If not, then why do the tubes, bells and focus lock ring look exactly the same?

No they aren't.
I own both and when you compare them side by side the differences are more obvious.
I have a bunch of Sightron S1's in 3-9x40 most in matte finish and one in gloss, very good scopes for the money and I have them on several rifles as truck and coyote rifles. However they are not quite a Leupold and all my serious rough conditions hunting rifles wear Leupolds. If you ever have to send a Sightron back for warranty it doesn't go to the Leupold plant in Beaverton Oregon!

Sightron is an Asian-made product.

All Leupold rifle scopes are American-made (however, most of their binocular and spotting scope line comes from Asia.)

Looks like someone with ties to Leupold, or a real good copy cat decided to purchase the same brand tubes and components as Leupold, then build the same scope in Japan for half the cost.

The SI vs. the VX-I are the same scope:

Sightron SI 3-9 X 40 HHR: $115.00



Leupold VX-I 3-9 X 40: $220.00




Same clarity, same warranty, same eye relief, same scope tube, same focus lock ring. The Sightron is half the price with a ballistic reticle!

The Sightron has the same ring that Leupold uses for their "Gold Ring" series.

The SI, SII and SII all ratio exactly with the VX-I, VX-II and VX-III prices brackets, although much less.

It is good to contribute to employment of local individuals but I can't afford that and others with more money can purchase Leupold's.

Just found my new scope! SI 3-9X40 HHR

They don't look identical to me but I wouldn't be surprised if the parts are made in the same factory.

It's called competing with the most popular scopes in the world. Why reinvent the wheel when Leupold has done all the ground work. As far as the scopes in the pic. the VX1 has a 2 piece tube, the other looks like it has a one piece tube. Sure they look alike but then dont most scopes share similar features?

Remember that part of Asian culture is to copy and then perfect it. And there's nothing wrong with that.

That said, does Sightron produce better products than Leupold? I don't know since I've never owned either.

quote:

Originally posted by mmaggi:
Remember that part of Asian culture is to copy and then perfect it. And there's nothing wrong with that.

They do copy everthing from powertools and (NAME BRAND) clothing you can buy at a flea market or knock of leupolds for that mater. Your statement "perfect it" has me shakeing my head though.

Originally posted by ted thorn:

quote:

Your statement "perfect it" has me shakeing my head though.

Wouldn't say they have exceeded the Leupold but based on all the reviews have read looks like they have equalled the Leupold, at least in the VX-I and VX-II series.

Can't understand why these scopes are not everywhere. Called my local buisness' and 2 don't order them anymore and 1 may be able to get them but says they have never had an order.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/staff_riflescopes.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/few_recommended_riflescopes.htm

Reviews :



"Received this scope today. The clarity and brightness are great. The turret clicks are very stiff, audible and positive. The scope has a nice even matte finish. It is a little critical on sight window, but nothing major. This scope compares nicely with Nikon Buckmaster, Bushnell 3200, Burris Fullfield II and Leupold VX-II at around half the price. If you are looking for a good budget scope I would definitely look at this one..."

"Bought my first Sightron to put on my .270 to hunt coyotes and prairie dogs 3years ago. I only had to sight it in three times and beat it up a lot. Holds point of impact, extremely weather proof, and very reliable. Got rid of my old scopes and replaced them with Sightrons' and I am very happy. The dots also help acquire range, windage, and gives you a reliable edge than having regular duplex cross hairs. If you couldn't tell I love these scopes and hope you do to."

"The quality you get for the price paid is outstanding. Optics are super clear, click adjustments are accurate, power adjustment smooth, this is one tough scope for the money. Combine all the above with a lifetime no-fault warranty and what more could you ask for. I mounted mine on my AR-15, and have had zero problems with it. Great buy!!!"

"This is a tough scope. I mounted one on my 338 Winchester Magnum and it has held up to the recoil. I used this scope and it's mil dot reticle to take an antelope at 500 yards with my 7mm and it worked great. I would recommend using a chronograph and a computer software program to determine your point of impact and corresponding holdover for different yardages. Get a Leica laser rangefinder to determine yardage and you have the ingredients to a successful long range hunting experience. I have now mounted this same scope on my 300 Winchester Magnum. There really is no other scope in this price range that offers the durability and fuctionality of the Sightron S1."

"Clear, crisp, bright, no frills scope. Put one on my .378 Weatherby (primarily because of it's shock-proof qualities) and it has not gone off alignment even with the severe recoil. Click adjustments are crisp and accurate (they are finger adjustable) and the zoom is smooth and clear. If this thing can survive the .378 it can survive anything. Great scope, it performs better than scopes costing much more, the low price is not indicative of the quality."

"This will withstand magnum cartridges. Elevation and windage adjustments are accurate. Parallax is not very tight at their advertised 100 yards (okay for hunting though). All in all a good scope. I have several. They honor their warranty very well."

"Good scope for the money, clear view and point of impact does not move when changing zoom back and forth"

They can't be made by Leupold. The Sightron has a one piece tube. Not sure which Leupolds have a one-piece tube - it's not mentioned as a feature. I have had both, but now buy the SII 3-9x42 because of the tremendous value. For $200, I get a scope that seems to compare between the VX II and VX III. I've hunted a few seasons with them, with absolutely no problems, and one has no problem withstanding the recoil of a 338 WM on a 6.25 pound rifle. You simply get a lot for your money. Alot of copycats can be crap, but this scope represents true value engineering in my opinion.

When you buy a Leupold, you get "peace of mind" because Leupold is the standard by which most other scopes are judged.

When you buy a Sightron, you get a nice scope.

