Sightron SIIISS 10-50x60 mm LRFCH

Formed in 1993 as an American and Japanese optical consortium, Sightron took only 20 years to become a major maker of sports optics, with diverse offerings from binoculars to riflescopes.

Sightron’s SIII series scopes, introduced in 2000 and updated in 2009, marked its foray into the premium optics market. Compared to the company’s other scopes, the SIII models offer improved resolution, brightness and clarity, thanks in part to Sightron’s seven-layer ZacT-7 coatings, which afford 95 percent to 97 percent total light transmission. Also proprietary to the SIII is the ExacTrac windage and elevation adjustment system, which ensures precise, repeatable clicks varying less than 5 percent from their nominal value. At present there are some 25 SIII scope variants, including the 10-50X 60 mm LRFCH reviewed here.

The SIII 10-50X 60 mm LRFCH features a 30-mm 6061-T6 aluminum main tube, a 60-mm objective bell, premium Japanese lead-free glass, zeroable target-type windage and elevation turrets, left-side parallax focus, and a fast-focus eyepiece allowing +4 to -4 diopter adjustment. The scope is waterproof to a depth of two meters and is nitrogen-filled to prevent fogging. Capable of withstanding the recoil of the .50 BMG, the scope can also handle the two-stage recoil impulse of airguns (damaging to conventional scopes), making it popular in field airgun competition.

SIII 10-50X 60 mm scopes can be had with six different second-focal plane reticles (three with illumination), click values of 1/4-minute, 1/8-minute or 0.05 milliradian, and target or tactical turrets. Our test scope featured a non-illuminated fine crosshair, 1/8-minute adjustments and target turrets.

Submersion in water for 60 minutes and exposure to subfreezing temperatures for eight hours produced no evidence of leakage, fogging or adverse mechanical effects. We next mounted the scope on an F-T/R target rifle with a Surgeon action, Lawton barrel and Accuracy Int’l stock, capable of 0.25-inch groups with .30-cal. Hornady match bullets. “Shooting the square” validated the accuracy of the click values, and the view through scope appeared sharp and bright, with no edge blurriness, chromatic aberration, or distortion.

Sightron stated that the 10-50X 60 mm models have seen success in long-range competition, so we tried our scope at the 1,000-yard Patriot range at Peacemaker National Training Center in Gerrardstown, W.Va. We gave the optic high marks for long-range use, our only complaint being the lack of numerical yardage marks on the parallax focus knob.

In our opinion, the Sightron SIIISS 10-50X 60 mm LRFCH scope’s optical quality, magnification range and competitive price should make it appealing to avid target shooters, varminters and airgun competitors.

Importer: Sightron; (800) 867-7512;  sightron.com
Model No.: 25139
Model Name: SIIISS1050X60LRFCH
Magnification and Objective: 10-50X 60 mm
Finish: matte-black anodizing
Field of View (ft. @ 100 Yds.): 9.6 ft. (19X),  2.2 ft. (50X)
Eye Relief: 4.5" (10X), 3.8" (50X)
Exit Pupil: 6 mm (10X), 1.2 mm (50X)
Click Value: 0.125 m.o.a.
Windage and Elevation Adjustment Range: 50 m.o.a. each
M.O.A. per Revolution: 10
Min. Focus: 13 yds.
Reticle: fine crosshair
Length: 16.9"
Weight: 30 ozs.
Features: 30 mm tube, fast-focus eyepiece, target-type windage and elevation turrets, parallax focusing knob, ExacTrac click adjustment system, Zact-7 coatings, Sightron Lifetime Limited Warranty
Accessories: lens caps, lens cloth, Allen wrench, owner’s manual
Options: 3" lens shade
Suggested Retail Price: $1,361