What is the quality of Nightforce these days?

[Dirtlaw]

I believe the standard used to be high and then it dropped. Where are their optics currently?

[smoothy8500]

Originally Posted by Dirtlaw

used to be high and then it dropped.

Based on what?

If you're comparing their SHV to the ATACR or Competition scopes, the SHV is their "budget" line similar to Vortex stuff. So can't really use that as a determining factor.

[Dirtlaw]

Originally Posted by smoothy8500

Based on what?

If you're comparing their SHV to the ATACR or Competition scopes, the SHV is their "budget" line similar to Vortex stuff. So can't really use that as a determining factor.

Helpful but give me more info. Interested as to how the SHV line compares to Leupold and Vortex.

[sacrvrrat]

No quality issues with Nightforce. Wouldn’t even consider a Leupold or Vortex over a NF. Both have a good warranty and you will probably need to use it.


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[tsmithson]

Originally Posted by sacrvrrat

No quality issues with Nightforce. Wouldn’t even consider a Leupold or Vortex over a NF. Both have a good warranty and you will probably need to use it.


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I’ll take the NF for sitting at the range.(boat anchor)
I’ll take th Leupold for hiking/hunting.(good lightweight)

[Dirtlaw]

Thanks guys the issue is starting to get into focus so I'm in the process of making choices. Part of this issue for me is illumination. For me it's hugely helpful.

[the_tunaman]

I’ve got an ATACR which is a few years old now, and it is incredible. No complaints from me.

[Tikka3x]

Originally Posted by Dirtlaw

Thanks guys the issue is starting to get into focus so I'm in the process of making choices. Part of this issue for me is illumination. For me it's hugely helpful.

For what purpose? Budget? I have personally owned Vortex Razors and while heavy, they are almost bulletproof and boringly precise. NF the same but you have to goto their high end 7x35 to match.

Vortex does make some lessor scopes and they are usable but lessor. When people complain about Vortex, its their non Razor line, or they are just talking out of their butts.

If you want top quality (read $$$$) try S&B, or ZCO. Minox would be a close second.

[tsmithson]

Apples to Apples on features, then check the weight difference…..weight matters.
Leuphold VX6 is a great hunting scope and substantially lighter then the other Tier one optics with the same features it is also lighter then tier 2 scopes like the Razor.

Buy the scope that matches the purpose of the rifle.
Get the best glass that makes sense.

Don’t put a $3,000 scope on a $600 rifle.
Don’t put a $800 scope on a $3,000 rifle.

Balance and functional for the intended purpose of the weapon.

Just like a rifle can last a lifetime So can a scope.
Quality will hold a good resale value compared to cheap.

[CSACANNONEER]

I have 3 NXSes. One has failed and gone back for warrantee repair. But, every scope will sooner or later fail on a .50 with a brake on it. If I buy another NF, it will be a dedicated 1000 yard scope so, I'll go with a NF BR. I've NEVER heard any complaints about NF quality or even their CS.

[sacrvrrat]

Originally Posted by tsmithson

Apples to Apples on features, then check the weight difference…..weight matters.
Leuphold VX6 is a great hunting scope and substantially lighter then the other Tier one optics with the same features it is also lighter then tier 2 scopes like the Razor.

Buy the scope that matches the purpose of the rifle.
Get the best glass that makes sense.

Don’t put a $3,000 scope on a $600 rifle.
Don’t put a $800 scope on a $3,000 rifle.

Balance and functional for the intended purpose of the weapon.

Just like a rifle can last a lifetime So can a scope.
Quality will hold a good resale value compared to cheap.

Weight matters, but not as much as reliability. Leupolds are not reliable, especially if you are dialing. Glass quality is way down on the list as well. Any scope in the Nightforce/VX6 range will have good enough glass.


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[ocabj]

If you're going to shell out the money for an ATACR, you should consider ZCO.

I have a pair of ZC527's and I find them to be superb.

If not ZCO because of price, I also recommend the Kahles K525i. I have one with the SKMR3 and left side windage and I also think it's a real solid scope, especially if you get the newer DLR version.

[trailblazer87]

I have both the NF NXS 8-32 and the Leupold VX6 HD 4-24, for toughness the Nightforce hands down, we have them on seriously hard kicking rifles and they hold zero like nothing else. Glass clarity I have to go with the Leupold, God bless that scope, it can see through haze and mirage like nothing else I've seen, but I'm not mounting it on something that recoils like crazy, it's going on a 28 Nosler I'm building. I'm not letting it near my 338 Lapua, the NF happily resides on that rifle. My brother has the same NF on his big 50, the rifle broke 3 scopes before he found the NF. The NXS isn't the clearest glass, but it's not bad at all, just doesn't handle mirage like that Leupold.

I haven't played with the S&B yet, someday.

I have a Leupold VX5 3-15 on my 300 win mag and an AR-10 with no complaints. They have held up well to the rigors of those rifles.

So I'm going to agree with what tsmithson said, that NF is HEAVY! The Leupold not as much, and slightly better in low light.

