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 Nikko Stirling Diamond Sportsman

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
Front view of the Diamond with the very
large objective lens
Carl Boswell
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 provoked
interest 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!?

Rear view of the Diamond showing the

magnification rings in detail

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
Target Shooter

View throught the scope - seeing is
believing the magnification
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 –
Mil-dot and NATO reticles
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
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
Side focusing parallax - a large wheel can
be added to use for FT shooting
Target Shooter
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

Both turrets are easily adjustable with 1/8
clicks
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.
The scope works well on any BR rifle - but
its weight will take most up to the unlimited
class
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/
Target Shooter