A Nightforce Experience

royinidaho

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Jan 20, 2004
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Location
Blackfoot, Idaho
Was at the range yesterday doing some final tuning.

A fella shows up with a Savage F-Class factory rifle with a Nightforce 8-42 X 56.

The fella and his buddy were doing some shooting @ 100 yds. Hmmm, I figured a lot of scope for 100 yd work.

They were friendly and offered without my asking if I wanted to shoot it. (the tongue hanging out may have been a bit of an indicator:))

I need a scope for a build and have been torn at the point where the money leaves the pocket. That now seems to be pretty much decided........I hope :rolleyes:

First test. after setting it up for my good eye, was to crank it up to 42 power and be nicely surprised that it was just as clear at max power than any other power. I'm used things fizzling out above about 75 or 80 % of maximum. Other than the field of view shrinkage I found no fault with clarity change w/power change.

Next test was to determine if 22X would be sufficient for my needs. I cranked 'er to R which is where the reticle is calibrated. About the time I was looking through the scope a small local bird that is about 3/4 the size of a robin landed on a twig at something well over 1200 yards.

There was no problem whether to shoot at the head or body of the little bird. (Dream on Roy:rolleyes:). The scope would certainly handle that job.

The only catch 22 is the reticle. It may well be perfect for shooting in day light, but may be a bit thin (for my good eye) as light dims. From the varied cloud cover of the day, I would guestimate if it were too dark to see the reticle it would be well beyond shooting time.

I shot at 100, 200 and 300. As I changed distances the owner cranked clicks. He knew his rifle. It was spot on at each distance. However, I'm not used to a 6 moa adjustment from 100 to 300 yards. (The 308 ain't quite a 270 AM:)).

Elevation graduation were 1 moa and 2 moa for windage. I'd think I'd be more comfortable with 1 moa windage stadia. I also don't think I'd have any problem descerning 1/2 or even 1/4 MOA elevation holds if it should become necessary.

Results of the evaluation is that even though two "just as good as" scopes can be had for the price of one NXS, the limited choice of reticles and a little personal queasieness is the deal breaker.

A little about that Savage. Pretty sweet and what a shooter. However, that nifty triggerand I didn't get along at all. The owner said it was set at 7 oz which would have been great, for me, without the two stage thing. The old Remmy 2oz trigger on the 40Xs are only a dim memory. This trigger is really great other than my not being used to it.
 
8-32 or 12-42? When it gets a little "dim" out I just use the illuminated reticle and it works just fine.

So you like the NF huh? Sure am glad some complete strangers could convince you that NF was the way to go cause none of us seem to have convinced you of it.:):)

Just go out in the back yard and dig up a can of money and buy one, you'll like it.:)
 
Dick
can I use your yard, mines out of money jars, don't think it was ever "in" of money jars! heck for a NXS I'll dig in anybody's yard!!!!!
RR
 
Musta been the 12-42.

Geez an illuminated ret. Hmmmmmm,........ another dug up spot in the yard.

This couple of fellas were physicists. The older fella has been doing weapons design for the past 20 years. Not unusual for Los Alamos. These guys keep the stockpile fresh.

Here's a link to what they do for fun. Check it out. Seems that there are those out there that have some good ideas. Statshooting.com



8-32 or 12-42? When it gets a little "dim" out I just use the illuminated reticle and it works just fine.

So you like the NF huh? Sure am glad some complete strangers could convince you that NF was the way to go cause none of us seem to have convinced you of it.:):)

Just go out in the back yard and dig up a can of money and buy one, you'll like it.:)
 
C'mon Roy, surely you that the reticle was illuminated...:rolleyes:

Hey, cut me some slack........jumping up to a Nightforce for me is similar to jumping into Lamborgini or some such. THe only things I'd recognize would be the brake, gas pedal and steering wheel. I'd probably need assistance getting out of the thing.:)
 
Hey guys, don't dig up anyone's yard! Somebody might turn an ankle in one of the holes. Just water the old money tree instead, jeez you guys are soooo old school.:D

AJ
 
Did you say six MOA at three hundred? My bow shoots flatter.

I couldn't read the link. I fell asleep half way through the first paragraph. I tried twice.
 
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Hey, cut me some slack........jumping up to a Nightforce for me is similar to jumping into Lamborgini or some such. THe only things I'd recognize would be the brake, gas pedal and steering wheel. I'd probably need assistance getting out of the thing.:)

After all the time you spend in these forums I just can not believe you did not know that the reticle was illuminated. Heck, you have 4000 posts in LRH and I think you are kidding us. I didn't even know what a NF scope was till a year and a half ago. If you are blushing, good... you outta be. This is a good rare moment to git some digs in... no doubt what goes around will come around. :)

Anyway, I strongly advise you DONT get a NF, cause once you do you will have to have one on all your rifles. I wouldn't be surprised if there are guys who have sold their wives, pickups and even their dogs to get more Nightforce scopes. Just say no...:D
 
No worries ...

There are NF owners that are all the time finding out that the scope they bought, shot and then wanted to upgrade to an illuminated one was already illuminated.

The Nightforce guys have some great stories of people that call and want to upgrade to an illuminated reticle and they simply tell them to "pull out" on the knob ... some of them just hang up! :D
 
C'mon guys, ease up on Roy. ;)

Before you beat up on him too much, it should be mentioned that while illumination can compensate for and even become more important than reticle thickness in some conditions, especially the darker it gets, it doesn't do so in all conditions.

There are plenty of conditions in which there is enough light an illuminated reticle doesn't do much of anything (unless you're talking about S&B Shortdot brightness, etc) where thicker reticles are quicker and easier to pick up. Especially when it's not quickly adjustable, when set dim enough it doesn't wash out the view in really, really, low light the illumination won't help as much as line thickness in such situations.

IIRC Nightforce is already redesigning their FFP reticle for this reason due to users' demand. I know of a couple people at least who have traded away their S&B P4F's because the lines were just too thin, illuminated or not.

In short, different people and different conditions will prefer different reticle thicknesses. Making Roy feel dumb telling him the reticle is illuminated may be premature, because the illumination may not make him like the reticle anyway.
 
There are plenty of conditions in which there is enough light an illuminated reticle doesn't do much of anything (unless you're talking about S&B Shortdot brightness, etc) where thicker reticles are quicker and easier to pick up. Especially when it's not quickly adjustable, when set dim enough it doesn't wash out the view in really, really, low light the illumination won't help as much as line thickness in such situations.

Hmmm... I dont think I can agree with ya here. I've got my reticle illumination tweaked so if the light is low enough to loose the reticle the illumination will will bring it out without washing it out in darker conditions. My only critique is NF should have a more easily adjustable illumination that can be easily adjusted without pulling the turret appart. I like my fine crosshairs very much and hope they dont change. It's nice to be able to quarter up the eyeball of an elk @ 500 yds with your cross hairs. :)
 
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