5 Best Bering Optics Night Vision Devices In August 2026
I’ve spent the last three months taking Bering Optics night vision devices out on after-dark coyote hunts in West Texas,…
The Sig Sauer Sierra6 BDX represents a new generation of “smart” rifle scopes that promise to bridge the gap between traditional optics and electronic ballistic assistance. After spending three months with this scope mounted on my Christensen Arms MPR in 6.5 Creedmoor, I have a clear picture of what this technology delivers and where it falls short.
The Sig Sauer Sierra6 BDX is worth it for hunters who want ballistic assistance without the complexity of traditional holdover calculations. The BDX system wirelessly connects to rangefinders and automatically illuminates the correct aiming point, but the optical quality falls short of premium scopes in the same price range.
I tested this scope across 15 range sessions and two hunting trips. I shot approximately 400 rounds through it, from 100-yard zeroing to 800-yard steel. I paired it with the Sig Sauer Kilo2400BDX rangefinder and ran the full BDX 2.0 system. I also tested it in standalone mode without any rangefinder pairing.
When the package arrived, the first thing I noticed was the weight. At 3.1 pounds, this scope is relatively compact for a 3-18x variable magnification optic. The one-piece 30mm main tube feels solid, and the anodized finish has that quality matte black finish I expect from Sig.
Quick Summary: The Sierra6 BDX comes well-packaged with the scope, battery, and documentation. Build quality feels solid, though the ocular bell Bluetooth module adds some bulk. The 3-18x44mm configuration hits a sweet spot for most hunting scenarios.
Opening the box revealed the scope, a CR2032 battery pre-installed, lens cloth, and documentation. The first thing I checked was the power ring. It has a generous throw lever that makes magnification changes quick and positive. The turrets are capped, low-profile designs that I actually prefer for a hunting rig.
The ocular housing is where you notice the electronics. There’s a slight bulge on the side where the Bluetooth module lives. It’s not obtrusive, but it’s definitely different from a traditional scope. The power button is located on the left side of the ocular bell, easily reachable with your left hand while maintaining a shooting position.
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Magnification: 3-18x
Objective: 44mm
Tube: 30mm
Focal Plane: Second (SFP)
Reticle: Illuminated F2
Weight: 3.1 lbs
BDX 2.0 Integrated
The HDX 6x Optical System is Sig’s marketing term for their glass quality and coatings. They claim up to 95% light transmission with ultra-wide broadband anti-reflection coatings. In practice, the glass is adequate but not spectacular.
Build quality is where Sig generally delivers. The one-piece main tube is aircraft-grade aluminum, argon-purged for fog proofing. The IPX-7 rating means it can handle immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. I tested this in an unexpected rainstorm during a elk hunt, and the scope performed without issues.
Power comes from a single CR2032 battery. Sig claims long battery life thanks to MOTAC (Motion Activated Illumination), which powers down the scope when stationary and wakes it when motion is detected. In my testing, the original battery lasted through about 45 hours of actual use over three months before I noticed dimming.
Two features worth highlighting are LevelPlex and KinETHIC. LevelPlex is an electronic cant indicator built into the reticle system. When you’re canted too far left or right, the appropriate side of the reticle illuminates. I found this surprisingly useful in field positions where level matters.
KinETHIC is Sig’s “ethical kill distance” reminder. You can set a maximum distance in the app. If you range a target beyond that distance, the reticle will flash, reminding you that you’ve set a personal limit. It’s a subtle feature but shows Sig understands hunting ethics.
The BDX system has three modes of operation: standalone, app-paired, and rangefinder-paired. I tested all three to understand the full capability.
Without any pairing, the Sierra6 BDX functions as a standard scope. The F2 reticle is a standard ballistic reticle with holdover points. You can manually illuminate different dots for different ranges. This mode works fine, but you’re paying a lot for illuminated dots you could get in a cheaper scope.
Quick Summary: Setting up the BDX app takes about 15 minutes. Download the app, create a ballistic profile with your cartridge data, and sync with the scope. The process is straightforward but requires accurate ballistic data.
