So, I'm looking to get new glass. I have been using a Weaver K4 for about 10 years. It has worked well, held zero despite abuse year to year. It is lacking for shooting at distance however. Excuse all the writing, part of this is to see if anyone can shoot holes in how I arrived at wanting the Nightforce NX8 1-8x10.
This will go on a 30-06 Kimber Montana. This is a do everything rifle, from goats in the open alpine to brown bear in the alders. As such, I want a low range magnification of 3x or less. I don't plan on shooting past 500 yards (and that only after a lot of practice, at the moment 200 yards would be the furthest I would feel comfortable shooting an animal) so I would be fine with a top end of 8x to 10x. As I would like to start shooting further out, I want something that dials reliably.
Durability and reliability are high on my list. Size and weight come in second, I really don't want an objective over 42mm nor do I want a scope over 24 oz (and I would prefer it to be under 20 oz). Glass quality would be third. Price wise, above $2000 is absolutely out, however below $1000 would be nice. Adequate eye relief, the Weaver has 3.3 inches, and I have a scar from scoping myself with it (but I stopped stock crawling after that and have not done it again). While it is not hard to find options that are an upgrade to the Weaver I have now, I'm hoping to get something I will not want to replace in a few years and would rather stay with the Weaver for a few more years than spend several hundred on something I don't like.
All the really lightweight stuff (Swaro Z3, Leupold, Etc.) appears to lack the durability I want. It may be great, but I'm inclined to go for the surest thing as my time is limited and will be for the next few years and I don't want to wast it messing around with gear that does not function when things get rough. Which is also why I have stopped considering Tract or Maven, as they have not had the time to build a reputation and $700 on a Tract Toric is not cheap enough to be worth lost time.
With all this, I have pretty much settled on Nightforce and am debating between three scopes. The SHV 3-10x42, the NXS 2.5-10x42, and the NX8 1-8x24. Yes, I know many scopes have better glass than Nightforce, but it checks the first several criteria at a price point I can handle.
SHV 3-10x42.
Up sides: Price. Forceplex reticle. I have heard the glass is on par with the NXS.
Down sides: It is the heaviest of the three at 22.2 oz, it has the highest low range magnification, the SHV line is Nightforces lower end offering and probably is not as durable as the NXS and NX8. MOA only. Second focal plane (none issue with Forceplex reticle)
NXS 2.5-10x42.
Up sides: Solid reputation for durability. Available in mil/mil. 2.5x is a little lower than 3x for brush. 10x upper limit magnification with a precise reticle.
Down sides: Price. Has the shortest eye relief of the three at 3.3 inches. Comes in at 20.5 oz. Second focal plane
NX8 1-8x24
Up sides: Designed to be durable. Lightest at 17.0 oz. Longest eye relief at 3.7 inches. True 1x low magnification for fast shooting in brush if needed. Best glass out of the three. First focal plane. Available in mil/mil. Lowest profile of the three.
Down sides: Price. Center dot is large at 1.25 MOA (0.35 MRAD), covering over 6 inches at 500 yards. Meaning hold overs would need to be used for precision past about 200 yards. Coarse adjustments at 0.5 MOA or 0.2 MRAD. While very minor, I like the look of an objective bell.
Other than the reticle, the NX8 1-8x24 checks all the boxes I'm looking for. Am I over looking something? I've done enough research and reading the past several months it is quite possible at this point that I am. Is there another scope or company I should consider, keeping in mind that durability is my first priority and something like the Schmidt and Bender 1.5-8x42 Stratos is out of my price range. Does anyone have first hand experience with options like the Tract Toric to build confidence in its durability? Most scopes, if not abused, will provide adequate service. I want something that will survive abuse. While I try to avoid it, I have taken a few tumbles that left marks on me and my gear, and if I'm not broken I really don't want to have to turn back because my gear did not hold up.
Edited
The Weaver has 3.3 inches of eye relief, not 3.5 inches like I thought.
This will go on a 30-06 Kimber Montana. This is a do everything rifle, from goats in the open alpine to brown bear in the alders. As such, I want a low range magnification of 3x or less. I don't plan on shooting past 500 yards (and that only after a lot of practice, at the moment 200 yards would be the furthest I would feel comfortable shooting an animal) so I would be fine with a top end of 8x to 10x. As I would like to start shooting further out, I want something that dials reliably.
Durability and reliability are high on my list. Size and weight come in second, I really don't want an objective over 42mm nor do I want a scope over 24 oz (and I would prefer it to be under 20 oz). Glass quality would be third. Price wise, above $2000 is absolutely out, however below $1000 would be nice. Adequate eye relief, the Weaver has 3.3 inches, and I have a scar from scoping myself with it (but I stopped stock crawling after that and have not done it again). While it is not hard to find options that are an upgrade to the Weaver I have now, I'm hoping to get something I will not want to replace in a few years and would rather stay with the Weaver for a few more years than spend several hundred on something I don't like.
All the really lightweight stuff (Swaro Z3, Leupold, Etc.) appears to lack the durability I want. It may be great, but I'm inclined to go for the surest thing as my time is limited and will be for the next few years and I don't want to wast it messing around with gear that does not function when things get rough. Which is also why I have stopped considering Tract or Maven, as they have not had the time to build a reputation and $700 on a Tract Toric is not cheap enough to be worth lost time.
With all this, I have pretty much settled on Nightforce and am debating between three scopes. The SHV 3-10x42, the NXS 2.5-10x42, and the NX8 1-8x24. Yes, I know many scopes have better glass than Nightforce, but it checks the first several criteria at a price point I can handle.
SHV 3-10x42.
Up sides: Price. Forceplex reticle. I have heard the glass is on par with the NXS.
Down sides: It is the heaviest of the three at 22.2 oz, it has the highest low range magnification, the SHV line is Nightforces lower end offering and probably is not as durable as the NXS and NX8. MOA only. Second focal plane (none issue with Forceplex reticle)
NXS 2.5-10x42.
Up sides: Solid reputation for durability. Available in mil/mil. 2.5x is a little lower than 3x for brush. 10x upper limit magnification with a precise reticle.
Down sides: Price. Has the shortest eye relief of the three at 3.3 inches. Comes in at 20.5 oz. Second focal plane
NX8 1-8x24
Up sides: Designed to be durable. Lightest at 17.0 oz. Longest eye relief at 3.7 inches. True 1x low magnification for fast shooting in brush if needed. Best glass out of the three. First focal plane. Available in mil/mil. Lowest profile of the three.
Down sides: Price. Center dot is large at 1.25 MOA (0.35 MRAD), covering over 6 inches at 500 yards. Meaning hold overs would need to be used for precision past about 200 yards. Coarse adjustments at 0.5 MOA or 0.2 MRAD. While very minor, I like the look of an objective bell.
Other than the reticle, the NX8 1-8x24 checks all the boxes I'm looking for. Am I over looking something? I've done enough research and reading the past several months it is quite possible at this point that I am. Is there another scope or company I should consider, keeping in mind that durability is my first priority and something like the Schmidt and Bender 1.5-8x42 Stratos is out of my price range. Does anyone have first hand experience with options like the Tract Toric to build confidence in its durability? Most scopes, if not abused, will provide adequate service. I want something that will survive abuse. While I try to avoid it, I have taken a few tumbles that left marks on me and my gear, and if I'm not broken I really don't want to have to turn back because my gear did not hold up.
Edited
The Weaver has 3.3 inches of eye relief, not 3.5 inches like I thought.
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