I got out to the range this weekend with my new sightron 6-24X50 scope, and was able to compare with my buddies 8-32X56 NXS. I say new, but I bought the Sightron here on the hide, and after contacting Sightron found that it was built in 2008. This is not one of the new models. I knew the sightron wasn't built anywhere near as tough as the NXS, and that showed while messing with the turrets and dials. This comes to no surprise due to the intended purposes of the two: the sightron was meant to be a benchrest target scope while the NXS designed to be taken into combat.
We didn't spend much time comparing things other than glass both scopes already tracked perfectly. Most people here already know all about the NXS's durability and other features so I won't get in to that. I did not do durability test on the sightron, nor do I intend to since I'm a benchrest shooter and do not do tactical competitions. The only non-glass related comparison I will make is with the controls. I favored the NXS's in every way. The Sightron's elevation and windage turrets are crisp and tactile, but way too light. These are designed for capped turrets, otherwise they are absolutely turn while being carried in a bag. Conversely, I feel the magnification adjustment ring on the Sightron and the side focus as too tight. The NXS's controls were pretty much perfect, with the exception being the side focus, which I thought was too light. These results did not surprise us at all as they were in line with the intended purposes of the scopes.
Things did not get interesting until we compared the glass. It was a bright and sunny day in Maryland yesterday, however the temperatures were in the mid-40s. The shooting benches were covered so we were in the shade. I had been shooting my rifle prior the comparison and noticed mirage coming off the barrel at 24X, so I turned it down to 20 where it was clear. My friend had not shot yet, but we turned his scope to 20 to get a fair comparison. We tried to get them as close to the same magnification as possible, although I know the markings on the dial are not 100% accurate.
Three people total looked at the scopes: myself, my friend, and a third party who had much more experience with tactical shooting and scopes than either of us. All three of us gave a slight edge in clarity to the sightron when the NXS had the sunshade ON. Were were looking at letters and the bar code on my target and they were slightly sharper with the Sightron. The third party noted that the Sightron seemed brighter and let in more light, although I did not notice this. I did notice the Sightron resolved the image in warmer colors than the NXS. I prefer cooler colors myself, as did my friend. However, when we took the sunshade off the NXS, that changed things dramatically. Both the third party, and myself thought the NXS was now slightly sharper, although my friend (owner of NXS) still preferred the Sightron. The coloring of the NXS now changed too, and matched the warmth of the Sightron.
I wish I had a 5.5-22X50 NXS so this comparison could be done with equal size objective lenses. In any case, the results were quite surprising, especially the effect of the sunshade. I did not think it would make as big a difference as it did. My friend liked the Sightron quite a bit, after comparing the two, unfortunately not enough to trade
. He also wishes he had gone with the 5.5-22X50 instead of the 8-32X56 as it is too big with too much magnification.
I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the SIII, although I will admit that it is no NXS in terms of durability and ease of use with controls. The reticule choices with the SIII are also poor at the moment as well. I will say that it was comparable to the NXS in regards to glass clarity.
We didn't spend much time comparing things other than glass both scopes already tracked perfectly. Most people here already know all about the NXS's durability and other features so I won't get in to that. I did not do durability test on the sightron, nor do I intend to since I'm a benchrest shooter and do not do tactical competitions. The only non-glass related comparison I will make is with the controls. I favored the NXS's in every way. The Sightron's elevation and windage turrets are crisp and tactile, but way too light. These are designed for capped turrets, otherwise they are absolutely turn while being carried in a bag. Conversely, I feel the magnification adjustment ring on the Sightron and the side focus as too tight. The NXS's controls were pretty much perfect, with the exception being the side focus, which I thought was too light. These results did not surprise us at all as they were in line with the intended purposes of the scopes.
Things did not get interesting until we compared the glass. It was a bright and sunny day in Maryland yesterday, however the temperatures were in the mid-40s. The shooting benches were covered so we were in the shade. I had been shooting my rifle prior the comparison and noticed mirage coming off the barrel at 24X, so I turned it down to 20 where it was clear. My friend had not shot yet, but we turned his scope to 20 to get a fair comparison. We tried to get them as close to the same magnification as possible, although I know the markings on the dial are not 100% accurate.
Three people total looked at the scopes: myself, my friend, and a third party who had much more experience with tactical shooting and scopes than either of us. All three of us gave a slight edge in clarity to the sightron when the NXS had the sunshade ON. Were were looking at letters and the bar code on my target and they were slightly sharper with the Sightron. The third party noted that the Sightron seemed brighter and let in more light, although I did not notice this. I did notice the Sightron resolved the image in warmer colors than the NXS. I prefer cooler colors myself, as did my friend. However, when we took the sunshade off the NXS, that changed things dramatically. Both the third party, and myself thought the NXS was now slightly sharper, although my friend (owner of NXS) still preferred the Sightron. The coloring of the NXS now changed too, and matched the warmth of the Sightron.
I wish I had a 5.5-22X50 NXS so this comparison could be done with equal size objective lenses. In any case, the results were quite surprising, especially the effect of the sunshade. I did not think it would make as big a difference as it did. My friend liked the Sightron quite a bit, after comparing the two, unfortunately not enough to trade
I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the SIII, although I will admit that it is no NXS in terms of durability and ease of use with controls. The reticule choices with the SIII are also poor at the moment as well. I will say that it was comparable to the NXS in regards to glass clarity.
