Nightforce NX8 vs Swarovski X5i

[deltadukman]

Have you done SXS comparisons in the field at dusk with various NF and your Swaros?

I'm not implying that they are the equal of Swaro in terns of ultimate view quality by any specific metric; however, after a lot of NF use through the years, I can report that their glass is often better in use than it at first looks, especially if any comparisons are constrained to the indoors and/or not at game during dim conditions. In short, the NF coatings are not optimized for the "pop" that often makes a lot of consumers say wow at the optics counter. IME, NF's offer great resolution, which positively impacts reticle visibility on dark and mottled backgrounds.

At any rate, I've carried Alpha glass and NF's in a lot of vastly different terrains, and I can't report that I've ever felt NF glass was lacking during actual use on game. And then there's the reliability aspect.

Yes I have. I am lucky to be a member of a great range with some great people who have a lot of different "toys". We've played with them a lot and done a lot of low light testing. When I am talking low light for where we hunt, we are talking that last 15mins of daylight. We hunt until its pitch black dark and up against wood lines. It is different than out west or mountain low light. The ATCAR is about the closest but right before it goes dark, it's still not SWARO. If someone could make a scope as dependable as a NF, have glass like a Swaro, and be as light as a Leopold VX-6 they would have the best scope produced.

 

[sp6x6]

I have a nx8 2-20 on my 6.5 prc.I like scope but in mil, but the cross reticle is small at lower x .Where my march is sized better in mil on my 3-24. I like how compact it is, nice fit on my 22'' proof.It is illuminated, but I haven't used that yet in a shooting situation. Now I did shoot a speed goat with said rifle at archery type range as a group ran right by me as I was flopped out for a LR shot.

 

[mtank]

Yes I have. I am lucky to be a member of a great range with some great people who have a lot of different "toys". We've played with them a lot and done a lot of low light testing. When I am talking low light for where we hunt, we are talking that last 15mins of daylight. We hunt until its pitch black dark and up against wood lines. It is different than out west or mountain low light. The ATCAR is about the closest but right before it goes dark, it's still not SWARO. If someone could make a scope as dependable as a NF, have glass like a Swaro, and be as light as a Leopold VX-6 they would have the best scope produced.

Would the Zeiss v6 3x18x50 work? I've only owned one Zeiss & one swaro but the Zeiss was better. I owned at the same time had them mounted on hunting rifles. I had the z5 5x25x52 w/the bt on a 7mm rem mag & a Zeiss hd5 5x25x50 with their rapid reticle don't remember which one. I currently use a vx5hd 3x15x56. I'm looking at the v6, Steiner h6xi & the x5i. More than likely the 3x18ish but could go 5x30.

 

[Starbuck]

Yes I have. I am lucky to be a member of a great range with some great people who have a lot of different "toys". We've played with them a lot and done a lot of low light testing. When I am talking low light for where we hunt, we are talking that last 15mins of daylight. We hunt until its pitch black dark and up against wood lines. It is different than out west or mountain low light. The ATCAR is about the closest but right before it goes dark, it's still not SWARO. If someone could make a scope as dependable as a NF, have glass like a Swaro, and be as light as a Leopold VX-6 they would have the best scope produced.

The S&B's might be your huckleberry. The couple of those I've looked and shot through had fantastic glass, and there's good reports on their dialing precision and reliability.

I recently mounted a German made 3-12 Klassik on a Tikka for a work associate. I took it to the range with 4-5 other rigs that had similar price tier scopes on and the S&B was clearly the best glass of the bunch
And the Klassik is their "entey" level scope .

 

[RichCoyle]

I have one March and plan to get another this year, if the Lord wills. After four Swarovski disappointments, I don't consider them.

 

[RichCoyle]

I've never seen any glass that compares with Swaro. What good is 32 power in Alabama?

You may lack experience.

 

[RichCoyle]

For larger sized game hunting anything over 15 magnification power is totally useless, I do think these aren't experienced hunters??
Watching far too much YouTube me thinks.....
The exception is with small varmints and scopes mounted on say a 22-250 where larger magnification is ideal.

I was told that on the Internet despite being eighty years old and hunting for fifty years. I have hunted five states with the smallest scope being a 4-24X and the largest being a 4 1/2-30X. My next one, Lord willing, will be a 5-50X. I mostly hunt I-5 corridor's woods in Oregon, but Alaska, Washington, and Wyoming are very open.

I like examining antlers before I fire.

 

[Mcranch]

I have one March and plan to get another this year, if the Lord wills. After four Swarovski disappointments, I don't consider them.

Which series scope disappointed you? Z5, x5i, ? I did receive notification today Swaro is coming out with a z5i. The nx8 4x32 second focal is roughly a 1000 cheaper than a Swaro X5i.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I was told that on the Internet despite being eighty years old and hunting for fifty years. I have hunted five states with the smallest scope being a 4-24X and the largest being a 4 1/2-30X. My next one, Lord willing, will be a 5-50X. I mostly hunt I-5 corridor's woods in Oregon, but Alaska, Washington, and Wyoming are very open.

I like examining antlers before I fire.

That's what a spotting scope is for, not your riflescope.

 

[mtank]

Which series scope disappointed you? Z5, x5i, ? I did receive notification today Swaro is coming out with a z5i. The nx8 4x32 second focal is roughly a 1000 cheaper than a Swaro X5i.

On eurooptic they have one demo nx8 4x32 f2 that is $35 cheaper than the x5i 3.5x18.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

That's what a spotting scope is for, not your riflescope.

I often hunt out of an elevated box blind looking over vast soybean fields. I spot my animals with binos but carefully review them with my scope run up to 20-25x. I don't need 25x to shoot but it sure is helpful at determining if the animal is one that I want to take or not. Most of my scopes have 20-25x on the top end. I've got enough gear to lug in & out that a spotting scope and tripod just wouldn't work for me.