Complete Sierra range distributed to the trade exclusively through highland outdoors

For Trade enquiries contact Highland OutdoorsPh: 01858 410 683Fax: 01857 341 111

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GameKing 3-9x40 with Mil Dot Reticle £55.95 RRPGameKing 4-16x44 with Mil Dot Reticle and adj objective £87.95 RRPGameKing 4-16x50 with Mil Dot Reticle and adj objective £94.95 RRPGameKing 6-24x50 with Mil Dot Reticle and adj objective £105.95 RRP

gameking

be the king of your domain

gameking illuminated

GameKing 3-9x40 with illum Mil Dot Reticle £99.95 RRPGameKing 3.5-10x40 with illum Mil Dot Reticle and adj obj £115.95 RRPGameKing 4-16x44 with illum Mil Dot Reticle and adj obj £121.95 RRPGameKing 4-16x50 with illum Mil Dot Reticle and adj obj £127.95 RRPGameKing 6-24x50 with illum Mil Dot Reticle and adj obj £154.95 RRP

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HIGHLANDOUTDOORS

High Grade Lenses Premium grade optical coatings Adjustable objective on most modelsFinger adjustable windage and elevation

Fast eye focusAvailable with glass etched illuminatedreticle modelsMil Dot reticle standard on all models

GAMEKING

one inch seriesg gamekin

Mil Dot Reticle

illuminatedMil Dot Reticlewww.sierrabullets.com

It’s simple. When you addup the accuracy, performanceand value of our Match, Huntingand Varmint bullets, it makes choosing Sierra easy.

Nikko Stirling makes a range of scopes that are directed at both the hunter and the target sports person. Originally set up by an Australian, Malcolm Fuller, in Japan; they now

trade from Shanghai in China using quality optics made in Far East. The UK distributor for the line of Nikko Stirling scopes is Highland Outdoors; Over the last few years Nikko Stirling have expanded their range of products, to include support for Field Target as a shooting discipline. The scope I had the good fortune to view last year at a show was the Diamond Sportsman 10-50x60. If we are looking for high magnification scopes for Rimfire Benchrest then sometimes it is worth having a look at other shooting sports to see what is out there. I

commented in the recent article about the Tasco Varmint, and that Tasco also manufactured a custom model that has a magnification of x50. This scope was primarily made for Field Target shooting and may have been very useful for Rimfire Benchrest. Sadly this scope is no longer made! So we go back to what we have on the market at the moment. They say that emulation is the highest of honours and the Diamond Sportsman 10-50x60 has possibly provokedinterest from other manufacturers. Most recently Schmidt and Bender have brought out the Field Target ZF model scope that has features that are comparable to the Nikko Stirling model. At less than a third of the price Schmidt and Bender are suggesting for the ZF model, the Nikko Stirling Diamond may offer shooters better value for money!?

Nikko Stirling Diamond Sportsman

Carl Boswell

Front view of the Diamond with the very large objective lens

Rear view of the Diamond showing the magnification rings in detail

Target Shooter

On arriving home on the day of receiving the scope, the size of the package took me away as it was huge; opening it revealed the scope and I was amazed by the mammoth size of the thing; it is the biggest scope offered by Nikko Stirling! This is a big scope with lots of features; a 30mm tube, waterproof, Nitrogen filled, fog proof, shock proof, parallax adjustment and multi coated optics that achieve excellent light transmission to name a few!!!!! (This is going to be a scope that is for the Unlimited class only, unfortunately…….., as it weighs in at 39.9 ounces or 1130 grams for those using metric measures). Like most scopes made to this quality, the main body is well constructed out of a one-piece aircraft-grade aluminium tube; with lens covers that screw onto the scope rather than hanging on an elastic band! Although the scope does not come with a screw on sunshade I have heard they were once available for this model –

this can be very useful for the BR shooter in sunny and hot conditions. Blackpool Air Rifles did have them for sale at one point and it is something that Nikko Stirling could consider as a standard addition to this wonderful piece of kit in the future?!As seen from the pictures, the Diamond scope offers a high quality matt black anodised finish; that is practical and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. My first impressions on holding the scope were very positive; as I examined the optics I felt very pleased indeed as they are of high quality manufacture. I did start with a bit of disassembly, however. The parallax adjustment is on the side of the very large saddle; on the left of the scope. The extra sized wheel that is so much used and favoured in Field Target would not be needed for what I had in mind, Rimfire Benchrest shooting, so I took this off to replace later. This still left rather sizeable turret to adjust the parallax/ focus of the scope. This in fact is a boon, as the turret is easy to manage; adjusting smoothly to the users needs. The only other thing I need to do was get hold of some raiser blocks, as the Diamond scope has a massive 60mm objective lens. Now there are rings out there made for this size lens but I have not found them! As I did not have any to hand, raiser blocks were a must to get this scope ready for shooting. (Sourcing appropriate rings/ raiser blocks is something to keep in mind if you get this scope).All turrets are the external target type and have very definite and easy to read scaled markings, engraved and coloured white; which again aids the person using it to dial in elevation, windage and parallax adjustments very easily. Although

