Nightforce & Leupold

[5RWill]

My experience is that most are NOT sponsored. (except maybe the top few)

Besides this is BY FAR the shooters who care about the VERY SLIGHTEST advantage in accuracy or performance.

Look at the custom cartridges they are obsessed with accuracy.

The TOP scopes change year after year chasing the best.

IMHO this couldn't be more relative as this is what TOP Tier folks are chasing.

To my knowledge quite a bit are by far sponsored, hell i've shot with some of them. It's not a detriment to them by any means but that compilation of what the pros use doesn't really mean anything. That's not a knock to NF, it's just not a definite answer to the OPs question by any means. It's just a plug to sway him towards the ATACR, because said group of shooters uses them. Doesn't remotely answer how the MK5 compares to the ATACR, which was his question.

 

[WildRose]

Theres a difference between using Japanese glass and being constructed/assembled in Japan. Last I knew they were Japanese manufactured- not that it means they're of poor quality.

Not that I"m a big NF fan but this is completely true. The Japanese have been producing World Class Optics for more than a century and sadly were way ahead of our own optics industry for most of that time.

 

[WildRose]

My experience is that most are NOT sponsored. (except maybe the top few)

Besides this is BY FAR the shooters who care about the VERY SLIGHTEST advantage in accuracy or performance.

Look at the custom cartridges they are obsessed with accuracy.

The TOP scopes change year after year chasing the best.

IMHO this couldn't be more relative as this is what TOP Tier folks are chasing.

The top tier guys pretty well dictate what the rest will follow from year to year and I don't see what they are using as anything other than what their sponsors are providing and them attempting to find even the tiniest edge over the other top tier competitors.

It's very easy too to get very myopic when focusing on a specific goal ignoring everything else that lies outside the tunnel vision it creates.

 

[dfanonymous]

Thought i read that from ILya but i couldn't find the thread i was looking for on the old old hide. Read schott several times but no confirmation. I still think it's outsourced though. It might be in that review of the LR17 from bigjim. Im curious now that i can't find what i was looking for. Wonder if they'd answer that through email.

Though truthfully it doesn't matter as much as people think. Prime example is how good of glass LOW is putting out. Athlon, delta, vortex, nightforce, etc. all using glass from LOW all phenomenal optics. I mean i get wanting to keep it in the US and don't disagree but i understand that's not financially feasible sometimes. The only high end optic right now that i know is using American glass less it's changed is the AMG.

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=408707

this is all i can find. Makes sense. Schott glass and grind and cut in house. Not much different then the other companies that are "US made" like Leupold and Nightforce with their jap glass.

 

[DENWA]

It's very easy too to get very myopic when focusing on a specific goal ignoring everything else that lies outside the tunnel vision it creates.

With all due respect what specific goal do you refer?

These aren't benchrest shooters.

1. Accuracy above all else,
2. While engaging targets from unknown distances (100-1200yds)
3. From unconventional shooting positions
4. All under a time crunch.

I feel it is quite pertinent to what the goal of everyone here should be striving toward.

 

[shooters]

Suppose to have the 5-25x56 Atacr and 5-25x56 Mark 5HD by Thursday. I'll post up pics through the lens from dawn to dusk, sunny to shady etc... very curious to see and feel the difference between the turrets, as well as one being my first "first focal" scope. (Mark 5HD). Not sure how I feel about either reticle yet. PR-1MOA in the Leupold and the MOART in the ATACR.

 

[shooters]

Both arrived. Way to early to say for sure, but very suprised by the Leupold. Just looking out the house a few times, it seems the Leupold is much clearer or brighter than the ATACR. Never thought those words would come out of my mouth. Ever. Also really digging the FFP. Almost wish I would have purchased the ATACR in the FFP as well. Again, I have a tone of shooting to do before I can really compare.

 

[5RWill]

I'd have been shocked if you didn't like it, the MK5 holds it's own against optics quite a bit above it's price range if you're considering the cheaper models without illumination. The moment Leupold can sanction a tree reticle with a center dot, there are going to be a lot of mark 5s on my rifles.

Though i do think the F1 variants of the ATACR are better than the SFP versions. For whatever reason be it sample variance or what the one SFP ATACR i looked through i was completely unimpressed with. The two FFP ones i've been behind i'd put up there with Kahles, Vortex, Leupold, etc.

 

[shooters]

So I've spent just a few short hours behind both. I have to say, I absolutely love the Leupold...mainly for its weight, also really like the zero stop and it's design. I also much prefer FFP over a SFP. Wish I would have purchased the ATACR in FFP now. I will say now after spending time behind both, the ATaCR is brighter, crisper, clearer....and it is noticeable. Leupold is still absolutely excellent....and no complaints so far. Tracks perfectly. Very crips clear turrets and no play or slop. For obvious reason, such as durability, strength, tried and tested and just a beast, I would still take the NF over the two on magnum calibers and for extreme back country hunts and expeditions. Still just a better scope all around.

I still hate how NF entire ocular lens or eye piece rotates with magnification change.

What I'm most excited about is my new US Optics B-25 that's headed this way. Looks to have a few features with the B-25 that NF should have done. Other than a little research, I know nothing about it. Glass, turrets, etc.... havent ever looked through or held one. It will be 2 weeks till it arrives. Hope others have some experience to share with the USO

 

[jmitchell_13]

Well I just ordered both the ATACR 5-25x56 and the Mark 5HD 5-25x55. I cannot wait to have them both in my hands. It's honestly hard for me to think that any Leupold could be in the ATACR class or category, but I guess I'll find out.

Have you had a chance to compare the two scopes yet?

 

[highdrum]

I don't own an atacr, do have nxs and new nx8. I have vx6hd, mk5, but ofall my scopes......the minox zp5 with mr4 reticle is my favorite for glass quality, turrets are solid, parallax is very forgiving. It's just a bit hefty and long for a hunting rig.

 

[Can17]

I don't own an atacr, do have nxs and new nx8. I have vx6hd, mk5, but ofall my scopes......the minox zp5 with mr4 reticle is my favorite for glass quality, turrets are solid, parallax is very forgiving. It's just a bit hefty and long for a hunting rig.

Which NXS and NX8 models do you have? And how would you compare the glass quality between the two?

 

[5RWill]

I don't own an atacr, do have nxs and new nx8. I have vx6hd, mk5, but ofall my scopes......the minox zp5 with mr4 reticle is my favorite for glass quality, turrets are solid, parallax is very forgiving. It's just a bit hefty and long for a hunting rig.

I just picked up a ZP5 and ATACR and couldn't agree more. For the prices they're going for used the ZP5 is impossible to beat right now.

 

[highdrum]

Which NXS and NX8 models do you have? And how would you compare the glass quality between the two?

Nxs is a 5.5-22x56 sfp model, the nx8 is a 4-32 mil C. The nx8 vastly out performs it in every manner other than the forgiveness in eyebox and parallax. Comparing a scope that's 13" long with 8x erector vs a 15" scope with 4x erector, the nxs should be better in those specifics.