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Sig Sauer Tango 6T

Optics, Product review, , , , ,

Introduction

Low Power Variable Optics (LVPO’s) have been flooding through the firearm market for years now. This is likely due to the proliferation of medium-range carbines. It didn’t take long for shooters to realize the value of variable low power optics, but what makes an LVPO shine over another?

Sig Sauer has long been a big name in the firearms industry.  I’ve been a big fan as long as I’ve been a gun owner. So it came as no surprise several years ago when Sig brought their own line of optics to market. What was a surprise, at least to me, was how invested I would get.

Sig Sauer Tango Riflescopes

My first Sig Sauer optic was a Tango 6 5-30. A high powered riflescope with all of Sig Sauer’s bells and whistles. It has been a great scope for several years, and still enjoys its place on one of my favorite rifles.

The 6T features Sig’s high quality, clear lenses for which they are well known. The 1-6 power 6T features a 30mm tube and a front focal plane 5.56/7.62mm/300 Blackout Horseshoe Dot ballistic reticle with illumination. There are a couple of different configurations for the 6T, the one I ordered came in Flat Dark Earth only. It also features a line lengthwise down the side of the tube. Which eases the scope’s mounting by giving a reference point. This allows users to evenly seat the scope in the rings. A “cattail,” or clamp-on handle, gives the user better purchase when adjusting the magnification setting.

I mounted the Tango 6T in the Strike Industries ASM mount, an adjustable scope mount that can cantilever the optic out to several different positions. After mounting the scope, it was time to zero it — an easy task using the finger adjustable turrets. When not in use, the turrets are capped. I installed the CR2032 battery into the illumination turret and lit up the Horseshoe reticle. The 8-position rheostat has an off setting between each number and a push-pull lock to avoid accidental adjustment.

On the Range


My first impression on the range was the image. My eyes were swept from their sockets by the crystal clear and bright image. I am more of a 1-8 fan than a 1-6, but this 1-6 is so beautiful I would have a hard time turning it down for more magnification. The Tango 6T has parallax set to 150-meters, so shooting targets further out isn’t a problem.

This was very convenient because I ran the Tango 6T on two different rifles, both capable downrange performers. I first mounted the scope on the Armalite M-15 Comp Rifle, a match-grade competition rifle built specifically for 3-Gun. I found the M-15 to be very accurate, and with the Tango 6T mounted, it was a nearly unstoppable setup. The low power setting of the Sig made closer targets easy to engage accurately with both eyes open. Zooming in to 6X gave me enough magnification to pick out distant targets, while the Horseshoe reticle offered handy hold points for those distances.

I never expect ballistic reticles to match perfectly. It’s nearly impossible unless you are shooting the same ammunition in the same conditions as those who designed the reticle — the same goes for custom scope turrets. The good news is that it’s pretty close. Modern flat-shooting cartridges have a fairly similar trajectory so drop points on the reticle are close enough to be useful.

Read the full article on Guns.com

Round Two

After testing the Tango 6T on the Armalite, I moved it over to the Desert Tech MDRX. The MDRX is a multi-caliber rifle, and I shot it with both .223 Remington and 6mm ARC barrels. The Tango 6T felt right at home on top of my MDRX, a much more compact rifle than the Armalite. Maneuvering around obstacles for shooting positions was much easier, and regardless of how close or far away the targets were, the Sig provided a beautiful sight picture with bright images.

I keep bringing that up, but the optical clarity may be the part I like the most about this scope. There is more to the Tango 6T than just optical clarity, though. The engineers at Sig paid attention to so many little details like the texturing of control surfaces, high visibility green fiber optics markers around the magnification ring, and other little features that make you feel good about purchasing this scope. 

Shop Sig Sauer optics at Palmetto State Armory
Euro Optics Has the full line of Sig Sauer Optics as well

Turrets and Reticle

The turrets of the Tango 6T are 0.2 MRAD per click, which matches the MRAD reticle inside. The clicks are very clean and audible, and the grip surfaces inside the turrets are rubberized for easier grip, whether using gloves or your bare fingers. 

As far as the reticle itself, this might be one place where I wish they had put just a tiny bit more effort into it. Some people like a simple and clean reticle, while others like a reticle with many hold points to use. Being that I am a bit of a distance junkie, I find myself in the second camp. I like a reticle with plenty of hold-over positions, and accompanying wind holds as well. 

