some educated advise from people who may have experience with them on this forum. I do want good clarity as well as accuracy with the same POI using different magifications. Also I would hope that they would pass the test of going up, over, down, and back over 40 clicks or so and end up at the same POI.

I would greatly appreciate any pros and cons, as well as satisfactions or regrets on the purchase of these products from anyone whom has used them. If I am missing any comparable manufacturers, please feel free to advise me on them also.

The rifle is still 3-4 months out, so I have lots of time to investigate my possibilities.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts
 
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I have had excellent luck with Leupolds in general, and find that their finish and construction is generally more robust than similarly priced competitors. In turn, similarly priced offerings from Nikon and Sightron will generally have better optical characteristics but will be more fragile of finish.

I have many SII Sightrons and have found them to be excellent optics for the price. I do not have direct experience with the SIIIs. My SII's tracked very repeatedly through changes in zero adjustment and were very linear.

My experience with Monarchs has been similar to the Sightron's - good glass but more delicate finish that the Leupold. I have had several recent Nikon models that displayed pretty noticable barrel distortion at closer ranges.

I have used AO, and found that side AO adjustments are a lot easier to use than objective bell AO adjustments (especially if you fancy using flip up lens caps or similar). I don't tend to use AO scopes much, because most of my optics are for hunting and not target shooting.

I do not like optics that start at 8x or greater, because they are simply too limiting for general uses. For bench use, a low end of 8x may be OK - I do not have much experience with that. I also do not think that high magnifications (greater than 24x) will be particularly useful due to mirage and other limiting factors, but more experienced folk than I with benchrest style shooting will need to comment on that.
 
QM:

You have a good thread topic here. I suspect the location might be limiting the responses you're getting. Try posting in "Gear and Ammunition", "Firearms Accessories". That is where most scope threads are placed.

The lack of a maximum set price makes it difficult for me to give my suggestions. I personally have used Redfields, Leupolds, Burris, T/C Arms, and a host of other less expensive, like Tasco and Mueller. The greatest difference I noted was glass quality, and repeatability of the adjustment.

Finally, I decided to bite-the-bullet and buy a couple of the best scopes that I couldn't afford, assuming them to be lifetime purchases that I could switch across all of my rifles, as they all have picatinny rails.

I decided to purchase Nightforce (3.5-15; 5.5-22 and a 12-42). Even at 42X my Nightforce has a better sight picture than any of the Leupold Vari-X IIIs that I owned (3.5-10s, and 4.5-14s). You would have to spend a lot of money to finds a scope that performs better then Nightforce.

Again, I don't know your price limits.

Best of luck and let us know what you decided.

Geno
 
I think you should also consider the Vortex Viper line. I have a 6.5-20x50 with a target dot reticle and 30mm tube and it is simply amazing!
 
Leupold or Nikon would be my choices, in that order, assuming they have what you want.
 
Well, I feel like someone woke up the dead. This thread really didn't take off very well. Maybe I should have started it somewhere else.

Anyhow, thankyou for your thoughts. They are appreciated.

I did buy a Sightron 8-32 x 56 SIII TD/TDT. I don't have my rifle yet, but stuck it on another rifle which is a very accurate rifle just to check it out. So far I'm very impressed with it. The clarity exceeds that of my Leupolds and the tracking is very true. I was so impressed that I also bought 2 of their Big Sky series 4.5-14X to replace a couple of my VXII's. They had a $75.00 rebate for each, which influenced my decision. I really like them also. I put one of them on my CZ .204. That is also a very accurate rifle with the right loads. It's amazing to me how much better you can shoot with a bit more magnification and good clarity.

I do own 2 Nikon Monarchs and really like them also, especially the 5-20X. I think for the money the Sightrons and Monarchs may be the best deals out there. Maybe not the best scopes, but definately a lot of quality for the money. I have never shot with a Vortex nor a Nightforce on top. I will have to try them sometime. I actually never heard of Vortex until fairly recently and always figured that I would be crazy spending 2K on a Nightforce, but I guess you only live once and as mentioned, it will be a lifetime investment.

The saying that pops up all the time on this forum " pay once, cry once" is so true. I have a small fortune tied up in Leupolds and through the years of obtaining them, I thought I was getting top of the line. Don't get me wrong as they are a good scope and have served me well accompanied by excellant customer service, but as I get a bit older and my eyes aren't what they used to be, my old VXII's don't seem to cut the cake like they used to either. Honestly the 2 VXIII's that I have don't seem to have that much better than the VXII's. I'm sure that their top of the line scopes are as good as the other top of the line scopes

After I get through paying for the 2 rifles I'm having made and see where my financial situation stands, I may have to try the Vortex and Nightforce that you guys mentioned. Hey, maybe I'll hit the lottery. Then I robaly could even tell my wife. Wouldn't that be nice.

Thanks again guys, for your input. Maybe I'll keep this thread open for a bit, now that it's been bumped.
 
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Great choice with the Sightron, personally I'd put my Leupold VX III 4-5-14x40 in the same class as my Sightron SII 6-24-42, with an edge to the Sightron. Reason I went with with the VX III for my 7 mag over the comparable Sightron is simply the eye relief and I know the scope will hold up to the recoil of the 7 mag.

On your gun, I'd go with a 10 or 11 twist over the 12 and try the 87 gr. Hornady Vmax. In terms of long range varmint bullets it is hard to beat.
 
I'm an old steel tube Weaver guy. I send them in to trusted repair shops and get them serviced and they run forever. That said, they don't have modern coatings and that is something to consider. Lens coatings help with mirage and with moisture control. My Bushnell Elites (w/ Rainguard) are by far the best for foggy, cold drizzly days. If you are never going to take this rifle out in bad weather, right that off the list.

Paper punching and some varmint work are daytime adventures. But, some varmint work is seriously dawn and dusk stuff. So we need a little more info on what kind of pests you are thinking about? P dogs are one thing, Yotes are another, Opsums and Coons are in a whole different league?

I like my Nikons just fine. Good glass and decent coatings. Good resolution in low contrast cover. But if I were going night hunting (post dusk) or stand sitting in the hay loft looking for coons in the hen yard, it would likely be Nightforce and I'd hate the bill, but like the results.
 
Depending on the max distance you want to shoot, you should consider the maximum internal elevations and windage the particular scopes will give you. I own Sightron and Nikon scopes and for the money you get your moneys worth on either brand. I love Sightrons warranty more than nikons. Sightron will replace their scope, not fix it regardless of fault. Nikon's scope I believe are for 25 years. Do not know about Leupold as I do not own any scopes made by them.
 
I'm glad you didn't get the Nikon. All my Leupold scopes have been perfect, as have all my Sightrons. I have five Nikons and four of them have serious flaws, either machanical or optical.
 
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