If you’re after a scope capable of accurate long-range shots, something you wouldn’t be expecting is value. High power optics demand a high price, and while the Sightron SIII 6-24mm rifle scope isn’t exactly cheap, it has a lot to offer.
Realistically, it’s one of the more affordable options when it comes to this category. But the real question is; can it also provide the performance offered by more expensive options? Well, there’s only one way to find out.
Join me as I take a closer look and discover if it’s possible for a long-range scope to be of great value in my in-depth Sightron SIII 6-24x50mm Rifle Scope Review.
About Sightron
Sightron is owned and operated by a Japanese company that specializes in lenses for high-end microscopes. With a heritage requiring such a level of precision and accuracy, it’s little wonder that adapting to sports optics has yielded such fantastic results.
The Japanese parent company founded Sightron in 1993 in Youngsville, North Carolina, USA. The headquarters is still located at that exact location to this day. Being a Japanese-owned company, you would expect the scopes to be made in Japan, right?
Expanded horizons…
In the beginning, almost all of Sightron’s rifle scope products were produced in Japan. Since then, Sightron has expanded its range, introducing additional lines of scopes. This required some changes in their manufacturing processes and locations.
Currently, Sightron scopes are produced in one of two locations being either Japan or the Philippines. As with any company in today’s global market, in order to remain competitive, an affordable line of products was required.
Location, location, location…
The entry-level line of scopes is produced in the Philippines, where the facilities are still owned and controlled by Sightron. This includes models such as the SIH Hunter Series, SIH Filed Target Series, SII Series, and the S-TAC Series.
The remaining scope models are still produced in Japan. These include the SII Big Sky Series, SIII LR Series, SIII FFP Series, SIII Field Target Series, and the SV Series. Basically, all the SIII and SV series are made in Japan, with the remaining made in the Philippines.
Design and Features
My first impression of the Sightron SIII 6-24x50mm rifle scope is that the fit and finish are excellent. The matte finish is even across the entire scope, along with the rotating parts moving smoothly and precisely.
A nice touch is having the indicator markers, and numerals etched in a gold color, which adds to the overall appearance. Each part of the scope is built off the solid one-piece 30 mm tube, which feels solid and well constructed.
Adjusting your knob…
Each of the knobs has a tall target turret design which includes dust covers for an added layer of protection. A nice amount of knurling can be found on each knob that assists with grip for more precise adjustments.
Each time an adjustment is made, the user will hear an audible click along with tactile feedback for confirmation. Each and every click can be made both confidently and accurately, which is actually incredibly satisfying.
Leaving a mark…
Anyone hesitant about the gold markings, as opposed to the more traditional white, shouldn’t be. They are clear and easily identifiable, although there are no direction indicators visible from behind the scope.
The elevation turret has horizontal hash marks to keep track of where you are in the rotation. This is repeated vertically for the windage turret also. A third knob can be found on the left-hand side that is used for focus with it too offering buttery smooth performance.
Whatever your reticle…
There are five different reticle options to choose from with the SIII rifle scope. These include MOA 2, Narrow Duplex, Wide Duplex, Dot .25, and what I have here, which is a Mil-Dot. It is a traditional Mil-Dot style reticle which suits me just fine.
The reticle uses standard US Army round dot sizes of .22 mils with four dots on each side of the crosshair. It is amazingly accurate at the maximum zoom range, which is 24x magnification, although the dots do appear large at that range.
A moment of clarity…
One of the absolute standouts of this rifle scope is the optical quality and performance. Images are bright, detailed, crisp, and of course, clear. It can be very difficult to both describe and compare lens quality as it is rather subjective.
This scope also performs amazingly well when it comes to low light performance with outstanding light transmission. Typically nothing can be perfect, and that is also true on this occasion. Field of view is slightly narrower than other scopes in this category, but this isn’t anything worth getting too distracted by.
Specifications
The objective lens diameter of the Sightron SIII is 50 mm with a tube diameter of 30 mm. This makes mounting easy by using common and accessible rings. The zoom range is between 6 and 24x magnification power for long-range applications.
As mentioned, there are five reticles to choose from. Dot .25, Mil-Dot, MOA 2, Narrow Duplex, and Wide Duplex. There are also two focal planes on offer, including FFP (First Focal Plane) and SFP (Second Focal Plane).
Making some adjustments…
Adjustment types are either Mil-Rad at 0.1 Mil-Rad per click or MOA at 0.25 MOA per click. Depending on your reticle and focal plane choice, the W/E adjustment range is either 29.1 Mil-Rad, 80 MOA, or 100 MOA.
This scope is also available in either illuminated or non-illuminated. If you opt for the illuminated model, it uses LED technology and lights up in a red color. This is powered by a single CR2032 lithium battery.
Taking some measurements…
The scope length is 14.96-inches (38-millimeters) with a width and height of 2.3-inches (58.42-millimeters). Depending on which options you select, the weight of the scope will be between 21.9-ounces (620-grams) and 24.3-ounces (689-grams).
Linear field of view is 3.9 to 16.1-feet at 100-yards, which is still a generous offering. Eye relief is at a comfortable 3.6 to 3.8-inches (91.44 to 96.52-millimeters), making it suitable for rifles with heavy recoil. Parallax and focus range is rated at 40-yards (36.6-meters) to infinity.
Ready for anything…
A Zact-7 lens coating has been applied to the glass, which provides glare reduction and increased light transmission. It also offers protection against dirt, dust, and oils if they accidentally come in contact with it.
The scope is also waterproof for use in all weather conditions. Being nitrogen gas-charged additionally helps provide fog resistance in cooler and humid conditions. Aircraft-grade aluminum construction also offers shock resistance for extended life and durability.
Sightron SIII 6-24x50mm Rifle Scope Pros & Cons
Pros
- Produced in Japan to incredibly high-quality standards.
- Impressive fit and finish.
- Satisfying audible and tactile response to every click made on the turrets.
- Great range of reticle and adjustment options.
- Compact and lightweight for a long-range scope.
- Amazingly clear and precise glass used for the lenses.
Cons
- No direction indicators are visible on the turrets.
- Field of view is not as wide as some other scopes in this category.
- A tool is required for resetting both elevation and windage to zero.
- There is no zero stop available for the elevation.
Looking for More High-quality Scope Options?
Then take a look at our reviews of the Best Mil Dot Scopes, the Best Scopes for M&P 15-22, the Best Air Rifle Scopes, the Best 308 Rifles Scopes, or the Best Scout Scopes you can buy in 2023.
Or, check out our in-depth reviews of the Best Rimfire Scopes, the Best Deer Hunting Scopes, the Best Scopes for AR15 under 100 Dollars, the Best 300 Win Mag Scopes, as well as the Best Mini 14 Ranch Rifles currently on the market.
Conclusion
Sightron’s SIII rifle scope performs amazingly well in all the important areas. Build quality is second to none, and the lenses are nothing short of spectacular. It’s by no means the perfect scope and does have some minor flaws.
Thankfully, these are very small grievances that can be improved upon. Adding some easily visible direction indicators would be a great start. In the beginning, I asked if it was possible for a long-range scope to be of great value. Well, Sightron has proved this is certainly possible with this accurate and high-performance product which is sure to satisfy even the fussiest of users.
Happy and safe shooting.
