Nightforce SHV 3-10x42mm Review - 2
Installation of the 3-10X42 was quick using the lightweight, titanium NF 30mm rings. The rail on my rifle in combination with the Wheeler Engineering Professional Reticle Leveling Kit made the scope change simple. After an old school bore sighting, sight-in was basically a five shot process then a quick fine-tune for the 200 yard zero I prefer for coyotes. The click values seemed to be slightly long on this scope.
If the shooter wants to spin turrets, he should probably check and verify the come-ups. The adjustments were not NXS-crisp but this scope was a pre-production model that Len had arranged to receive early. It may or may not be totally representative of all the SHV scopes. All other scope functions worked well. The power ring was smooth as was the side-focus knob.
The 3-12X42mm SHV came with a set of rubber scope covers. My first thought was that these are virtually indestructible, unlike some of the plastic flip covers I've seen. They push onto the respective ends of the scope and stay in place very well. The rubber around the objective and ocular lenses adds protection from nicks and jars as well. I did learn that it was better to orient the covers to the five o'clock or seven o'clock positions rather than straight up. The wind or gravity can result in the covers returning back in front of the lenses at an inopportune time -- not a very handy scenario!
With the scope mounted and dialed in, it was time for a field test. I had a ranch that I had not called coyotes on all year. The owner told me that coyotes had gotten the very first calf of the year so what was sport hunt became an ADC mission. I bumped one coyote on the way to my stand. It wasn't spooked extremely bad and I knew there were other coyotes in the area.
The setup was in the shade of a small juniper overlooking the Foxpro Shockwave 25 yards away. I started the stand with some Lone Howls followed a couple of minutes later with some Female Invitation sounds. Female estrus chirps were sent next into the small, juniper studded canyon. Coyote Hurt Pup sounds screamed out a few minutes after that. This was all textbook stuff for February coyotes but the coyotes had evidently skipped class that day!
I had found deer kills in the area previously so Fawn Distress was the next logical choice. By the time the deer bleats ran their course, I would have normally packed up and left but this was an ADC mission so I switched up to an old standby, Adult Cottontail, which had produced here in the past. About a minute and a half later, a couple of crows did a fly-by of the area. As they approached, they did a little "crow cussing" then flew past. The extra raucous caught my attention so I kept an eye in that direction. Thirty seconds later a coyote appeared on the fenceline 70 yards to my left from the direction of the crow flight. The crows had given him away. We sometimes find allies in strange associations.
The morning sun coming over my shoulder lit the coyote up as the white fur of his chest and underbelly glowed above my shaded position. I normally strongly suggest that a hunter not move while a coyote is stopped scanning but I knew the sun was directly in the coyote's eyes. My shaded position made me virtually invisible to him allowing me a slow 90 degree pivot. As I acquired my target, the coyote showed vividly in the field of view of the Nightforce SHV. One suppressed 65 grain V-max from the .243AI laid him down where he stood. Mission Accomplished: A calf killer down using the new Nightforce SHV 3-10X42!
In summary, while the SHV performed flawlessly on this hunt, NXS or ATACR owners will notice some subtle differences in form and function when comparing this scope to its more expensive big brothers. The Nightforce SHV won't replace the 2.5-10X NXS for those who want to turn turrets on a consistent basis or who have the need for specialized or lighted reticles. But, for those rifle aficionados wanting an upgrade over other mainstream optics and for current Nightforce owners wanting a more affordable alternative in a scope for less demanding pursuits, the SHV opens another playing field in what is still a very upscale optic. I'm confident this new scope will find its way onto many big game and predator hunting rifles. After all, it has "Nightforce" emblazoned on it for a reason.
The 3-10X is available now in the Long Range Hunting Store.
God bless and good shooting!
Tim Titus has been calling coyotes for 35 years. He lives in the coyote rich country of Southeast Oregon where he and his son spend their winters calling predators and their springs and early summers shooting varmints. Tim owns and operates No Off Season, an on-line predator and varmint hunting store and guiding business. You can check it out at No-Off-Season.com
If the shooter wants to spin turrets, he should probably check and verify the come-ups. The adjustments were not NXS-crisp but this scope was a pre-production model that Len had arranged to receive early. It may or may not be totally representative of all the SHV scopes. All other scope functions worked well. The power ring was smooth as was the side-focus knob.
The 3-12X42mm SHV came with a set of rubber scope covers. My first thought was that these are virtually indestructible, unlike some of the plastic flip covers I've seen. They push onto the respective ends of the scope and stay in place very well. The rubber around the objective and ocular lenses adds protection from nicks and jars as well. I did learn that it was better to orient the covers to the five o'clock or seven o'clock positions rather than straight up. The wind or gravity can result in the covers returning back in front of the lenses at an inopportune time -- not a very handy scenario!
With the scope mounted and dialed in, it was time for a field test. I had a ranch that I had not called coyotes on all year. The owner told me that coyotes had gotten the very first calf of the year so what was sport hunt became an ADC mission. I bumped one coyote on the way to my stand. It wasn't spooked extremely bad and I knew there were other coyotes in the area.
The setup was in the shade of a small juniper overlooking the Foxpro Shockwave 25 yards away. I started the stand with some Lone Howls followed a couple of minutes later with some Female Invitation sounds. Female estrus chirps were sent next into the small, juniper studded canyon. Coyote Hurt Pup sounds screamed out a few minutes after that. This was all textbook stuff for February coyotes but the coyotes had evidently skipped class that day!
I had found deer kills in the area previously so Fawn Distress was the next logical choice. By the time the deer bleats ran their course, I would have normally packed up and left but this was an ADC mission so I switched up to an old standby, Adult Cottontail, which had produced here in the past. About a minute and a half later, a couple of crows did a fly-by of the area. As they approached, they did a little "crow cussing" then flew past. The extra raucous caught my attention so I kept an eye in that direction. Thirty seconds later a coyote appeared on the fenceline 70 yards to my left from the direction of the crow flight. The crows had given him away. We sometimes find allies in strange associations.
The morning sun coming over my shoulder lit the coyote up as the white fur of his chest and underbelly glowed above my shaded position. I normally strongly suggest that a hunter not move while a coyote is stopped scanning but I knew the sun was directly in the coyote's eyes. My shaded position made me virtually invisible to him allowing me a slow 90 degree pivot. As I acquired my target, the coyote showed vividly in the field of view of the Nightforce SHV. One suppressed 65 grain V-max from the .243AI laid him down where he stood. Mission Accomplished: A calf killer down using the new Nightforce SHV 3-10X42!
In summary, while the SHV performed flawlessly on this hunt, NXS or ATACR owners will notice some subtle differences in form and function when comparing this scope to its more expensive big brothers. The Nightforce SHV won't replace the 2.5-10X NXS for those who want to turn turrets on a consistent basis or who have the need for specialized or lighted reticles. But, for those rifle aficionados wanting an upgrade over other mainstream optics and for current Nightforce owners wanting a more affordable alternative in a scope for less demanding pursuits, the SHV opens another playing field in what is still a very upscale optic. I'm confident this new scope will find its way onto many big game and predator hunting rifles. After all, it has "Nightforce" emblazoned on it for a reason.
The 3-10X is available now in the Long Range Hunting Store.
God bless and good shooting!
Tim Titus has been calling coyotes for 35 years. He lives in the coyote rich country of Southeast Oregon where he and his son spend their winters calling predators and their springs and early summers shooting varmints. Tim owns and operates No Off Season, an on-line predator and varmint hunting store and guiding business. You can check it out at No-Off-Season.com
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