Which Nightforce

[ThorThor]

ATACR line is probably the best line of hunting scopes out there if you can deal with +30 Oz weight - heavy yes but rock solid dependable and tough. They used to make a 4-16 42mm SFP. A bit lighter if you can find one. 42mm is fine with the big 34mm tube.

 

[tknuts103]

I have the NX8 2.5x20 and think it is great. I would highly recommend.

 

[Kimber7man]

I might have to try an ATACR 4-16x42 one of these days.

 

[Greyfox]

Having a few NF scopes for both LRH and PRS competition, my go-to for LRH is my ATACR F2/SFP 5x25x56 with MOAR reticle. While a bit larger and heavier then I would prefer, it leaves little to be desired in terms of optical quality, reliability, and versatility for my flavor of hunting from <200-1200 yards. While it spends much of its time on 1/2 power, and simply doubling the reticle values for windage, the back up magnification and superb clarity has more then paid off on several occasions. I like an minimum of 18-20x for the longer shots, and the constant reticle size of the SFP design.

 

[softtail103]

NXS 8-32x56 Enough said.

 

[Aoudad 101]

I dont think there would be a better scope than a Z6i 5x30 for what you want to do . Night force doesn't even compare.

 

[Hal The Slayer]

I have the opportunity too shoot just about any optic I want.. my favorite in in big scopes in F1 is the kahles 5-25i MOAK ret in a more compact setup is the 4-32x50 F2 CF2D nx8 is money!! then if you want ultralite but bad *** the mark compact 2.5-25x42 is an amazing little scope ......when it comes too complaints about eye box being tight when you stack an 8X optical magnification into a scope that small its going to happen.

Which ATACR's do you have @PlumberEd

NX8 vs ATACR ... how much better is the glass, eye box and durability is the ATACR over the NX8?

BoonFlop: I have both Atacr's 5x25 and 5x35 both work perfect for me,kinda like the 5x35 in far long range,great glass and have never had problem with turrents setting or return settings.They are dependable! which I carry a heavy rifle anyway so weight is not a problem for me but, I'm not sixty yet either,so that's my 2 cents,but in the end you have to make your own choice, Man has to know his limitations!

 

[338 dude]

My rifle builder has a 1/2 MOA guarantee so I expect the rifle to be extremely accurate, especially with hand loads.

Would I feel handicapped with 16x at 1000 yards?

Yes

 

[trevorn]

NX8 all the way!!! My cow this fall with 7SS and a nx8!!

 

[WahooYahoo]

I prefer the lighter NX8. Not handicapped at all with the 20x. It is my favorite scope.

 

[COBrad]

I used a 4-16x50 Schmidt Bender PMII spf to take rock chucks as far as 1400 yards. The clarity and resolution on that scope made it possible. I'm just not paying what they get for them now when the NF scopes are so good at much lower cost. I now use an atacr 5-25x56 spf tmoar and a nxs 5.5-22 spf tmoar on a couple long range rifles. Both perfectly adequate LR scopes, with the nxs being about a half pound lighter. I also used nxs 2.5-10x42 moar on a couple rifles and shot many 'chucks out around the 700 yard range. I did try an nxs8 at a match last summer and didn't like the eye box.

 

[jvr]

Go check out the dark lord of optics blogs. You can thank me later.

 

[Kevinprc]

I am building a 7 Sherman Short as my first long range rifle. I want the ability to shoot 1000 yards on game. However, I want to buy a scope that is more capable than me and the rifle. Shots will be anywhere from 30 yards to 600 yards. I currently mainly just own Swarovski non turret rifles scopes that are all SFP.

I am torn between the following scopes: Nightforce ATACR 4-16x50 SFP MOAR and Nightforce ATACR 4-20x50 FFP MOAR.

I have thought about the NX8 2.5-20 SFP and 4-32 FFP as a lighter option as well as the ATACR 5-25 as a slightly heavier option with more power. I've heard that the NX8 has a finicky eye box. The ATACR has better glass and is tougher from my understanding. I am pretty easy on my equipment, however, I want piece of mind and the best of the best (per say).

I have never shot at 1000 yards, and am afraid that 16x is not enough power. I am also concerned that a FFP scope will not be usable at lower magnification in the timber/woods. This rifle will be shot far more at 100 or less than it will be at 1000 yards. However, I do want it to be a viable 1000 yard hunting rifle that I can practice and work my way longer when I can place every first round shot on target.

Thanks all,
Steve

If you are shooting at anything 600 yds or more you should have cartridge, rifle, scope, and shooter capable of 1 MOA at 600. You should consider a 20 scope and the Nightforce 4-20x50 would serve you well.

 

[Longtine88]

This is almost a Chevrolet Ford thing. It's like me saying "my wife is the best and hottest thing around" then a man looks at a beach in south Florida and thinks …..hmmmm. We all like them for one reason or the other. I'm content with the NX8 because of weight, price and value.