Ok, I'm sure you folks are sick of my ramblings about different scopes, but this last one 'might' be kinda interesting to someone getting started.

Usual disclaimer: I own 41 scopes, my boss/buddy (whom I buy scopes/guns/ammo for) now has 8. Not boasting (some might (!!) make good hammers), just want to establish a baseline. Once our scopes are sighted in, they are not cranked up and down and the target range is 200 yards max. All the scopes tested are brand new.
This is NOT about shooting the box, low light performance, etc, it's just a SUBJECTIVE look at optical performance.

Being retired, I spend a LOT of time reviewing scopes and always take every opinion as just that. I have been dying to order a Sightron SIII (6-24X50) model.
If you've followed my rants in the past, you might remember that I was very, very underwhelmed my our new Leupold 4.5-14X50 LR/T which is mounted on a new Barrett M107A1 in 50 BMG. He has had a few lower end scopes mounted on his M12 BVSS (22-250), and other varmint rifles. I told him we need better glass on the Savage since it's used by a lot of our guests and is recoil friendly. It's last scope was a Weaver Kaspa, which 'worked' but it is just cheap looking/feeling.

I've also been upgrading my rechambered Axis HB rifles. 223 AI, 22-250 AI, 243 AI with better glass........

So today, we pulled an assortment of guns from the safe, put them on a large picnic table and put a few targets at 90 yards.
(6mmbr.com has some great, free optical test targets). The weather was 80 degrees, clear, no wind.
Test method: Scopes were set on equal power, in relation to each other, both low and high. Then, the tree line at 1000 yards was checked. All scopes were focused as necessary.
3 sets of eyes, of different ages, were used. ha ha The other guys (not being a scope 'nut' like me, were unaware of prices until the end).....

In order on the table.......

#1.....Leupold 4.5-14X50 LR/T 30mm tube
#2.....Simmonds Whitetail Classic 6.5-20X50 1" tube
#3.....Sightron SIII 6-24X50 30mm tube
#4.....Viper Vortex 6.5-20X50 30mm tube
#5.....Weaver Kaspa 4-16X44 1" tube

Observations and OUR conclusions:

Scope #3 was the best.
Scope #4 and #1 were ONLY just the smallest bit behind
Scope #5 was OK, but still ugly/cheap looking, small eyebox
Scope #2....... This scope was nothing short of amazing!! The only reason it wasn't right near the top, was the front focus! I guess the other guys (like me) have become spoiled by side focus. Even the Kaspa has this feature.

The Simmons was purchased on-sale from Midway for $99 with free shipping. I was SO impressed with it, I ordered 2 more.

MY conclusions:

I was just about to order a Sightron SIII. I just installed another Viper Vortex (fourth one) on the 22-250 AI today. Since the SIII is 2X the price of the Viper, I no longer want one. It's beautiful, but not that much better. Besides I can shoot my buddies any time I want. ha ha
Both the Simmons and the Vortex are made in the Philippines.
The Sightron is made in Japan.
The Kaspa is made in China (and looks it)

Looking at the reviews on Midways site, the Simmons is highly rated (whatever that's worth). It's an amazing value. Would I put it on the 50 BMG? No.

I hopes this helps someone looking for new glass.

ron