There is no doubt, you get what you pay for in this world. Some instances prove so more than others, though, and inexpensive does not always mean cheap. I received a Nikko Stirling 4-16×50 Diamond Long Range rifle scope from Legacy Sports International   Now the msrp is under $380 so I wondered how well such a scope at that price point with these features would hold up.

Please check the video for more details

I mounted it on my favorite target AR-15, an all original Colt HBar Elite Accurized Rifle. I have been running this Colt for a long time and am very familiar with the rifle and how well it shoots. That lets me take that factor out. I secured some SIG Sauer 5.56 77gr target ammunition again to use a known quality so the only variable I was not totally familiar with was the scope. Sighting it in at fifty yards then off to the 100 yard line to get some groups and see how well the scope would hold up, retain zero, and be able to come back to zero after adjustments.

The target knobs are designed to be removed to set the initial zero, then the turrets are reinstalled and set to zero. When you need or want to make adjustments you can reference the numbers on the knobs as to keep track of the number of clicks of elevation and windage you use. This scope is set up to move the red/green illuminated reticle a 1/4″ per click at 100 yards.  If you need to go back to the initial zero then all you have to do is reset the turret knobs back to zero. This will also allow you to set up different zeros for different weight bullets. The scope ships with a blank turret knob for any custom settings you may want to make note of.  Also included is a sun shade and clear scope covers.

Conclusions 

After some 150 rounds using this scope it held zero, and adjusting and rezeroing the reticle worked as advertised. With the controlled numbered turret knobs and included blank turret knob you have a quick reference for making controlled changes. With the included parallax adjustment, sun shade, and illuminated reticle this optic offers a lot of features at a reasonable price point. With a MSRP of $379 there is a lot of value but make no mistake this is not a Leupold or Nightforce scope, and I don’t think it is meant to be. I look at this scope keeping in mind the law of diminishing returns. Maybe not so much the return on the optic but what does the end user need and what is their budget. I expect the average rifle shooter does not need a thousand dollar scope on their rifle, and even the seasoned shooter is not running a thousand dollar scope on every one of their rifles. Also consider someone looking to get into long range shooting but is running on a tight budget they could start off with something like this and upgrade when they out grow the optic. I am by no means running down this Nikko Stirling scope as it has been a solid performer but I also don’t want you to think I am trying to say it is as good as the high end optics that are many times the cost. So, for all the scope snobs, understand there is a place for good optics that are affordable to those that are on a budget.

Acknowledgments 

Legacy Sports International 

SIG Sauer Ammunition 

Defender Ammunition 

AmmoForSale.com

Brad Berggren

 

Specifications 

  • 30mm aircraft-grade aluminum, one-piece main tube
  • Glass-etched HOLDFAST reticle
  • Fully mult-coated lens
  • Microlux ETE GEN III glass coatings
  • Zero-stop turrets
  • ¼ MOA turret adjustments
  • 4” of eye relief
  • Dual-color red/green illumination settings
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • Weight 16 ounces
  • FOV 21 yards @ 6 power
  • FOV 5 yards @ 24 power
  • water proof
  • shock proof
  • Nitrogen filled.
  • lifetime warranty
  • MSRP $379

By Hunter Elliott

I spent much of my youth involved with firearms and felt the call early on to the United States Marine Corps, following in my father's and his brother's footsteps. Just after high school I enlisted and felt most at home on the rifle range, where I qualified expert with several firearms and spent some time as a rifle coach to my fellow Marines. After being honorably discharged I continued teaching firearm safety, rifle and pistol marksmanship, and began teaching metallic cartridge reloading. In the late 1990s I became a life member to the National Rifle Association and worked with the Friends of the NRA. Around that time my father and I became involved with IDPA and competed together up until he passed away. I began reviewing firearms for publications in the mid 2000s and have been fortunate to make many friends in the industry. Continuing to improve my firearms skills and knowledge is a never ending journey in which we should all be committed. I am also credited as weapons master on a few independent films.

18 thoughts on “Nikko Stirling 4-16×50 Diamond Long Range rifle scope.”
  1. I know this is an old review but now you can buy this exact rifle scope with tenth mil turrets that match the sub-tensions in the reticle.

  2. Lately my go to scopes have been SWFA scopes, they are made in Japan and my first one really surprised me in terms of clarity. I’m hoping the better Nikko scopes are close to the same quality. Looking at some combo rifles from Legacy sports

    1. Good to finally see an honest review of something. This is exactly how I would describe my Nikko scope. It’s a great bargain for the money, sees well in low light and performs actually better than I expected. It’s not my high end lye pole or Swarovski good, but I am. It afraid to take it out and hunt with it either.

  3. I literally can’t find this scope anywhere. I love the way it looks and for the price I’d jump on it in a heartbeat. Did it come like this or did you do something to make it look that way?

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