I don't really care for the Sightron SIs that I've owned, but think that the SIIs are good. That said, all of my "serious" rifles carry Leupolds. But, as with many things, YMMV.

Jeff

Found a local shop and looked through the Sightron S1 3-9 X 40.

This scope is exactly the same clarity, hue tone and crispness of the Leupold VX-II.

There is not a spec. of any edge distortion.

The reticle is crisp and fine, exactly like the VX-II.

The Sightron absolutely detroyed the Burris Fullfield II, the Bushnell Trophy, the Bushnell Legend, the Bushnell Elite 3200 and 4200.

The Bushnell 4200 gathered a tiny bit more light but the image was not nearly as crisp and distortion free like the Sightron. The Sightron has a much better reticle as well, finer.

All the Bushnell's exhibited a slight orange hue to my eyes which gives a depressing light to me. The Sightron gave a nice natural, bright blue light with zero distortion.

Would easily buy the Sightron S1 vs. the 4200 any day. $10.00 scope flip-ups can put the Rainguard marketing to rest.

Would easily buy the S1 instead of the VX-II any day and get the same scope with a ballistic reticle for half price. I owned a VX-II, the S1 is the same optic quality.

Great to have all those choices, ay?

I don't know who the lense and glass makers are, but I do remember talking to an optical shop, and there are not that many lense makers.

I suspect there are two or three, maybe less(!!) who make all the lenses for everyone.

The optical quality of the lense depends on the specification the buyer gave the optical shop.

Today lenses and coatings are much better than ever before. Modern production methods produce lots of good product. The difference between the average and the best is much smaller.

Still, the best scopes use the best lenses. But it may take an optical interferometer to tell the difference.

quote:

Not sure which Leupolds have a one-piece tube

The Rifleman, VXI and VX II have two piece tubes, I believe just the VXIII , the new 7's and up are one piece tubes.

Which scope is brighter/clearer is completely subjective, the coatings really affect how the user perceives which scope is brighter. It matters not what a meter says it;s all about your eyes.

They don't look identical to me. At all.

-.02

The sightron scope is a great scope every bit as good as leupold and sightron has a rock solid warranty. I had a minor problem with my 1.5- 6 x42 caused by my own stupidity and contacted the factory they told me to take it to my local retailer an have it replaced at no charge! No questions asked. I had to send my Leupold off and it took 2 months to get it back. With great customer service like that Sightron will get mt business.

I put a Sightron S2 4x12x42mmAO on my Distance .308 2 years ago. Now it is the Big Sky model. Great scope! I paid $250.00, now they are $350.00. Leupold could take a lesson. JP

"Optical Quality" can be subjectively tested by machine to determine many specific measurements, but since each individual has different optical equipement between the scope and his/her brain, the same scope may be judged differently by different people.

Subjectively speaking, there is no way that a Sightron SI can be equal to a Leupold VX2, as the VX2 has better quality lens coatings. If you want to believe that you're get a scope that is equal to a Leupold VX2 for less $$ when you buy a Sightron SI, then the only person you are deceiving is yourself. Maybe a Sightron SII, but never an SI.

Jeff

quote:

Originally posted by Boxhead:
Great to have all those choices, ay?

Yes, about time I found a sanely priced good scope.

quote:

Originally posted by 260remguy:

Subjectively speaking, there is no way that a Sightron SI can be equal to a Leupold VX2, as the VX2 has better quality lens coatings.

If you want to believe that you're get a scope that is equal to a Leupold VX2 for less $$ when you buy a Sightron SI, then the only person you are deceiving is yourself. Maybe a Sightron SII, but never an SI.

Cheap labour, or should I say fair labour in Japan.

Buy all the components from the same supplier for tubes, then match Leupold's optical spec's on their lenses and you can build a scope for half the cost.

A reticle is a reticle, it costs maybe a few dollars to include a couple extra ballistic hash marks.

Not a Leupold, but maybe the lenses are factory crimped in place, making it better than a Loopy!

I've had decent luck with a couple Sightrons. However they certaintly don't look like mirror images of each other placed side by side in the two photos posted.

Leupold lenses are made in Japan....so buy a Sightron and save yerself some money and not feel guilty about it.
Boeing has no problem putting BritishRR engines on its frames, many Americans arent bothered with that.

I have looked at sightrons a few times. Never could get one to focus. I don't think a few minites at a store is the best test.
An hour at the range is better.
A week in the woods is best. Seems we all seem to like the good old 3x9 real well though.
I often go 2X7 for a smaller rifle.
...tj3006

Originally posted by Thomas Jones:

quote:

I don't think a few minites at a store is the best test.

Not the best test for comparing between something like an SI and an SII but in comparing the SI against the Burris, and Bushnell products, the store gave more than enough data to cull the others. Simply put, I would not own them.

I heard years ago, that Sightron was started by an ex-Leupold engineer who took his production to Asia. I have a 1.5-6x on a .375 and it has held up well so far. I actually think they are optically at least as good as a Leupold. I have still never sent a Leupold or Zeiss Conquest in for repairs though.

Originally posted by jstevens:

quote:

I heard years ago, that Sightron was started by an ex-Leupold engineer who took his production to Asia.

I believe that.

Originally posted by wetdog2084:

quote:

The sightron scope is a great scope every bit as good as leupold and sightron has a rock solid warranty. I had a minor problem with my 1.5- 6 x42 caused by my own stupidity and contacted the factory they told me to take it to my local retailer an have it replaced at no charge! No questions asked.

Saving production costs by having all scopes build in Japan doesn't allow repairs later.

If your product is excellent quality, you have very few problems, so offering a straight exchange warranty makes complete sense.