I'm looking to upgrade to a Nightforce scope for my next build. I've never owned a NF and the highest level of scope I currently own is a Sightron SIII. This scope will be going on a custom 7mm Rem Mag, but will most likely go on other hunting rifle builds in the future. I want something I can use at close ranges hunting ~50 yards, and something I can bang steel and shoot out to ~1000 yards and everything in between. I want MOA and SFP. I want a NF because of their reputation and durability. I want to buy one and be done and stop my process of buying and trying a new scope every couple years. I also want something I don't have to question or worry about breaking or shifting zero when I'm counting on it.
I'm really liking the NXS 5.5-22x50, but I fear that 5.5x might be a little overkill for hunting in the woods. I've previously used several different scopes for hunting with their lowest power being 4x and haven't had a problem. I feel 1.5 more power won't be a deal breaker, but I don't want to paint myself into a corner. The 3.5-15x NXS is nice, but I feel 15x isn't quite enough magnification for target shooting and banging steel beyond 700-800 yards. I think it would probably be fine for big game, but I still feel a little handicapped with 15x being at the top end. The NXS attracts me because of its proven track record and it's in my price range.
The NX8 seems to be the obvious answer, but it's $300-400 more than the NXS, and I've heard some negatives about the eye box and mounting it. The NX8 2.5-20x sounds about perfect for me, but the short tube with a long action scares me. I don't want to compromise the positioning of the scope just to make it work but have an uncomfortable cheek weld and/or head position. The 4-32x sounds like the solution, but the cost of it is about the only thing holding me back, and the finicky eyebox issues I have read about. Also, 32x is way more than enough for anything I'll use this rifle for. My SIII is 8-32x, and it's on a dedicated target and Varmint rifle and I rarely have it above 24x. Sorry for the long winded post, I just want to be thorough with my wants and needs, and with the research I've done so far. Thanks!
I'm really liking the NXS 5.5-22x50, but I fear that 5.5x might be a little overkill for hunting in the woods. I've previously used several different scopes for hunting with their lowest power being 4x and haven't had a problem. I feel 1.5 more power won't be a deal breaker, but I don't want to paint myself into a corner. The 3.5-15x NXS is nice, but I feel 15x isn't quite enough magnification for target shooting and banging steel beyond 700-800 yards. I think it would probably be fine for big game, but I still feel a little handicapped with 15x being at the top end. The NXS attracts me because of its proven track record and it's in my price range.
The NX8 seems to be the obvious answer, but it's $300-400 more than the NXS, and I've heard some negatives about the eye box and mounting it. The NX8 2.5-20x sounds about perfect for me, but the short tube with a long action scares me. I don't want to compromise the positioning of the scope just to make it work but have an uncomfortable cheek weld and/or head position. The 4-32x sounds like the solution, but the cost of it is about the only thing holding me back, and the finicky eyebox issues I have read about. Also, 32x is way more than enough for anything I'll use this rifle for. My SIII is 8-32x, and it's on a dedicated target and Varmint rifle and I rarely have it above 24x. Sorry for the long winded post, I just want to be thorough with my wants and needs, and with the research I've done so far. Thanks!
