As an avid hunter and night vision enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of testing numerous optics over the years. Today, I’m excited to dive deep into the Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec Reflex Sight – a piece of equipment that has truly revolutionized my hunting experience. This comprehensive review will cover every aspect of this impressive sight, from its robust construction to its advanced features, and why it might just be the perfect addition to your hunting arsenal.
First Impressions and Build Quality
When I first unboxed the Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec, I was immediately struck by its solid feel and sleek design. The sight is constructed from magnesium alloy, a material choice that speaks volumes about Sightmark’s commitment to durability. This alloy is not only stronger than the 6061 aluminum commonly used in many optics but also lighter, striking an ideal balance between ruggedness and portability.
The matte black finish isn’t just for looks – it serves a practical purpose by reducing glare and helping you maintain a low profile in the field. Measuring 4.01 inches in length, 1.85 inches in width, and 2.32 inches in height, the Ultra Shot M-Spec is compact enough to not interfere with your rifle’s balance or your shooting style.
One of the standout features in terms of design is the integrated sunshade. This might seem like a small detail, but trust me, when you’re out in the field on a bright day, it makes a world of difference. The sunshade effectively reduces glare and improves reticle visibility, giving you a clearer sight picture even in challenging lighting conditions.
Optical Performance: Clarity and Precision
The heart of any sight is its optical quality, and the Ultra Shot M-Spec truly shines in this department. The sight features a 33mm objective lens that provides a generous field of view, making target acquisition quick and intuitive. The glass used is of high quality, and Sightmark has applied advanced coatings to enhance its performance.
The lens boasts both anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings. These aren’t just marketing buzzwords – in real-world use, these coatings make a noticeable difference. The anti-reflective coating improves light transmission, giving you a brighter, clearer image. Meanwhile, the scratch-resistant coating adds an extra layer of durability, protecting your investment from the inevitable bumps and scrapes that come with serious field use.
The sight picture is crisp and clear, with no noticeable distortion even at the edges of the lens. This clarity is maintained across various lighting conditions, from bright daylight to low-light situations at dawn and dusk.
Reticle and Illumination
The Ultra Shot M-Spec uses a versatile 65 MOA circle-dot crosshair reticle. This design incorporates a 2 MOA center dot surrounded by a 65 MOA circle. In practice, this combination proves incredibly effective. The fine center dot allows for precise shot placement, while the larger circle aids in rapid target acquisition and tracking of moving targets.
One of the standout features of this sight is its illumination system. With 10 brightness settings, including night vision compatible modes, the Ultra Shot M-Spec adapts seamlessly to any lighting condition you might encounter in the field. The lowest settings are dim enough for use with night vision devices, while the brightest settings are easily visible even in harsh midday sun.
The illumination is powered by a single CR123A battery, which Sightmark claims can last between 200 to 2000 hours depending on your brightness settings. In my experience, this claim holds up well. I’ve used this sight extensively over several months, and I’ve yet to need a battery change.
One clever feature that helps extend battery life is the motion-sensing on/off functionality. The sight automatically powers down after 5 minutes of inactivity, but springs back to life as soon as it detects movement. This means you’re never caught off guard with a dead sight, but you’re also not wasting battery when the sight isn’t in use.
Durability and Weather Resistance
When it comes to ruggedness, the Ultra Shot M-Spec is in a class of its own. This sight is built to withstand the harshest conditions you might encounter in the field. It’s shockproof, capable of handling significant recoil without losing zero. I’ve used this sight on everything from .223 AR platforms to hard-hitting .308 rifles, and it’s held up admirably.
The water resistance of this sight is particularly impressive. With an IP68 rating, the Ultra Shot M-Spec is certified waterproof up to 40 feet. While I haven’t had the occasion (or desire) to submerge my sight to those depths, I have used it in heavy rain and even dropped it in shallow streams without any issues. This level of water resistance gives you peace of mind when hunting in wet conditions.
The sight is also designed to perform across a wide temperature range, from -22 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Whether you’re on an early season hunt in the sweltering heat or a late-season excursion in freezing conditions, you can trust that your sight will function reliably.
Ease of Use and Functionality
One area where the Ultra Shot M-Spec really stands out is its user-friendly design. The digital switch controls are intuitive and easy to operate, even with gloved hands – a crucial consideration for cold weather hunting.
Zeroing the sight is a straightforward process, with 1 MOA windage and elevation adjustments. The adjustment clicks are crisp and audible, allowing for precise tuning. Once you’ve got your zero dialed in, the interlock internal locking system ensures your settings stay put, even under heavy recoil or rough handling.
The sight comes with a quick-detach mount that’s compatible with both Weaver and Picatinny rail systems. This makes it easy to switch the sight between different firearms or remove it for storage. Despite the quick-detach functionality, I’ve found that the sight returns to zero reliably when remounted.
Another feature worth mentioning is the parallax correction. The Ultra Shot M-Spec is parallax-free beyond 10 yards, which means you don’t have to worry about perfect eye alignment to maintain accuracy.
This is particularly useful in hunting situations where you might not have time to achieve a perfect cheek weld before taking your shot.
Value for Money
Given its extensive feature set and robust build quality, the Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec offers excellent value for money. It’s priced competitively against other mid-range reflex sights, but in my opinion, its performance is on par with some much more expensive options.
When you factor in the durability, optical clarity, and advanced features like motion activation and night vision compatibility, the Ultra Shot M-Spec represents a solid investment for any serious hunter or shooter.
Real-World Performance
I’ve put this sight through its paces in a variety of hunting scenarios, from early morning deer stands to nighttime hog hunts. In every situation, it has performed admirably. The clarity of the glass and the versatility of the reticle have helped me make clean, ethical shots at various distances and in different lighting conditions.
One particular instance stands out – a late-evening whitetail hunt where the light was fading fast. The illuminated reticle remained clearly visible, allowing me to place an accurate shot on a buck at about 100 yards in what would have been challenging conditions with iron sights or a non-illuminated optic.
The durability of the sight has also proven itself time and again. It’s been bumped against tree stands, subjected to driving rain, and exposed to dusty, windy conditions. Through it all, it’s maintained zero and continued to function flawlessly.
Final Thoughts
After extensive use in various hunting scenarios, I can confidently say that the Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec is a top-tier reflex sight that punches well above its weight class. It combines durability, optical clarity, and user-friendly features in a package that performs reliably in all conditions.
Whether you’re a dedicated hunter, a competitive shooter, or someone who enjoys regular range time, this sight deserves serious consideration. It may not carry the brand prestige of some more expensive options, but in terms of real-world performance, it more than holds its own.
The Ultra Shot M-Spec has become my go-to sight for most of my hunting rifles. Its versatility, durability, and performance have earned it a permanent place in my gear lineup. If you’re in the market for a high-quality reflex sight that offers excellent value for money, I highly recommend giving the Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec a try. Based on my experience, I’m confident you’ll be impressed by what this robust little powerhouse can do. Happy hunting!