View throught the scope - seeing is believing the magnification

Mil-dot and NATO reticles

Target Shooter

geared towards the FT shooting fraternity the Diamond Sportsman has all the features you would wish for in high powered scope that can be used for rimfire benchrest. Taking into account that the UKBR22 shoot at both 25 yards and 50 meters, the parallax adjustment ranges from 10 yards to infinity, thus providing adjustments for both distances. The elevation and windage turrets have 1/8 minute of angle adjustments at 100yards and this is what we are looking for in a rimfire benchrest scope. Too often the ¼ MOA adjustment on some scopes provide too much movement when finer adjustments are needed. This is especially important considering the distances we are shooting! The scope can also be ‘zeroed’ and locked back to the zero mark, to ensure you are set to shoot for your desired distance.Magnification is found to the rear of the scope; as it says on the box, the Diamond Sportsman has magnification from x10 to x50…….wow! Believe me this does make a difference, but can cause its own issues when there is a lot of sun and /or it is hot; mirage can be a killer at times! However the clarity remains constantly high throughout the different magnification

settings; that can be easily dialled using the rear ring. Magnification settings are clearly engraved and marked in white, with halfway lines between each decimal numbered partition, so again user friendly. The resolution therefore is equally as outstanding, with the target remaining very clear at 50 meters. When shooting I also sat looking though the scope, watching for any errors at the edges of the lens – there were none! We sometimes shoot a ‘fly’ target as a bit of fun in the summer season. I found it ironic, when looking through this scope at 50 meters, I could make out in great detail a fly crossing the target diagram I was aiming at. The colours were clear, as was the detail off the fly. To be honest it was like watching the fly as if it was right in front of me!! Such in the clarity of the optics; bright and clear, with light transmission enhanced by the awesome 60mm objective lens. Lastly, we also have a finer focusing ring on the very rear of the scope, to provide quick and resolute image acquisition. Lets be honest, we all have different eyesight and this is a much needed feature in any scope.There is a choice of two reticles; one being the NATO (which has range finder functions and full

Side focusing parallax - a large wheel can be added to use for FT shooting

Target Shooter

instructions are provided for this and MOA information for the graduations marked in this reticle type). The other is the Mildot reticle. Both are very fine so they will not obscure the finer detail of the benchrest target, even at 50 meters. Although the NATO reticle is very good and can be read easily once you are used to it, I did not get along with it all that well. However that is down to me and what I am used too. Having spent a good three years using mildot and fine reticles with a centre mildot, it is hard getting away from this.

Therefore for choice I would choose the mildot reticle almost every time. With both Diamond scopes this reticle’s are very fine, but easy to read and I used the mildot model the most over the six month review period; scoring a good many 250’s with it as well. This made me a happy bunny!!If anything the only thing wrong with the Nikko Stirling Diamond Sportsman 10-50x60 is that it is too heavy for the 10.5 pound class. It offers great value for money, excellent build and construction; is ergonomically friendly to the user. As a rimfire benchrest scope it offers the magnification needed for 50 metres; with a choice of two fine reticles. (Extras that may be considered by the manufacturer in the future may be the sunshade(s) I mentioned earlier). As there are a lot of people who shoot the unlimited class in the UK (Most people shoot the Unlimited class in fact. I seem to be one of a few that venture into the 10.5 pound class), there is potential for this scope to fit peoples needs; without spending twice the price on something that will provide less functionality. The Diamond Sportsman 10-50x60 retails at about £576. This may be a bit less if you shop around via an internet search or look at regular retailers of this scope like Blackpool Air Rifles or Optics Warehouse. My personal favourite, as I have said hopefully without getting boring, is the mildot reticle, but do have a look at both if you can. Believe me this scope is well worth a first, second and third glance. Good shooting!Contact Highland outdoor for the nearest retailer of the Nikko Stirling Diamond scope;www.highlandoutdoors.co.uk/

Both turrets are easily adjustable with 1/8 clicks

The scope works well on any BR rifle - but its weight will take most up to the unlimited

class

Target Shooter