Review: Sightmark Triple-Duty 4-16×44 MDD Riflescope & CJRK Mount

Since its introduction in 2007, Sightmark has been aggressively expanding its product lines. Originally oriented as a value-focused brand, recently they have been making moves up-market with their new Ezekial line (which we also have for testing). Now, Sightmark is a full-line optics manufacturer with options for prismatic sights, red dots, night vision, and magnifiers. This is on top of over a million boresights in use and other accessories including binoculars, spotting scopes, flashlights, and mounts.

SIghtmark was eager to get a scope in my hands after the NRA show. So much so that I got the choice of the entire product range. Endeavoring to pick a scope that would most typically model the line, I opted for the Triple-Duty (Tactical, Hunting, & Competition) 4-16x44mm Mil-Dot-Dot reticle. Since I am not someone who likes to “click” to my target (as I forget how many clicks I make), the MDD was ideal for holdover shooting.

To compliment the scope, Sightmark suggested that I use their new CJRK mount complete with adjustable tension throw-levers. Taken together, it was a complete scope package that looked to compliment my favorite shooting, semi-auto’s at medium ranges.

Mounting & Shooting:

The test platform for shooting was one of my trusty Del-Ton/Aero Precision LW AR-15s. Having put significant rounds down range I knew the rifles dope with my typical ammo and have been able to ring steel past 500 yards with irons on a regular basis. With 55 grain FMJ ammo, it is an surprising 1.5 MOA rifle.

The scope arrived in typical retail packaging. I dare say its an attractive box, with none of the bare boring cardboard that typifies scopes in this price range. Opening it up, the scope is nestled into shaped foam, keeping it safe until it was ready to be opened and mounted. The caps were already installed with the hinges on the top – nice attention to detail. The scope mount did not have the same full treatment, instead wrapped in thin foam sheeting. Its just enough to keep the aluminum from scratching itself.

Taking both the scope and mount out of their packing, I inspected each for defects. There was no obvious machine marks and the finishes were both a nice black matte. I set up the rifle for mounting, using my Wheeler Level-Level-Level and FAT wrench. Annoyingly, the screws on the mount were metric and I could not use my good torque driver for my normal OCD mounting methods.

The CJRK mount was easy to use. The throw levers are quite large, making them easy to close down into place. I set the pressure for what I could shut easily without being able to move the mount when hit with a rubber mallet. Each 30mm ring uses six (6) allen keys to provide even pressure across the tubes. Torquing each into place, the scope was stable in the mount and on the rifle.

Initial zeroing was performed at 25 yards and then adjusted and confirmed at 50 (for my medium-range rifles, I like a 50 yard zero). With 55-grain .223 it took only 6 shots to bring the holes into the red of my splatter targets. Using the 1/8″ MOA clicks, the adjustments were spot on, if not tedious. The first shot was 4″ low and 6″ to the left. Fortunately, the scope has 60 MOA of adjustment was able to get where it needed to be. After zero, three shots easily created a continuous ragged hole.

Sighting in, the glass provided crisp images with no blurring around the edges. We used 9x magnification for the extreme short-range work to ensure that we were spot-on. Eye relief had a large enough window that my wife and I were able to shoot without changing the stock position (I position my head forward, she likes to keep hers back). No scope bite either!

We stepped back to 200 and 300 yards and stepped up the magnification to the full 16x. With its second-focal plane reticle the Mil-Dot-Dot reticle accurately demarcated correct hold-overs. Stepping out to 600 meters, the first shot at range rang plate steel.

As dusk settled across the range we noticed the scope start to darken quickly. For 50% ambient light, the scope darkened another 50%. Usable, but harsh. In the lower light, the reticle was harder to see. To compensate, we turned on the built-in 3V illumination. On red or green settings, the reticle was easy to pick up. Each color has 6 settings that ranged from light illumination to bright enough to star the central dot.

Turning the magnification back down brightened the image up dramatically. Under 10x zoom, the scope returned to its charismatic brightness. However, we did notice that the mount was sliding on the rails on the receiver. The constant shooting (over 200 rounds at this point) was too much for my original tension setting. Taking the scope off, we turned each throw lever in another revolution and remounted. Re-testing zero showed that the scope drifted about 1 MOA to the right. 8 clicks later, it was back on.

Satisfied with operations on a light-recoiling AR, I pulled out my 12 gauge. Mounted on a Remington 870, I blasted away with an assortment of rounds including low-brass birdshot, high-brass buckshot, and 1 oz. Magnum slugs. The scope took the beating in stride.

Remounting to the AR, there was another 1 MOA shift, this time down (I blame the remounting, as there was similar shift earlier). Firing a quick string yielded no additional changes. For good measure, I put another round on at 600 yards. With the satisfying “clang” I turned-to from testing to turn my thoughts into this review.

Final Thoughts:

The scope does all you ask of it, it just doesn’t do much more and does it with little fanfare. (That’s not necessarily a bad thing.) To draw a metaphor, this is the Windham Weaponry of the scope world. Its quality, does the job, and provides good value, but don’t ask it for the bell’s and whistles.

The optics are bright in good daylight conditions and below 10x are perfectly usable in low-light. The adjustments were accurate, and the locking feature is excellent for this particular reticle. Using the dots, we were able to compensate for wind and distance without having to touch the turrets.

Those looking for value-oriented optics should take a hard look at the Sightmark Triple-Duty line. With various reticle options and good mounts to match, the Triple Duty is perfect for casual shooters and those not looking for all those ” extra features.” This is a Chevy to those not on the Cadillac budget.

The limited lifetime warranty is just icing on this cheap cup cake.