At the 2016 SHOT Show, I made a point of stopping by the Sightmark booth. I wanted to learn more about their new hunting scopes, known as the Core HX line. I’ve never used any Sightmark scopes, but I’d be willing to give them a chance.
Sightmark’s model terminology is simple: TX for tactical products, HX for hunting, and SX for everything else. That’s what a guy at the booth said, anyhow. A more informed source now tells me the S stands for Specialty and encompasses rimfire, shotgun, crossbow, and handgun scopes.
They’ve got quite a few HX scopes listed on their site , but here are the highlights of the new models for 2016:
Core HX 2-7×32 HHR Hog Hunter Riflescope
- Designed specifically for hunting feral hogs.
- 2x-7x variable power, 32mm objective.
- HHR “range-finding” hog reticle (crosshair).
- Shockproof, fogproof, and waterproof.
- Length 11.26 inches
- Weight 14 ounces
- Exit pupil 32-4.5 mm
- FOV 54.4-14.4 ft @ 100 yards
- Item number SM13067HHR
- MSRP $143.99
Core HX 3-9×40 VHR Venison Hunter Riflescope
- Designed specifically for hunting whitetail deer.
- 3x-9x variable power, 40mm objective.
- VHR range-finding “venison hunting reticle” crosshair.
- Shockproof, fogproof, and waterproof.
- Length 12.26 inches
- Weight 14.2 ounces
- Exit pupil 13.3-4.4 mm
- FOV 35.4-12.2 ft @100 yards
- Item number SM13068VHR
- MSRP $155.99
Core HX 4-16x44AO VHR Venison Hunter Riflescope
- Designed specifically for hunting whitetail deer.
- 4x-16x variable power, 44mm objective.
- Adjustable Objective.
- VHR range-finding “venison hunting reticle” crosshair.
- Shockproof, fogproof, and waterproof.
- Length 14.3 inches
- Weight 16.2 ounces
- Exit pupil 11-2.75 mm
- FOV 24.8-6.2 ft @100 yards
- Item number SM13069VHR
- MSRP $239.99
Core HX 6-24x50AO VHR Venison Hunter Riflescope
- Designed specifically for hunting whitetail deer.
- 6x-24x variable power, 50mm objective.
- Adjustable Objective.
- VHR range-finding “venison hunting reticle” crosshair.
- Shockproof, fogproof, and waterproof.
- Length 14.4 inches
- Weight 19.4 ounces
- Exit pupil 8-3.2 mm
- FOV 16.6-4.1 ft @100 yards
- Item number SM13070VHR
- MSRP $263.99
To me, special ranging crosshairs are gimmicks when it comes to most hunting situations. Most hunters have no reason to care how far away their game is because modern rifles and ammunition provides a good long range in which a hunter can hold in the center of a kill zone of reasonable diameter and cleanly take the game. Those hunting at extreme distances where ranging is necessary would do well to look at scopes of higher quality. But these scopes may be good values for the average hunter.
I’m thinking of giving them a try. Have you tried Sightmark scopes? Sound off in the comments below.