[Peahi2]

Originally Posted by CSACANNONEER

I have 3 NXSes. One has failed and gone back for warrantee repair. But, every scope will sooner or later fail on a .50 with a brake on it. If I buy another NF, it will be a dedicated 1000 yard scope so, I'll go with a NF BR. I've NEVER heard any complaints about NF quality or even their CS.

If you head over to snipers hide, there was a pretty big thread from a year or two back where they gave a guy hell with his defective scope....very long and ugly thread, and it ended up in some settlement, and of course they guy could post no more details on it. It soured a lot of people on Nightforce.

I still like Nightforce, but make no mistake, no company is immune from screwing things up badly. The competition is heavy for nightforce now, so they need to tighten it up. There are so many good scopes out there at price points that are better. They are kind of a middle of the road scope now with Tangent Theta and ZCO being the big dogs. Then there are the Japanese contract manufacturers (LOW) who make scopes for others; Tract Toric for example.

[voiceofreason]

NF makes great quality stuff. I wouldn't get anything that wasn't from the ATACR or NXS lineup. I still have an ATACR 4-16x that is awesome. Glass is good but not great. Accurate and durable.

That said, if you can afford NF and are shooting long range, look into the Vortex Razor G3 6-36x. For $2400 or less it's shockingly good.

Vortex warranty is legit. I'm almost a fanboy because of it. And they pick up the phone when you call. email back when you have ?s.

If it's for duty use LE/mil with a spotter or have other glass for viewing, I'd go NF .

for recreational shooting, I'd go Vortex Razor G3 for long range

Tangent & ZCO are better, but the point of diminishing returns happens before that price point. If you have the $, go for it.

[waveslayer]

Originally Posted by Dirtlaw

I believe the standard used to be high and then it dropped. Where are their optics currently?

They haven't dropped, there are now other higher end options like ZCO and TT. Many other scope manufacturers had to raise their own bar to compete with NF

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[God Bless America]

Originally Posted by Dirtlaw

I believe the standard used to be high and then it dropped. Where are their optics currently?

Are you maybe thinking of U.S. Optics?

[a1fabweld]

OP, what are you doing with this optic and the rifle it’s going on? I have 2 NF NXS’s and 1 SHV. They are all exceptionally clear and I have no gripes about them. I shot long range competitively for a little while and the 5.5-22x56 MIL/MIL NXS did the job very well. I’m not a fan of Chinese/Philippine made products, so I avoid them at all costs whenever possible. I recently picked up a Meopta Optika 6 3-18x44 FFP 30mm MIL/MIL scope and that thing is awesome for the money. They're made in the Czech Republic and loaded with features. Meopta is the best kept secret in optics IMO.

[tsmithson]

Originally Posted by sacrvrrat

Weight matters, but not as much as reliability. Leupolds are not reliable, especially if you are dialing. Glass quality is way down on the list as well. Any scope in the Nightforce/VX6 range will have good enough glass.


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OK.
YES I’ll take a NF for LR dialing all day over a Leupold.
BUT,
I am a hunter and use the VX6 with the Boone And Crockett reticle.
Most if not all shots are within 300 yards. No need to dial for LR.
I can afford to put any scope on my 300Win and the Best all around for weight and features is the Leupold VX6. After 40 years of using Leupold I have never had one fail.

I have had and still have now tier one glass Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski etc..

Hunting in low light early and at last light, glass quality is extremely important.

If you ever had to rely on your scope at night or in low light you would be singing a different tune on the importance of quality clear glass.

[sacrvrrat]

Nightforce glass is plenty fine even at low light. I don’t have a use case for using my scope at night, so maybe I am missing out.


Got tired of re zeroing my Leupolds every year because they don’t hold zero even if you don’t dial.


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[CSACANNONEER]

Originally Posted by sacrvrrat

Nightforce glass is plenty fine even at low light. I don’t have a use case for using my scope at night, so maybe I am missing out.


Got tired of re zeroing my Leupolds every year because they don’t hold zero even if you don’t dial.


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I saw a NF NXS that has a 7.62 hole through it and held zero for several more days until the mission was over. NF had it at thier booth at SHOT for a few years. The only issue was it somehow locked up the variable magnification but, it held zero until our sniper completed his mission and was able to get back and replace it.

[Gunsrruss]

I have Remington 700 actions built up. After completion there all about $4500-5000 dollars in 30.06, .308, 6.5 X 55 swede, and .223. They all have 5X 22X56 Nightforce scopes on them. The 6.5 is dialed in to 1,000 yards, the others to 600. At 1,000 yards when looking through the scope it's like you're shooting from 300 yards. We used an SR 200-yard target for the total sight in

[tsmithson]

Again…
NF is a great scope and built like a TANK.

Some of us got old and tired of carrying extra weight when the mission is having a good time out in the forest hunting animals to fill the freezer.

I’m a hunter first and foremost.

If you are sniping and long range shooting get the heaviest and best NF or US Optics etc …. ENJOY.