Elevate Your Precision: The Sightmark Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 FFP Riflescope – Your Gateway to Long-Range Mastery

Are you a dedicated hunter seeking to extend your effective range, or a competitive shooter striving for pinpoint accuracy in demanding scenarios? Have you been searching for a high-quality, reliable riflescope that offers advanced features like a First Focal Plane (FFP) reticle without demanding a premium price tag? Look no further. The Sightmark Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 FFP Riflescope is engineered to be the ultimate companion for those who demand precision and versatility across medium to long-range engagements, whether in the field or on the firing line.

This comprehensive guide will delve into what makes the Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 a standout choice, exploring its capabilities, ideal use cases, and how it empowers shooters of all experience levels to achieve their accuracy goals.

Who Is the Sightmark Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 For?

The Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 is a meticulously crafted optical instrument designed to meet the diverse needs of a wide range of shooting enthusiasts:

• Medium to Long-Range Hunters: If your pursuits involve deer, elk, or even varmints across vast open spaces, this riflescope provides the magnification range, clarity, and precise aiming solutions needed for ethical and successful shots at extended distances.
• Competitive Shooters (PRS, Tactical, F-Class Light): For those participating in precision rifle matches or tactical shooting events, the FFP reticle and precise, repeatable turrets are invaluable for quick adjustments and accurate holdovers under pressure.
• Dedicated Target Shooters: Individuals who spend hours honing their craft at the range will appreciate the crisp optics, intuitive controls, and robust construction that withstands rigorous use.
• Shooters Seeking Value: If you're looking to step into the world of FFP optics and high-performance riflescopes without "breaking the bank," the Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 presents an exceptional balance of features, quality, and affordability.
• Beginners Transitioning to Advanced Optics: While packed with advanced features, its intuitive design, particularly the exposed pop-up locking turrets, makes it accessible even for those new to precise long-range shooting.

This riflescope addresses common challenges faced by shooters, such as accurately ranging targets at varying magnifications, making quick and precise elevation and windage adjustments, and maintaining clear sight pictures in low-light conditions.

Unpacking the Core Technologies: Why the Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 Excels

The Sightmark Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 boasts a suite of features that work in harmony to deliver superior optical performance and user experience. Let's break down the key elements that contribute to its effectiveness:

The Power of First Focal Plane (FFP) Reticle Design

Perhaps the most significant feature for precision shooters is the First Focal Plane (FFP) reticle. Unlike Second Focal Plane (SFP) reticles where the reticle size remains constant regardless of magnification, an FFP reticle grows and shrinks in proportion to the target image as you adjust magnification. Why is this crucial?

• Consistent Subtensions: With an FFP reticle, the holdover points, ranging marks, and windage values etched into the reticle remain true and accurate at any magnification setting. This means if a mark represents 1 MRAD at 3x, it still represents 1 MRAD at 18x.
• Effortless Ranging: For hunters or tactical shooters, this translates to reliable distance estimation. You can accurately use the reticle to range targets without needing to remember a specific magnification setting.
• Reliable Holdovers: When engaging targets at different distances, you can confidently use the reticle's holdover points for bullet drop compensation or wind drift correction, regardless of whether you're zoomed in for a precise shot or zoomed out for a wider field of view. This consistency greatly simplifies complex shooting scenarios.
• Speed and Efficiency: No need to switch between magnification settings to verify reticle subtensions. Once you're familiar with your reticle, you can make quick and accurate decisions on the fly.

The LR2 Reticle specifically, developed by Sightmark, is an optimized Christmas tree-style reticle designed for rapid target acquisition and precise holdovers. It typically features fine crosshairs for precise aiming at the center, with a series of hash marks or dots below for elevation compensation and on the horizontal stadia for windage correction. This intuitive design helps shooters quickly estimate bullet drop and wind drift without constant turret adjustments, making it ideal for dynamic shooting or hunting where speed is critical.

