by admin | Apr 7, 2016 | Optics, Tech
Doesn’t take much searching to see my posts and very positive impressions of Sightron scopes. Since they came out with the SIII family, I have been an ardent fan using them in competition and to reach way out there on my LR rigs. The new SVSS 10-50X60 is superb with a novel and unique focus system that is just a joy to use. My goto FTR competition scope now. Great glass, excellent and reliable tracking, nicely finished, backed with a lifetime warranty against manf defects, for prices way under product that offer as much performance, the Sightrons have developed a well deserved reputation for performance oriented shooters on a budget around the world. Historically, all the scopes were manf in Japan. Consistent quality but Japanese costs are higher then other markets in South East Asia. Here, Sightron has found a fantastic opportunity in the Philippines. Before the howls of horror get too loud, google Nikon and see where they have set up much of their sport optics manufacturing including their top ranking Binoculars. Nikon makes some of the best glass in the world …. Period… so the Philippines is a great place to call home. The STAC family is fairly new and really started life with the really cool 2.5-17.5X56 IR scope. Why such a big objective, cause the main market are the many hunters and predator getters all around the world that are allowed to hunt at night and with lights. Great low light performance? You better believe it. Been using one of these scopes and it has worked very well. The quality of manf, markings, finish...
by admin | Feb 28, 2016 | F Class, Optics, Rifle, Tech
I have been waiting for these rings for many months and am thrilled by how well the concept is executed. For those into LR and ELR shooting, a big problem is maximizing the scope elevation travel. Many use a canted scope rail but what if you need more? What if you find that you are using up a lot of windage to zero the scope? The solution is surprisingly simple and has been used by shooters in the know… the Burris Signature Rings. The patented concept allows eccentric inserts to physically shim the scope within the rings for elevation and/or windage. You can align the scope with the barrel without touching the turrets. Great idea indeed and I have successfully used this for a very long time on all my competition and LR rigs. But scopes have gotten really heavy and large tubed over the last few years and the standard Burris 4 cap steel sig zee 30mm rings were starting to hit their limits. Burris answer was the XTR tactical rings… well made alum rings with a wide 6 bolt cap. Held very well but had the same problem of all solid rings… ring vs scope tube alignment and not being able to shim. For 2016, Burris has merged the concepts of both rings to make what may be the BEST ring set for LR shooters Welcome the Burris XTR signature rings… the size and brute strength of the XTR rings WITH the ability to shim the scope using the Signature style inserts… SMART. The rings arrive in the pelican of scope ring boxes. A plano waterproof container...
by admin | Feb 18, 2016 | Optics, Tech
This was a scope I really wanted to review and was lucky enough to be able to borrow a brand new in the box unit. As been with my other reviews, I am not worried about the mechanical side of the scope. Scopes in this price should work… they better work… so I am really concerned about the optics and how that can help you make hits at LR. Vortex hit the consumer market a few years back and has done an amazing job at gobbling up market share. I think they may well be the most represented scope in the retail scene? Hard to bump into someone that hasn’t got one, had one or shoot with someone that does. Backed by a no nonsense warranty and really listening to their customer base, they now offer a huge range of product that are not only current but relevant ie… what shooters actually want. Now as a consumer grade product, their price point and performance would not keep many top tier brand engineers up at night. In fact, many of their products are functional with price, warranty support and features the main reasons for purchase. There are no shortage of shooters who have used this wonderful warranty. Looking through several higher grade Vortex products has always left me with … Meh…. nothing special. Over the last couple of years, Vortex has tried to change that with their Razor line. The first go were more “Meh” but the Gen 2 Razor tactical scope was met with rave reviews and demand that seems to defy the market. So I really wanted to...
by admin | Feb 13, 2016 | Optics, Tech
There has been plenty of buzz around this new high end “professional” scope. Yes, the main audience for these scopes are the pros and the scope is built to accomodate their very demanding needs. With some already in Service, the reports have been glowing with the typical response being…. “SEND MORE”. I recently had the pleasure of viewing my first TT scope. This was a customers scope so only got a short look but what I saw was impressive. The scope is well packaged and includes some very nice Tenebraex flip covers and ARD. These covers are very pricey but built to last and have nice features not found on the typical Butler Creek covers which have a tendency to break under moderate use. The ARD is the real deal. Very well made and should make you IR safe. Complete instructions and a nicely laminated info card on the reticle subtensions which will be handy for field reference. No tools are included in the box…. we will get to this later. This is a full size scope. 34mm and has some heft to it. Typical of this gendre, there is no doubt you are picking up a scope made with alot of quality material. Alum tube and very nicely, evenly finished. The matte black is the same colour as we find on pretty much all popular better made scopes. All moving parts are manf with the very best materials and tested to hold up for a lifetime of use. All the controls are where you expect them on a scope. Everything moves smoothly and all feels very well...
by MysticPrecision | Jun 15, 2015 | F Class, Optics, Tech
Quick Review – Sightron SVSS 10-50X60 and NF Competition 15-55X52 (2014 Model) Had a chance to do a quick side by side comparison between these two scopes while out shooting with a buddy at 850yds. The weather was overcast with sunny and cloudy patches. Mirage ranged from light to medium. Pretty much identical to the lighting I had in my previous review. The difference was this was only done in the field on a target. So like before, I am only concerned about optical qualities. We know the NF Comp works mechanically. Eye Relief: Win SVSS Although the NF Comp offers a fair amount of eye relief, the Sightron SVSS is simply….more. Not a problem for most target shooters as recoil is moderate to light. Again, I would be leary if mounting this on a boomer that may move back a lot under recoil. The March and SVSS offer more eye relief. Eye Box – Win SVSS Getting a full and clear sight picture was easier, faster and better with the SVSS. The NF is quite critical on eye position or you will loose the image. Certainly not as bad as the March but far more critical then the SVSS or S&B. Field of View – Win SVSS Both scopes at 45X When you do get a good sight picture with the NF, there is a sense of looking through a narrow tube. Again, not as bad as the March but definitely more “confined” then the SVSS. There is a very thick black ring around the image. Maybe a byproduct of using a smaller objective????...
by MysticPrecision | May 8, 2015 | F Class, Optics, Tech
When Sightron announced their new SVSS series for 2015, I was hoping for good things. Certainly the specs look very promising as is the price point… Yikes. First Sightron to MSRP well over $2000 (Canadian retail $2700). It better be good. 34mm 1pc tube, 41.5oz. 70 mins of elevation. 60 mins of windage. 20 mins per turret revolution. Certainly checking off the right boxes. A big solid, robust scope. The main feature that caught my eye was their patent pending side focus system. Looking similar to fine and coarse focus adjustment on a spotting scope, I hoped that it would offer the shooter a much better and easier way to get image into focus when viewing targets at LR. This it does and does superbly. By far, the best side focus system I have ever used on any brand or type of rifle scope. The glass also struck me as being very sharp, crisp and clear. But am I biased or viewing on a good day? An opportunity was offered to compare the SVSS to a couple of other top tier high mag scopes. I received the S&B 12-15X56 and March 5-55X56 from CGN member ‘blackburbot’ to compare. Schmidt and Bender, and March certainly need no introduction as a top tier optic. When reviewing the specs of these scopes, you can only see a lot of similarities. All have 34mm tubes, are high mag variable scope with similar range of operation and front AO size, side focus with exposed target turrents. Similar weight between the S&B and SV. The March is 13oz lighter – that’s a lot! In this...