While the reticle in the Tango 6T is plenty useful, it wouldn’t have hurt my feelings to see a bit more detail to the reticle. That said, Sig also offers the 7.62 Extended Range reticle in this scope, which is better for that kind of shooting. I completely understand that most people might not need or care about this, and if you like just a few simple hold-over points, you will more than likely love this reticle.
 

Concluding Thoughts

In a market flush with many great options across nearly every price range, the Sig Sauer Tango 6T stands out as a spectacular LVPO. You would have to spend significantly more money to get a noticeably better scope with the same features. Not to mention, the Tango 6T is significantly better looking than scopes that are only 10 to 20 percent less on the market. At least, in my opinion, it would be worth spending a little bit more to step up to the Sig Sauer Tango 6T.

-CBM

Sig Sauer Kilo 3000 BDX Binoculars

Optics, Product review, , , ,

Introduction

Every hunting or shooting trip has a list of essentials, and at the very top of that gear list you’ll find things such as guns and bullets. But for many of us, it’s not very far down that list that you’ll find binoculars and rangefinder. Today we are discussing the Sig Sauer Kilo 3000 binoculars, which bring the laser rangefinder and binoculars onto the same line.

The binos made a good companion to my Desert Tech MDRX with its US Optics TS8X and YHM Turbo suppressor

THE SIG SAUER KILO 3000 BDX

Built on a 10x42mm body, the Kilo 3000 BDX offers an integrated laser rangefinder that claims up to a 5,000-yard range. Using Sig Sauer’s BDX tech, the Kilo communicates with other smartphones and tablets via Bluetooth. BDX pulls data from weather stations like the Kestrel Weather Meter to offer accurate ballistic solutions. The system also uses the Applied Ballistics solver to give shooters the best prediction for a hit. The BDX system can be used in conjunction with Sig Sauer’s BDX equipped riflescopes to show holdover and wind holds in live time with illuminative points on the reticle.

The Kilo uses a single CR2 lithium battery for powers and, according to Sig, grants approximately 4,000 chances to measure the distance to your targets before the battery needs a change. The Kilo weighs in at 31-ounces, which is almost the exact same weight as is nearest competitor.

ON THE RANGE

The vast expanse of the Rocky Mountains is the perfect place to put a rangefinder/bino combo to the test. I spend a couple of days each week shooting in these beautiful landscapes; so, I headed up to one of my favorite trails to test the Kilo. Before I left, I suited up with the chest harness that ships with the Kilo so I could hike hands-free.

The Kilo rides securely in a case around the wearer’s neck for easy access. 

Having used quite a few different binocular chest-carry outfits, I think comfort is subjective. This one, for me, wasn’t too bad. Both the case itself and the binoculars are suspended from the shoulder straps individually. The bino straps are easily snapped free should you need to disconnect them to lend a fellow hiker. Overall, I liked how quick it was to bring the binos out of the case.

Hiking into the mountains

After a good sweat from the hot August sun, I found myself looking out across a steep canyon that worked its way back into the rocky and cavernous mountain range. It was a place I frequent fairly often so I already knew a lot of the distances available to me. I sat down and began to scan with the Kilo. My very first impression of the image quality was positive.

Check out my review of the Sig Sauer Kilo 10k binos when you are done with this one.

After using many LRF binos over the years, I would put the optical quality of the Sig Kilo right near the top of its price point class. It is similar to models from Vortex, Nikon, and Leupold in the same price range. Perhaps a little better than some, but not quite as nice as the top-quality optics we are accustomed to seeing from European manufacturers like Swarovski or Leica.

One thing I did find more convenient was the focus. Using other binos, I find I must frequently adjust the focus between my eyes to get a uniform image. With the Kilo, though, I only adjusted once and never touched it again. A small issue for some, but for me it’s almost reason enough to sell my other bino models and stick with the Sig Kilo. Like most modern binoculars, the Kilo 3000 features adjustable eyecups. Like the entire exterior of the binoculars, these are rubberized for easy gripping and the control surfaces of the binoculars have an added texture as well for better manipulation.