Versatile Magnification Range and Objective Lens

The 3-18x magnification range makes the Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 incredibly versatile:

• 3x Magnification: Provides a wide field of view, excellent for close-range shots, tracking moving targets, or navigating dense terrain. It allows for quick target acquisition when needed.
• 18x Magnification: Offers substantial power for identifying distant targets, distinguishing fine details, and executing precise shots at extended ranges, often beyond 500-600 yards.
• The 50mm objective lens is generously sized, allowing it to gather ample light. This is paramount for maintaining bright, clear images, especially during dawn, dusk, or in heavily shaded environments when light conditions are suboptimal. The larger objective lens also contributes to a wider exit pupil at lower magnifications, providing a more forgiving eye box.

Precision at Your Fingertips: Exposed, Pop-Up Locking Turrets

Adjusting for elevation and windage is made incredibly intuitive and secure with the Citadel's exposed, pop-up locking turrets.

• Ease of Adjustment: To make an adjustment, simply pull the turret up. This disengages the lock, allowing for smooth, precise clicks. Each click provides tactile and audible feedback, ensuring you know exactly how many adjustments you've made.
• Secure Locking: Once your adjustments are set, push the turret back down to securely lock it in place. This prevents accidental changes to your zero or adjustments during movement, transport, or harsh recoil, providing peace of mind and maintaining your shot integrity.
• Resettable to Zero: The turrets are typically resettable, allowing you to easily set your zero point after initial sight-in. This means you can dial in corrections for specific distances and then quickly return to your primary zero without guesswork. These MRAD (Milliradian) turrets offer fine adjustments, often 0.1 MRAD per click, which is a common and highly favored unit of measure among precision shooters for its intuitive correlation with FFP reticles.

Enhanced Visibility: Red Reticle Illumination

Low light conditions can make even the clearest reticle difficult to see against dark targets or shadows. The Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 solves this with its red reticle illumination.

• Improved Contrast: The illuminated reticle provides a sharp, visible aiming point against dark backgrounds, ensuring you can acquire your target quickly and accurately, whether it's an animal in the shadows or a black target at dusk.
• Adjustable Brightness: Typically, multiple brightness settings are available, allowing you to fine-tune the illumination to suit various ambient light conditions, from bright daylight to near darkness. This prevents the reticle from being overly bright and washing out the target, or too dim to be useful.
• Battery Efficiency: Powered by a common CR2032 battery, the illumination system is designed for efficiency, ensuring long operational life when needed.

Superior Optical Clarity and Durability

The quality of a riflescope's glass and its construction are paramount for performance and longevity.

• Fully Multi-Coated Optics: Every air-to-glass surface on the Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 is fully multi-coated. This advanced coating technology minimizes light reflection and maximizes light transmission through the lenses. The result is a brighter, sharper image with excellent contrast and true color reproduction, even in challenging light conditions. It also helps to reduce glare and internal reflections.
• Single-Piece 30mm Tube: Constructed from a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum, the 30mm main tube offers exceptional strength and rigidity. This single-piece design enhances durability, improving shock resistance against recoil and impacts. The 30mm diameter also allows for greater internal adjustment range compared to smaller tube sizes, providing more flexibility for long-range dialing.
• IP67 Waterproof Rating: The IP67 rating signifies that the riflescope is completely dust-tight and can withstand immersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. This level of waterproofing ensures reliable performance even in heavy rain, snow, or accidental submersion.
• Fog Proof: The optical tube is typically nitrogen-purged and sealed, preventing internal fogging caused by rapid temperature changes. This ensures a clear sight picture regardless of environmental humidity or temperature fluctuations.
• Shockproof: Designed to withstand the significant recoil of high-powered rifles, the Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 is built to hold its zero and maintain its structural integrity shot after shot, ensuring consistent accuracy over time.

Precision Focusing: Side Parallax Adjustment

For ultimate accuracy at varying distances, the Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 features a side parallax adjustment knob.

• Eliminating Parallax Error: Parallax is the apparent shift in the reticle's position relative to the target when your eye moves slightly off-center. At long distances or high magnifications, this can lead to significant aiming errors. The side parallax adjustment allows you to precisely focus the reticle and the target image onto the same optical plane, eliminating parallax error and ensuring your point of aim is truly where your bullet will strike.
• Enhanced Clarity: Adjusting parallax also helps to fine-tune the image focus, ensuring both the reticle and the target are crisp and clear across the entire magnification range.

