The Nikon 2.5-10x44 Tactical is about to arrive and it is a dandy scope. I have been fortunate to work with Nikon folk on the tacticals since Jan. 2002 and have amassed a lot of info on them. I also got to make a number of suggestions as I shared the scopes with some great shooters locally and got info from guys such as George Gardner and Steve Suttles. We have over 2500 rounds through a variety of rifles with these scopes on board.
Nikon has made significant improvements to the prototypes (the scopes shown in Cabela's catalogs etc). as a matter of fact the new production model will NOT look like the early models.
Turrets are now true tactical style - no turret covers and the most "snappy" clicks that I have felt - you can even hear the suckers if you go quickly. The parallax dial has also been re-done and the familiar mil-dot reticle has been up-graded with 1/2 mil tick marks a la Gen ll. Adjustments - 80 plus moa which should be enough for getting the .308 Winchester out past 1000 (is there any other long range caliber out there?!?).
When I am finished the shooting and resolution tests I can let you guys knows more details - let's just say that this is one hell of a scope - I am very impressed. This scope is one sharp, bright puppy that is not too big to hang on a hunting rifle.
4-16 is similar but might come out a little later.
Is Nikon going to make available updated pictures? All I see on their web site is the same old pictures that are in, like you said, Cabela's. Also, did you get a chance to fondle, er, that is, handle the 4-16x50 model? Is it going to have the same knobs/reticle as the 2.5-10x? How many MOA will it have?
Monte,
Yes, it has identical turrets to the 2.5-10x44 but it has a 50mm objective. Has a bit less adjustment (60+). The 4-16 is tacky sharp, exceeded far more expensive scopes for resolution in my earlier tests. Very nice long range scope.
Later I will try to forward an image to Dave King so he could post it - will compare the prototypes to this pre-production model. There is a significant difference in turrets. Will be shooting them for a while, will get some photos as we do tests.
Understand that SWFA has very good prices, taking orders now. The scope is also in the latest Cabela's catalog, probably more mail-order places. Final production scopes going out in a couple of months, not sure about exact dates.
Got Mil-dots today, will start shooting them tomorrow. Will simply put them into Badger rings and start rotating them through a few rifles that have Near or Badger bases. Had the duplex reticles for a few days but did not shoot them as they are for photos.
New reticle is very slick - easy to read.
Have a few tweeks to suggest, these will be kick-butt scopes and I am looking forward to hunting with them.
Linear Mode
