NIKKO STIRLING DIAMOND LONG RANGE RIFLESCOPES

A RIFLEMAN’S OPTICS

- Patrick Meitin

Nikko Stirling Diamond Long Range riflescopes include exposed locking turrets. Patrick found them somewhat loose, but nonetheless, they offered accurate tracking between large corrections.

There was a time in my life, mercifully short, when I worked outdoor retail during a financial emergency. Spending a lot of time behind a gun counter, selling a multitude of optic brands, I was often asked something to the effect of, “Are those Nikko Stirling scopes any good?”

The question obviously was borne of price, as Nikko Stirling optics are certainly affordable, and northern Idaho doesn’t exactly relinquish high wages to much of its population, though regional hunters are certainly serious about their sport, if for no other reason than getting elk meat in the freezer. To the Nikko Stirling question, I would usually offer something to the effect of, “You get what you pay for,” and steer them to another brand involving higher sales commission.

The Nikko Stirling Diamond Long Range series includes all-metal construction, including the ocular focus and magnification rings, which sport knurling to ensure a positive grip when wet or while wearing gloves.

Diamond Long Range riflescopes include a parallax dial sandwiched between the erector housing and a 12-position, illumination dial. Reticles can be lit red or green and at five different brightness levels each.

Nikko Stirling scopes certainly come with attractive price tags. But are they any good? Until recently, I couldn’t have provided an honest answer. I just didn’t have any hands-on experience with them. That recently changed.