Ranging in the wild touched to 3,000-yards, though Sig boasts a range up to 5,000-yards.

Rangefinder Performance

A good rangefinder is only as good as its ability to precisely confirm distance, so I was eager to investigate the Kilo’s laser dispersion. Laser dispersion becomes important when ranging a target with obstructions. Such as a tree branch or ridge between you and the target. Keeping the Kilo firmly fixed to a tripod, I measured the distance to several targets with surrounding obstructions.

Most targets inside the reticle of the Kilo registered the actual distance. But even something as insignificant as a leaf 380-yards away obstructing the view of a 950-yard target was picked up by the laser. All things considered, the Kilo’s laser gives a very accurate and predictable measurement. I used the Kilo both in its range-only setting as well as the incline output setting.

Shop Sig Sauer Optics at EuroOptic for a complete lineup
Sportsman’s Warehouse also has the full lineup of Sig Sauer Optics

The rangefinding capabilities of the Kilo were more than adequate for my purposes. I’ve found most rangefinders are rated for distances at the extreme envelope of their capabilities. Sig claims the Kilo can hit 5,000-yards. But I couldn’t find a target reflective enough to read that far during my testing. The Kilo did work great inside of 2,000-yards giving quick and repeatable readings for trees and even rocks in shadowed or sunny positions. I aimed it in town from my 6,000-foot perch and found that cars and buildings were ranged out to 3,000-yards.

CONCLUSION

The Sig Sauer Kilo 3000 rounds out any gear list this hunting season. 

The Kilo 3000 is yet another awesome product from the electro-optic branch of Sig Sauer. Outdoorsmen and women looking for a good pair of hunting binos would do very well with the Kilo 3000 in-hand. Having used many of its closest peers, I’d pick the Kilo.

-CBM

Sig Sauer Tango Riflescopes

Optics, Product review, , , , ,

Introduction

When a company like Sig Sauer jumps into the optics market, paying attention is a must. I was more than happy to get my hands on a couple specimens early on, and I was very happy with my purchase.
The Sig Sauer Tango line of optics is marketed towards precision shooters, long-range shooters, and hunters, as well as tactical marksmen in the LE/MIL community. I’ve been exposed to quite a few good optics in that realm, so I wanted to see how Sig stacked up.

For the purpose of this article, I will be comparing two of the Tango series of riflescopes. One is the Tango 4 which is a 4-16X44, the other is a Tango 6 5-30X56. The comparison will simply be an evaluation as these scopes are peers of different levels and price points.

sig sauer tango 6
The Tango 6 seen on my Desert Tech MDRX 6.5 Creedmoor

 

Sig Sauer Tango Riflescope Features


For starters, let’s look at the features they share, then we will look at them individually.
All Tango series scopes feature Sig’s HDX coated lenses for optimal light transfer, waterproofing, Lock-Down turrets, and one free laser-etched turret that is matched to your custom load data and atmospheric conditions.
Both the T4 and T6 are Front Focal Plane (FFP) optics, which means the reticle is placed after the magnifier inside the scope. This means the reticle will grow and shrink with the magnification setting. I prefer this configuration as it makes reticle usage more uniform, regardless of the power ring setting.
Both scopes are available with the MRAD/Moa milling reticle, or the Mrad/Moa DEV-L reticle, for those that prefer one system over the other.
The T4 and T6 also have the available MOTAC™ (Motion Activated Illumination) that initiates when motion is detected and shuts off when motionless.

The differences between the two scope are probably where most people are going to make a choice. The T4 is a 4X scope, and the T6 is a 6X, the T6 allows a wider choice of magnification from 5X all the way up to 30X. The T6 also has a larger diameter tube, it’s 34MM tube allows the T6 a greater internal adjustment range. To this larger tube is owed the 12 MRAD (30 MOA) per revolution of the turret. The slightly smaller T4 has a 10 MRAD (25 MOA) of adjustment per revolution of the turret. The 4X magnification on the T4 also gives it a shorter magnification range of 4-14, depending on your application these two different ranges of adjustment could make your choice for you.

sig sauer tango 4
The Tango 4 mounted to my Tikka T3 25 Creedmoor

The T6 that I purchased, also features Sig’s Level-Plex anti-cant system. It is a digital system that uses internal sensors to tell you when the scope is level or not. When engaged (by pushing the outer end of the parallax turret) there are two small illuminated arrows visible through the reticle. You simply adjust the cant of your rifle following the indicators, and when the rifle is level the indicators go dark, showing that the rifle is level. It is a simple and very quick to use system.

