Nightforce NX8 vs Swarovski X5i

[Shotts2000]

Looking for a new scope for my 6.5 PRC. I am returning a Leupold VX-6HD 3-18x50 that was not functional upon receiving and after a trip for Leupold's warranty service. EuroOptic was kind enough to take it back and give me a credit towards something else on their website.

I have been considering the Nightforce NX8 4-32x50 F2 MOAR-CF2D and the Swarovski X5i 3.5-18x50 or 5-25x56. I'm torn between these scopes and want some opinions from those who have experience with them.

My concerns on the Nightforce are the eye-box and glass clarity. My concerns with the Swarovski are tracking, durability, and the extra tall turret on top. Most of my shots will not require dialing since I primarily hunt whitetail in Alabama, but I want to trust that my scope will handle the task and return to zero when I do need it to. I also have pretty poor vision, so the glass quality and high magnification is important to me.

 

[tydaws]

You've pretty well got the shortfalls of each nailed down. I've been in your predicament and ultimately went with the 2.5-20 NX8. I don't regret it. Being able to fully trust my optics in the field with no concerns whatsoever trumps the glass quality for me.

 

[Mcranch]

I have the Swarovski x5i 5x25 and it is extremely clear it sits on my 280si and it's been there for about 7 years and I haven't had any issues and hopefully I don't. I liked the scope so much I got me a Kahles 5x25. It sits on a 30 Nosler. I have many Leopolds but none compare to either one of the Swarovski or Kahles. I don't know what issues people have with these scopes but I don't baby them. In fact I call my 280ai my work horse rifle. I have bees all over Texas with it. I don't have a night force scope I looked at the atacr line but the scope adjustment turns at the rear I just didn't like that with a cap on. Go to a store near you that has all these scopes and put your hands on them. Research and pick you one. I have been looking at he new Kahles 3x28 but the back end is rather large and would probably require a seventy five degree bolt lift to get by it?? Best to you.

 

[ranch manager]

You've pretty well got the shortfalls of each nailed down. I've been in your predicament and ultimately went with the 2.5-20 NX8. I don't regret it. Being able to fully trust my optics in the field with no concerns whatsoever trumps the glass quality for me.

After experiencing returning to zero issues with a Midas tac I've decided to start saving up for a night force nx8 for a dedicated hunting rifle.

 

[Tiny Tim]

I have an NX8 4-32. I didn't care for the CF2D reticle for my hunting purposes. It's a bit fine and could be confusing if in a hurry. Swarovsky makes amazing glass, but never cared much for their reticle options. I don't think you'd be disappointed with Nightforce glass, and they are mechanically sound.

 

[JTComfort]

Whatever you decide to buy, trust your eyes FIRST. Ask your LGSC to walk it outside and look at a tree, a rock, the McD's sign - does it look right for your purpose? At the tier you are shopping, you might look at Schmidt Bender PMs, Leica (Amplus 2.5-15) or EOTech (Vudu 3.5-18)? I've owned SB, Leupold, Kahles. And now have EOTech Vudus, incl. a 3.5-18x, and several Leica riflescopes and binos and other odds and ends. The SB PMII 5-25 is the finest optic I have ever shot-owned-dropped-dunked; And NF are silly robust - I have yet to drop-test the EOTech. The Leica glass (TO ME) is the clearest ETE, best color resolution and gives the finest definition/contrast. And the Leicas have taken some hard hits. Some alternatives to skinning your cat. Cheers to whatever you choose.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I would chose Nightforce every day of those choices. Reliability trumps glass every day for me. NX8 glass is more than good enough for hunting well beyond legal light and I've never been unable to identify targets and make a shot out to a mile with mine (not at an animal but nonetheless).

 

[CNY Yote Hunter]

I voted for the NX8 but I don't have any experience with Swarovski so I can't comment to their quality. The NX 8 I have experience with has been an outstanding scope and NF across the board for me have been just flat out reliable from the SHV up to the atacr. I just purchased a vx 6 hd to try as I liked the fire dot reticle and haven't used it yet due to weather and time, may I ask what happened with yours?

 

[quandary]

I had a Swarovski X5i, the glass is outstanding. Swarovski has discontinued the X5 line, this is the reason they are "relatively" inexpensive now and a great bargain for the glass quality and the feature set. Presumably the reason the X5 was discontinued was the durability issues with the elevation turret which uses some plastic parts. For a time James Eagleman used the X5 in his long range school. However he had tracking issues with the scopes as the elevation turret is used a lot in the school. If you aren't shooting PRS or some use case where you are cranking on the turret a lot you'll likely ok with the X5.

As a side note you may want to consider the the Zeiss V6 5-30 or 3-18. To my eyes the glass is every bit as good as the X5.

 

[berger21]

I wish my original scopes were nightforce. I would have saved thousands of dollars sorting them out. That is the only one I will buy now. But again I throw the rifle in the scabbard on the mules and hunt elk.

 

[JTComfort]

I wish my original scopes were nightforce... That is the only one I will buy now. But again I throw the rifle in the scabbard on the mules and hunt elk.

There you go! That's proven.

 

[Stonyman88]

Looking for a new scope for my 6.5 PRC. I am returning a Leupold VX-6HD 3-18x50 that was not functional upon receiving and after a trip for Leupold's warranty service. EuroOptic was kind enough to take it back and give me a credit towards something else on their website.

I have been considering the Nightforce NX8 4-32x50 F2 MOAR-CF2D and the Swarovski X5i 3.5-18x50 or 5-25x56. I'm torn between these scopes and want some opinions from those who have experience with them.

My concerns on the Nightforce are the eye-box and glass clarity. My concerns with the Swarovski are tracking, durability, and the extra tall turret on top. Most of my shots will not require dialing since I primarily hunt whitetail in Alabama, but I want to trust that my scope will handle the task and return to zero when I do need it to. I also have pretty poor vision, so the glass quality and high magnification is important to me.

For the kind of money it should pull the trigger too, one thing going for the price tag is you can get them in .05 mils rad clicks adjustment for long range, but really check out the Athlon or Arken , I have many , never let me down and great Jap glass, also one tiny pin point dot in the cross hair center, have the 5-25 and the 6-25 in mils. outstanding tracking and return to zero always.

 

[woodnut]

You just can't go wrong with a NF ! Go to their web site to see all the reticles and different models. They call themselves "Precision Optics" for good reasons. Our guys in the military that have to use scopes, want NF!

 

[Shotts2000]

I voted for the NX8 but I don't have any experience with Swarovski so I can't comment to their quality. The NX 8 I have experience with has been an outstanding scope and NF across the board for me have been just flat out reliable from the SHV up to the atacr. I just purchased a vx 6 hd to try as I liked the fire dot reticle and haven't used it yet due to weather and time, may I ask what happened with yours?

When I first received it, it wouldn't hold zero. My rifle was averaging a 2.5" group @100 yards and changing POI between groups. After spending almost $300 on different types of ammo (stupidity on my part) I decided to send it back to Leupold. They said it had an internal lens that was loose, and the erector was not functioning properly. They fixed it and send it back to me within a week since it was NIB. Upon arriving back, the parallax knob was not functioning like before. It now stops about 1/2 of a turn beyond infinity and when setting for 100 yards, the reference on the knob reads over 300 yards. I mounted and shot it just to verify functionality of the erector system and it shot great for about a dozen rounds. I was getting 1/2 MOA groups without problem, until it lost zero again. I've been a long time user of Leupold, but do not plan on purchasing another one after this experience with them.