Comfort and Awareness: Eye Relief and Field of View

• Generous Eye Relief: A comfortable and consistent eye relief (the distance your eye needs to be from the eyepiece to see a full image) is crucial for safety and sustained use. The Citadel typically offers a generous eye relief, protecting your brow from recoil and allowing for comfortable shooting positions.
• Optimized Field of View: The field of view (the width of the area you can see through the scope at a given distance) varies with magnification. At lower magnifications, the wide field of view aids in scanning and target acquisition, while at higher magnifications, it narrows to allow for precise aiming at distant targets.

Real-World Applications and Advantages

The combination of features in the Sightmark Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 translates into tangible benefits in practical shooting scenarios:

• Long-Range Hunting Confidence: Imagine spotting a buck at 400 yards. With the FFP LR2 reticle, you can quickly estimate the range, dial in your elevation, or use a holdover, and confidently take the shot, knowing your scope is accurately reflecting your aiming point. Its low-light performance ensures ethical shots during those critical dawn and dusk hours.
• Competitive Edge: In a PRS match, every second counts. The intuitive pop-up turrets allow for rapid adjustments between stages, while the FFP reticle allows competitors to transition between targets at varying distances without needing to adjust magnification or perform complex calculations. The robust construction means it can withstand the rigors of competitive environments.
• Varmint Extermination: For pest control over large fields, the 18x magnification helps in identifying small targets at extreme distances, and the FFP reticle provides the necessary precision for accurate follow-up shots.
• Tactical Preparedness: The durable build, secure turrets, and illuminated reticle make it a reliable optic for demanding tactical or duty applications where performance in unpredictable conditions is non-negotiable.
• Learning and Growing: For newer long-range shooters, the Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 serves as an excellent platform to learn the principles of FFP ranging, holdovers, and precise turret manipulation, all within a capable and forgiving optic.

What's Included with Your Sightmark Citadel 3-18x50 LR2?

To get you started right out of the box, the Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 typically comes complete with essential accessories:

• Flip-Up Lens Covers: These protect your valuable objective and ocular lenses from dust, dirt, scratches, and the elements when not in use, prolonging the life and clarity of your optics.
• Sunshade: Attaching to the objective lens, the sunshade helps to reduce glare and internal reflections when shooting into bright light, enhancing image contrast and clarity.
• CR2032 Battery: The necessary battery for powering the red reticle illumination, ensuring you can use this critical feature immediately.
• Lens Cloth: For safe and effective cleaning of your optic's lenses.

Why Choose the Sightmark Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 from DEGuns?

When investing in a precision optical instrument like the Sightmark Citadel 3-18x50 LR2, choosing a reputable supplier is as important as choosing the right product. DEGuns is a trusted name in the firearms and optics industry, offering not just the products but also the expertise and support needed to make an informed decision.

At DEGuns, you can find the Sightmark Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 FFP Riflescope, ensuring you receive a genuine product backed by reliable service. Their commitment to customer satisfaction means you can shop with confidence, knowing you're acquiring a high-performance optic from a knowledgeable source.

The Sightmark Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 stands as a testament to combining advanced optical features with robust construction and an accessible price point. It addresses the needs of discerning shooters by providing the tools necessary for precision, whether that's hitting a steel plate at 800 yards or taking an ethical shot on a deer at 300. With its FFP LR2 reticle, precise turrets, and durable design, this riflescope is poised to become an indispensable part of your shooting kit, enhancing your capabilities and confidence across the entire spectrum of medium to long-range shooting.

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Sightmark Citadel 3-18x50 LR2 FFP Riflescope Specifications

Feature	Detail
Magnification	3-18x
Objective Lens	50mm
Reticle Type	LR2, First Focal Plane (FFP)
Illumination	Red, Adjustable Brightness
Tube Diameter	30mm
Click Value	0.1 MRAD
Max Adjustment	20 MRAD (Elevation & Windage)
Parallax Adj.	Side Focus, 10 Yards to Infinity
Eye Relief	3.9 inches (approx.)
Field of View	36.7-6.1 ft @ 100 Yards
Waterproof	IP67 Submersible
SKU	SM13039LR2
UPC	812495024801