On the Range

sig sauer tango 6
Turret and other control detail on the Tango 6

Shooting the Tango 4 and 6 made me like them even more. The overall clarity of both Sig Sauer Tango riflescopes was very good, and the bright images made target acquisition and spotting hits and misses a piece of cake. Whether in the bright midday sun or in the waning light of evening, I found the scopes presented more than a satisfactory image.
I did find that for shooting groups that I really appreciated the 30 power magnification of the T6, and the DEV-L reticle provided very precise measurements for both corrections and wind holds. The simpler MRAD Milling reticle in the T4 was also very useful for those who might want a reticle that isn’t so busy. And the lower magnification of the T4 made it a great option for my hunting rifle. Lighter, smaller, and easier to quickly bring onto target.
The process of zeroing the scopes, and setting the zero stop was simple, quick, and effective. In no time I had them zeroed, and was dialing them up and down for distant shots. The Level-Plex system on the T6 proved to be very handy in the field, a simple push of a button engages it, and I never had to take my eye off the target. And it turns itself off after a few minutes. I also like the locking turrets on the scopes, raising them unlocks the turret for smooth rotation, and once set, you can push them back down to lock them in place and avoid accidental adjustments.
If I had to say I didn’t like anything about the scopes, it would probably be regarding the sliding up and down of the turret. I have no basis to prove this theory other than feel, but it seems that when the turret is raised it is not as firmly supported. It feels as if you were to knock it against something hard in the up/unlocked position it could be easily broken. Again, I have no evidence to prove that, it is just a simple observation. To be fair it feels rock-solid when it is down in the locked position.
Perhaps the only other gripe I have is likely a simple defect that is easily repaired. The two fiber optic illuminators that indicate the setting on the power ring seemed to be poorly mounted on my T6. One of them came out and was lost, not a big deal, but something worth noting. I usually don’t focus too hard on the actual setting of the magnification ring anyways, I just adjust it till it looks right to my eye, and shoot.

Conclusion

I think that both of these Sig Sauer Tango riflescopes are fantastic scopes, they definitely come in at two different price points so you can pick one the one that best fits your budget. The T4 at its $719.99 MSRP is a great competitor for the sub $1000 FFP Milling reticle scope market, I think it would compete very well against any scope in that group. The larger and much more expensive T6 MSRP $3,119.99 (as tested) is in another group altogether. I would say pending a few more hard trips into the rugged mountains, and it surviving the beating therein, I would put it against any scope in the 2k to 3k dollar range. The quality is there for sure, the only concern I have yet is with durability over time, but so far I have no reason to think it won’t
clear that hurdle as well. It is quite clear that the engineers at Sig Sauer took great care in every little feature, whether it is the griping surfaces of adjustment knobs, or something as simple as aesthetic angles and accessories. And with an unlimited lifetime warranty, you can confidently put one of these scopes to work today.

-CBM

Check out more optic reviews here

sig sauer, oscar

Sig Sauer Oscar 3

Optics, Product review, , , ,

I am a sucker for optical doodads, and usually anything that is heavy and comes in a small package. That said, I’ve never been a huge proponent of large or bulky spotting equipment. Sure, there are advantages to them, but for the kind of shooting I usually do and am involved in, they are a bit more than necessary. Most times, another rifle scope of similar magnification and quality will do, especially if it is mounted to someone else’s rifle, who can tell what I’m doing wrong.
I do have a small field spotter, it works very well for what I need, and it has a handy reticle for making corrective calls a “breeze”. Other than that, the scope on my rifle, and a good rangefinder, I have never felt much of a need for more. Once again I was forced to challenge my own prejudice regarding equipment, when a friend handed me a small package with the instructions to “try it out”.