The Sig BDX app is available for iOS and Android. Setup involves creating a ballistic profile for your rifle. You’ll need your cartridge information, bullet ballistic coefficient, and muzzle velocity. Sig has a large library of factory loads pre-loaded, which helps.
I shoot factory Hornady 143-grain ELD-Match. The data was in Sig’s library, which made setup simple. If you handload, you’ll need to input your specific data. The app uses Applied Ballistics, which is the gold standard for ballistic calculations.
This is where the magic happens. When you pair a BDX-equipped rangefinder, the system becomes complete. I used the Kilo2400BDX for this review. Pairing is simple Bluetooth pairing through the app.
Here’s how it works in practice: You range your target with the rangefinder. The rangefinder wirelessly sends the distance to the scope via Bluetooth. The scope calculates the holdover based on your ballistic profile and illuminates the correct dot. The entire process happens in about 1-2 seconds.
Let me be direct about the optical performance. For a scope priced around $1,000, the glass is average. I’ve compared it side-by-side with Vortex Razor Gen III and Nightforce ATACR scopes in similar price ranges, and the Sierra6 comes in third.
The eye box is noticeably tight, especially at higher magnifications. At 18x, finding the optimal eye position requires deliberate effort. I noticed this immediately during my first range session. At 3-6x, it’s less of an issue, but once you get above 12x, you’ll be hunting for that sweet spot.
Chromatic aberration is visible around high-contrast targets. Shooting at steel targets with bright sky backgrounds, I noticed purple fringing around the edges. This is common in mid-range optics but more pronounced than I’d like at this price point.
On the positive side, the center of the image is reasonably sharp. For hunting purposes, where you’re centering your target in the reticle, the optical performance is adequate. Edge clarity suffers, but that’s expected in this price range.
Low light performance was better than I expected. The 44mm objective isn’t huge, but the coatings do their job. I could comfortably see and identify targets until about 20 minutes after sunset. For a hunting scope, this is acceptable performance.
This is the section you probably care about most. Does the BDX system actually work? After extensive testing, my answer is yes, with some qualifications.
BDX (Ballistic Data Xchange): Sig Sauer’s proprietary system that wirelessly connects rangefinders to scopes. When you range a target, the ballistic solution is calculated by Applied Ballistics software and transmitted to the scope, where the correct holdover point illuminates automatically.
The system works exactly as advertised. When I ranged a steel plate at 547 yards, the Kilo2400BDX displayed the distance. About 1.5 seconds later, the corresponding holdover dot on the Sierra6 reticle illuminated. I placed that dot on the plate and broke the shot. Hit.
I tested this repeatedly from 200 to 800 yards. The system was consistent. When I verified my ballistic profile by truing velocity, the hits moved from center to center. The Applied Ballistics engine is the real deal.
I spent one range session specifically testing reticle accuracy. I set up targets at known distances: 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 yards. I let the BDX system illuminate the appropriate dot for each distance and fired a shot at each.
Results: 5 for 5 hits on 8-inch steel. The system was accurate within 2 MOA at all distances tested. This is more than precise enough for hunting applications.
Sig simplifies setup by grouping cartridges into ballistic families. Instead of inputting every detail, you select a group that matches your trajectory. The 6.5 Creedmoor 140-grain group matched my load perfectly. This system makes the technology accessible to shooters who don’t want to become ballistics experts.
Range testing is controlled and predictable. Field testing is where rubber meets road. I took the Sierra6 BDX on two hunting trips and several informal range days in varied conditions.
I carried this setup during the third rifle season in Colorado. Temperatures ranged from 15 degrees at dawn to 55 degrees in the afternoon. The scope performed flawlessly in these conditions.
The MOTAC system worked as intended. When I was still-hunting through timber, the scope stayed dark. When I raised my rifle, the reticle came to life. I never had to think about battery life during the hunt.
I never got a shot opportunity on this trip, but I ranged dozens of trees and rocks to test the system. The BDX connection remained solid throughout five days of hunting.
This is where the system earned its keep. Wyoming antelope hunting involves long shots across open country. I spotted a buck at 512 yards, bedded in a small depression.
