ATACR Scope on Sporter Rifle?

[HARPERC]

My first impression of the ATACR was I could beat a critter to death with it if all else failed.

Second was when I got the rings and bases together was it looked like a plumbing project.

Third was getting behind it to shoot was where have they been hiding this from me all these years.

I don't walk much anymore, a 12 pound rifle, and closing the ground with good optics is essential to me.

If I was going to walk much, the Nightforce's, as much as I like mine would not be my first choice.

 

[Jon2]

I'm watching this thread with great interest as I'm in exactly the same boat as Ingwe.

I have been weighing the job up for the last couple of weeks of whether to go ATACR or another NXS.

My rifle is basically a custom Sendero based on a Stiller action but I'm wondering if the ATACR will simply look too big and also if it will be mounted too high or more importantly look odd in terms of mount height.

Same as the op I really like the idea of the improved glass over the NXS and the improved field of view (the review of the ATACR on this site mentions better FOV than a PM2) too.

I'm itching to place an order but just don't know which way to jump. My rifle is chambered in .300 win mag and I use it mainly for target and steel with the occasional use on game.

I did consider the March but just can't justify the cost of the illuminated version (which is he one I would like) and interesting comment about the thickness of the ret. That would rule it out for me. Decisions decisions.

 

[Ingwe]

Jon, glad I'm not the only one here agonizing over scope choice...happy that we're in the same boat Holefully we'll get some good insight.

My M70 action has a 26" #3 barrel and is going into a Brown Precision sporter stock.
I'm thinking the ATACR will be too heavy in weight and top heavy and high over the bore as well....but I want the insane glass quality of the ATACR.

There isn't much available of what we are looking for.

My ideal scope would be a 30mm, 4-18/22, no more than 50 objective, top quality glass, and Kenton/Custom ballistic turrets.

So far the only scope that has all of the above is the NSX!

Hopefully more guys will chime in with other ideas!

 

[HARPERC]

..............Jon, glad I'm not the only one here agonizing over scope choice...happy that we're in the same boat Holefully we'll get some good insight.
..........................

LOL! It's a very large, overbooked cruise ship. Few just wake up one day and drop $2500 +/- on a scope. I certainly didn't. Mistakes in this hobby are expensive.

 

[Broz]

I shoot both the NXS and the ATACR's on regular basis. Recently I bought one more of each. I started with my first ATACR Gen one on my big 338. Then came the enhanced and I had to have one so put a new enhanced on my 338. The gen one atacr then moved to my 300 win and replaced the tried and true NXS. I can honestly say I don't realize a difference in handling the rifle. But the better glass and the MOAR reticle is very nice. Now the new ATACR Enhanced I got last week is going on the 300 win. I like the 30 moa turrets, digilume and zero stop on the windage the enhanced offers. Do I need an ATACR on my 300 win? I rarely take game past 1000 with it? No, the tried and true NXS does the job just fine and has for years. But once you step up you do notice the small gains, and I want both rifles to have the 30 moa turrets and match each other. This did bite me once shooting a rock and counting the first turret revolution as 20.

So what does all this gabber mean? There is no bad choice between a NXS and an ATACR. Would I put a big nightforce on a sporter barreled rifle? Yes, did it to a 300 win shooting 215 Bergers yesterday. Zeroed it and it will soon be pounding rocks at 1500 plus.

Jeff

Jeff

 

[Ingwe]

Broz, do you feel that the ATACR throws off the balance of a Sporter off?

Any recommendation for another brand for what I'm looking for?

 

[Pdvdh]

I don't like that combination. Terrible balance for a carry rifle.

Only way you'll know is to try it. The rifle will want to be carried upside down.

I mounted a 30oz scope on an 8lb 300 Win Mag and carried it for 2-3 hunting seasons before I couldn't stand it any longer. But I backpack hunt. My rifles are carried a lot. For me, the decision was based on how much I pack the rifle around. By backpack hunting, I mean I'm carrying a 45lb backpack on the way into mountains in search of sheep, caribou, black bear, Mt. goat, etc., plus the weight of the scoped rifle. The rifle gets carried a lot more than it gets shot. I put up with the anchor mounted over the receiver until I decided it just wasn't any fun carrying the rifle with that heavy scope any longer. The extra weight was notable and a nagging source of disgust. In addition to the additional weight, on a relatively light rifle, the unbalanced rifle wanted to roll over while carrying it in the elbow joint - shotgun style. It got to be something I resented having to carry around.

If you don't carry the rifle extensively, then the only other primary point of irritation I experienced would be when setting the rifle up in two sandbags at the range or next to camp, or resting it atop a field-fashioned rest preparing to take a prone shot. The top heavy scope would tend to roll the rifle to the side whenever I'd leave it to tend to other matters, or even upside down when in the sand bags. I don't use a tripod, and never have. If you mount a tripod on your carry rifle, that would minimize the second issue I had with my top-heavy rifle. I don't use a tripod because I won't carry that extra weight.

If my rifles weren't packed extensively, I could have lived with the extra weight and top-heavy, unbalanced rifle. So again, for me, it would come down to how much you'll be packing the rifle around, and in what type of terrain. Rifle carry on flat ground is less fatiguing than up and down sloping terrain, while fighting brush, alders, and willows. For what it's worth...

 

[Ingwe]

Fellas, first of all thank you for your replys!

Broz, on a Sporter rifle, are you saying that the ATACR won't seem much "bigger" or higher over the gun than an 8x22x50 NSX?

 

[Wedgy]

This is from another thread but shows some size scopes. The ATACR is bulkier than it looks. As far as reticles I don't think the March is too thick for 1,000 yard hunting but if I were shooting softball sized targets at 1,800 yards then yes, I would go with an MOAR-T. The low profile turrets on the March & VX-6 are very nice in a carry gun. On the big scopes I mostly carry them in a pack scabbard.
Bullets.com is the March US distributor and offers a big(20%) military/LE discount.
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For comparison; top is a March 2.5-25x42
Leupold VX6 3-18x50
NXS 3.5-15x56
ATACR 5-25x56
SIII 6-24x50
Obviously the NF has the shades on but the thing that really sticks out is the turrets. The 34mm tube doesn't look so huge in the photo but it is. The VX6 has target turrets, not the standard low profile ones. I'm liking the March more and more.
Attached Thumbnails - Click to View Larger

 

[fllefty]

I have both the atacer is noticeably bulkier than the nsx.

 

[Jon2]

If the NXS had the ED glass on board it would be decision made. I'm being seduced by the new glass in the ATACR. However that said I am at the moment leaning towards getting another NXS for my needs. They are still a very good scope in my opinion.

 

[Ingwe]

Same here...that's the only reason I'm considering the ATACR

 

[Greyfox]

I bought the ATACR for my 300WM Milspec. I had been using the NXS for a couple of years. While heavy, it had good balance and form and could be carried on my hunts. The ATACR had better optics but the weight and bulk were too much for my tastes and I replaced the original NXS. Hard to imagine the ATACR on a nicely balanced sporter. While it's all about personal preference, for me, there is a point that the heavy long range rigs can be tipped into the 'crowbar" realm. At this point they spend the the bulk of there life stationary on a bench or bipod.

 

[Ingwe]

Do you think that the NSX is too big on your Sporter??