Nightforce comparisons

[jt4]

Looking at a new scope to put on top of a t3x 30-06. I don't shoot long range - out to 400 in the field is it for me. I'd rather dial past 200 than hold over.

I've found the following 3 scopes for close enough to the same price to justify any of them and am wondering which to go with.

NXS 2.5-10x42 SFP Not sure if 10x would feel enough power
NXS 3.5-15x50 SFP This weighs more than the NX8 which has more magnification.
NX8 2.5-20x50 SFP Read a lot about the very finicky eyebox of this scope which is holding me off

 

[justinspicher]

I have a 1-8x and a 2.5-10x in 30mm tubes from Nightforce. Both are on a 556 rifle. I have never felt like I needed more magnification. I have taken both to 750yds with no issues and have no intentions on going any higher in magnification.

 

[atmat]

At 400 yards, you definitely do not need 10x. I’d be on 4-6x.

Based on that alone, I’d take the 2.5-10 out of your list. They’re great little scopes.

The 3-15 is more than you need. The NX8 does have a picky eyebox in the 2.5-20.

Over all of those I’d take an SWFA 3-9 or 6x. Or an SB 3-12

 

[hunterjmj]

I have the NX8 in 2.5X20 and love that scope. I've read where people have Had trouble getting the eye relief correct. I have a rail on my 300 and I didn't have much issue getting it set up. If you didn't have a rail I could definitely see having a problem.

 

[dreamingWest]

I've read the same thing about finicky eye box with SHV scopes and I've never had an issue.

Of the OPs choices I take the NXS 2.5-10. I use a 30-06 similarly and have SHV 3-10. It's almost perfect for the rifle. (Nightforce, please make MIL/FFP version).

 

[Browninglover1]

For 400 yards and in I'd take the 10x every time. It's smaller and lighter and still has all the functionality you could need.
I have the 15x NXS on my muzzy but I keep thinking about picking up the 10x for a lighter weight option.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

I've read the same thing about finicky eye box with SHV scopes and I've never had an issue.

Of the OPs choices I take the NXS 2.5-10. I use a 30-06 similarly and have SHV 3-10. It's almost perfect for the rifle. (Nightforce, please make MIL/FFP version).

...with a well designed hunting reticle...

Then the entire congregation said AMEN as they prayed to the patron saint of reliable dialing.

 

[wind gypsy]

...with a well designed hunting reticle...

And an exposed elevation turret.

Then the entire congregation said AMEN as they prayed to the patron saint of reliable dialing.

 

[Oregonmuley]

If you are talking about an actually hunting scope its hard not to like the NXS Compact in the reticle of your choice. I have these on my hunting rifles and so far have no complaints and they have worked 100%.

 

[SDHNTR]

You don’t need NXS for that. SHV serve ya just fine and save you a few duckets.

 

[PlumberED]

From your list I would get the 2.5-10 NXS, they are nice scopes. As SDHNTR stated the SHV is a solid scope and a little cheaper.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

And an exposed elevation turret.

Yes, I was thinking NXS and making the assumption, but the 3-10 SHV would benefit from zero stopped, exposed elevation turret.

A while back I had a friend trial/error a 3D printed, sand to fit elevation stop for the 3-10 SHV. It's not perfect but it is helpful. The MOAR gives windage hold options and the Forceplex can be used as a windage reference (both on 10x). ...still, it's an irksome work around.

The NXS or SHV #-10x42 with the FC-MIL or FC-DM, with the circle/dot either changed to just the dot or a fine illuminated crosshair would be usable.

 

[dreamingWest]

I really liked the MOAR reticle on my SHV 3-10 until I learned about and tested MIL/FFP with the SHV 4.5-14. We're so close to getting the scope we want from Nightforce. They are obviously slow with creating new skews. Probably a good thing.

 

[Kurts86]

Get the NXS 2.5-10x42 for sure. It’s my favorite hunting scope and I shoot it out to 1,000 yards at the range without issue. It also doesn’t make lighter rifles too heavy as the NXS/NX8 50mm scopes do.

I have the FFP NX8 2.5-20 and it’s a cool scope in a hunting/target crossover sense but the reticle is not great on the low. I would never get a SFP 20x scope, too much shooting with that scope occurs from 8-12x and 20x in the field all but guarantees loss of target tracking.

Every Nightforce I have shot/owned has short eye relief and a narrower eyebox. I know the 2.5-20 NX8 has that reputation but it’s a downside across the NXS/NX8/SHV scopes I’ve owned.

 

[SDHNTR]

Get the NXS 2.5-10x42 for sure. It’s my favorite hunting scope and I shoot it out to 1,000 yards at the range without issue. It also doesn’t make lighter rifles too heavy as the NXS/NX8 50mm scopes do.

I have the FFP NX8 2.5-20 and it’s a cool scope in a hunting/target crossover sense but the reticle is not great on the low. I would never get a SFP 20x scope, too much shooting with that scope occurs from 8-12x and 20x in the field all but guarantees loss of target tracking.

Every Nightforce I have shot/owned has short eye relief and a narrower eyebox. I know the 2.5-20 NX8 has that reputation but it’s a downside across the NXS/NX8/SHV scopes I’ve owned.

The only Nightforce I’ve ever had any trouble getting behind is the NX 82.5–20. I think I’ve used all of the NXS versions and no trouble whatsoever with any of them. The NX8 4 to 32 is much more usable. I have zero problems using that scope in FFP for hunting, or the NXS 10X or 15 X max.

 

[Jbuck]

The NXS 2.5-10x42 is a goldilocks scope. I own a NX8 2.5-20, ATACR 4-16x42 and vortex 3-15 LHT. I've tried them all on my main deer hunting rifle and keep smaller NXS because it just works without the added bulk. Furthest shot I've taken on game was a deer at 468yds. This year was a buck at 381yds that would only show his head and neck through a small window.

I have steel set out to about 1300yds and have no issues, other then spotting misses past 900yds or so, with 10x max magnification.

I'm probably in the minority but I don't mind a SFP in this scope. If I'm shooting far enough to need holds I'm already on 10x.

I will also mention the FFP NX8 2.5-20 would be almost unusable in timber without the illumination on the lower power settings. I shot my elk last year with a rifle that had a NX8 2.5-20 on it. It was less then 15yds and would have been tough without the illumination on. Mine was in a group and only sticking its head above the others. Part of the reason they got so close. They were feeding walking towards me and couldn't get a clean shot.

 

[SDHNTR]

The NXS 2.5-10x42 is a goldilocks scope. I own a NX8 2.5-20, ATACR 4-16x42 and vortex 3-15 LHT. I've tried them all on my main deer hunting rifle and keep smaller NXS because it just works without the added bulk. Furthest shot I've taken on game was a deer at 468yds. This year was a buck at 381yds that would only show his head and neck through a small window.

I have steel set out to about 1300yds and have no issues, other then spotting misses past 900yds or so, with 10x max magnification.

I'm probably in the minority but I don't mind a SFP in this scope. If I'm shooting far enough to need holds I'm already on 10x.

I will also mention the FFP NX8 2.5-20 would be almost unusable in timber without the illumination on the lower power settings. I shot my elk last year with a rifle that had a NX8 2.5-20 on it. It was less then 15yds and would have been tough without the illumination on. Mine was in a group and only sticking its head above the others. Part of the reason they got so close. They were feeding walking towards me and couldn't get a clean shot.

I don’t mind that scope in SFP either!