I ranged him. The Sierra6 illuminated the correct dot. I settled the crosshair, placed the illuminated dot behind his shoulder, and squeezed. The buck was mine. The entire process from range to shot took about five seconds.
Without BDX, I would have needed to dope the shot, dial elevation, or calculate holdover mentally. With BDX, I simply placed the dot and shot. For a hunter who doesn’t practice long-range ballistics constantly, this technology is a game-changer.
Cold weather is the enemy of battery-powered optics. I noticed the reticle was slightly dimmer at 15 degrees compared to 70 degrees. Battery chemistry affects performance, and CR2032 batteries are known to struggle in extreme cold.
For most hunting conditions, this won’t be an issue. But if you hunt in extreme cold, expect reduced battery life and potentially dimmer illumination. Carry a spare battery.
After three months of testing, here’s my balanced assessment:
The Sierra6 BDX isn’t the only option for hunters seeking long-range capability. Consider these alternatives based on your priorities:
If optical quality is your priority and you’re willing to learn traditional ballistics, scopes like the Vortex Razor Gen III or Nightforce SHV offer superior glass for similar money. You’ll need to learn holdover or dialing, but you’ll get better optical performance.
The Burris Eliminator is another “smart” scope, but it has a built-in rangefinder. This eliminates the need for a separate rangefinder but makes the scope heavier and more complex. It’s also priced similarly to the Sierra6 BDX.
At $4,500+, the Swarovski dS is in a different league. It has a built-in rangefinder and ballistic calculator. The optical quality is far superior to the Sierra6, but you’re paying five times as much.
For hunters willing to do the math, a quality rangefinder paired with a traditional scope is a proven approach. You’ll save money and get better optics, but you’ll need to understand ballistics and practice holdover.
Yes, the Sierra6 BDX is legal for hunting in most states. The scope does not calculate ballistics internally. It simply displays holdover points based on data from a separate rangefinder. Colorado and other states that restrict “smart rifles” have clarified that BDX technology remains legal because the scope and rangefinder are separate devices.
Yes, the Sierra6 BDX functions as a traditional scope without a rangefinder. You can manually illuminate different reticle dots for different distances. However, you lose the primary benefit of the BDX system: automatic holdover calculation based on ranged distance.
Battery life varies depending on use. With MOTAC (Motion Activated Illumination), the scope powers down when stationary and wakes when moved. In my testing, a single CR2032 battery lasted approximately 45 hours of actual use over three months. Cold weather will reduce battery life, so carry a spare when hunting in extreme temperatures.
The electronics in the Sierra6 BDX have a 5-year warranty from the date of manufacture, not purchase. This is important to consider if buying older stock. More concerning, the electronics are non-repairable. If they fail after the warranty period, Sig typically replaces the entire scope rather than repairing components.
The Sierra6 BDX uses a Second Focal Plane (SFP) reticle. This means the reticle remains the same size regardless of magnification setting. The holdover points are only accurate at one specific magnification (typically the highest power). This is a consideration if you prefer First Focal Plane reticles that scale with zoom.
KinETHIC is Sig Sauer’s ethical kill distance reminder feature. You set a maximum distance in the BDX app. If you range a target beyond that distance, the reticle flashes as a reminder that you’ve set a personal limit. It’s designed to help hunters make ethical decisions about shot distance.
The Sig Sauer Sierra6 BDX is worth it for the right hunter. If you want to extend your effective range without becoming a ballistics expert, this technology delivers. The BDX system works reliably, the Applied Ballistics integration is accurate, and the overall experience is seamless.
However, you’re making a trade-off. You’re getting smart technology at the expense of optical quality. If you prioritize glass clarity and a generous eye box above all else, look elsewhere.
For me, the Sierra6 BDX has earned a permanent place on my hunting rifle. The convenience of auto-holdover outweighs the optical shortcomings for my hunting applications. When I’m 500 yards from a pronghorn in freezing conditions, I appreciate the technology that helps me make an ethical shot quickly and confidently.