As I opened up the box which I had been told contained a spotting scope from Sig Sauer Electro-Optics,I thought for sure that I had the wrong package. But further investigation revealed it was indeed a spotter, just a more compact one than I had expected. It was the new Oscar 3, which is a handheld 10-20X image stabilizing scope.
Perhaps some of you are thinking the same as I did, “what good is a handheld spotter at 20X?” but having been surprised by Sig Sauer on more than one occasion, I decided to save my judgement until after a good field testing. I took it straight to the roof, and began scanning the neighborhood for hostile looking deviants. Like many other quality optics, the view and resolution through the Oscar were very clean, and bright. The warm sunshine that bathed the neighborhood made for crystal clear recognition of tiny minutia on a wide variety of prospective targets. There was of course, one pending issue. The problem that I had first imagined the second I heard “20X handheld spotter” and that of course was the inability for a wobbly twerp like me to hold still long enough to do any good while spotting. Even with my best efforts, it was difficult to hold still enough to read license plates at the end of the street, I could see the characters, and almost tell what they were. But the shaking caused by the slightest breeze, or perhaps even the beating of my heart, made it just barely beyond the grasp of my eyes.

The time had come to test the core function of this handy little scope, I reached with my index finger across the top of the Oscar, and engaged the stabilization function. I was amazed as the auto induced jitters quickly disappeared, and the picture I had struggled to see just a second earlier, suddenly became a floating image. A clear image, centered between my eye and the object that reflected it. No longer did I have to concentrate on holding still, instead I could focus my attention on interpreting the images. The license plates that I couldn’t read, were now steady and clean, not only could I read the plate numbers, but the state identified on it.

I had quickly become less skeptical about this little scope, and couldn’t wait to get it into a real field shooting position to see what it can really do. Easily operated, the Oscar has an adjustable zoom from 10-20X on the ocular end, and the focus is done by turning the objective end of the scope. The switch on top of the unit turns on the stabilization.
Fast forward a few days, and I found myself surrounded by hundreds of miles of Utah’s west desert. Myself and a few friends had made our way up the steep edge of a rocky ridge, overlooking a seemingly unending sage brush flat. Our quarry that day was any number of jackrabbits who called the sagebrush home. We had already spotted several, and knew they were out there, hiding among the brush. Their color matching almost perfectly the plants and ground that they inhabited. So many times one would spot a rabbit, and until it moved, you could never be sure what exactly it was.

It was time to put the Oscar to work, laying down in tumbleweeds and rocks to look through my rifle scope was just too cumbersome, at least to spot the rabbits. My rangefinder was handy, but with only 8X, it made target investigation a little tedious. The Oscar’s ability to zoom in to as much as 20X, and its image stabilization would be perfect for picking out the slightest movement. The quick nature of engaging rabbits made for some challenging transitions from a spotting to a shooting position. But one after another, we found the jackrabbits, sneaking about through the brush. Some of them were quite close, others were as far as three or four hundred yards away. The fate of the former was quite “dispersed” no thanks to my SRS, who has grown quite a taste for large rodents.
As the rabbit population either “aired out”, or burrowed furiously out of sight, and I sat there picking the rocks and tumbleweed stickers from my elbows, I continued to test the Oscar. Taking pictures of a nearby cattle herd through it, as well as scanning the surrounding area. The only gripe if any I might have about this little scope, is that when engaged, if you look really hard at some things, you can almost see a “boiling” impression. An effect I assume must come from whatever tech Sig uses to stabilize the image, I didn’t find it to be a detrimental factor, nor did it impede my ability to spot my targets.

I’ve taken the Oscar from the hot dry desert, and its mirage laden plains, to the snow covered tops of the rocky mountain’s peaks. The Oscar 3 from Sig Sauer has certainly proven itself to be very valuable in my opinion. I think I would even trade a good set of binoculars for it. As a hunter, I think it would be a very valuable tool to inspect potential targets. And also as a hunter, I can greatly appreciate the compact size and weight it comes in. Giving me an on the go kind of spotter, quick to deploy and keep tabs on a moving target. All while providing an outstanding image with which to judge by.
I wonder if, even with the image stabilization, would it be worth it to add a coarse reticle to the Oscar. To provide corrective calls and range/size estimations. I suppose that would be a question for the engineers at Sig.
As for me, I plan on keeping this little handful of help as close as possible, for as long as I can. It has already proved to be a valuable tool to keep in my pack, and I intend on using it thoroughly as this season comes in.
-CBM