Nightforce ATACR Scope Review
Next, I wanted to check the reticle subtensions on 25x for accuracy. For this I made a handy dandy board with all subtensions on exactly 1 moa at 300 yards.
Then from exactly 300 yards, I aligned the reticle with the marks. They lined up perfectly on 25x.
I have heard some statements that some SFP scopes do not carry a true to scale correction when you reduce magnification, so I dialed the power back to the 1/2 way point and checked it there.
The reticle, while on 1/2 power setting, aligned on the nice indicator mark Nightforce gave us, was spot on as well now showing the subtension lines to be correctly spaced at 2 moa. Perfect!
OK, now off to the field to start checking out the new ED glass the Nightforce ATACR scope sports.
First let me apologize for the very weak through-the-scope photos. I do not have the proper equipment and they were taken by me holding my pocket Sony as still as I could. The actual images through the Nightforce ATACR scope were very much clearer and more vivid. But I wanted to try to share what I was seeing to some extent, and give an idea of what this scope will do at long distances as well as close. I used my 300 win and it's NXS 5.5~22x56 for a comparison measuring stick.
Here we go!
First up, some unsuspecting mule deer at 1609 yards.
They are right out here. Not quite a mile from the muzzle.
Again, the poor image quality is not what I saw through the scope. Blame the poor image on me and my cheap camera with no attachment to take through the scope photos. The Nightforce ATACR scope showed more clarity and noticeably more color than the NXS, even when compared at the same 22x. I have never been disappointed in the glass in an NXS, and I won't say the ATACR is tons better in midday light. But it is for sure noticeably more vivid and has higher resolution.
Let's do some antelope at 363 yards. All these through the scope pics are on 25x.
How about a few elk at 1240 yards. These pics were done midday with some mirage as well.
Since I had located the elk, I wanted to come back as the sun went down to see what happens as the light goes away. Sunset here today was 7:56. I started taking side by side notes at 8:00.
These elk were at 1250 yards.
At 15 minutes after sundown, or with 15 minutes left of legal shooting time in Montana, if it were during hunting season, the Nightforce ATACR scope and its new ED glass started to really pull ahead in my book. I had my wife there, so I asked her opinion of the image we were looking at in both scopes and she stated the Nightforce ATACR is definitely brighter and clearer. Again, I felt at this time I could make the shot with either the NXS or ATACR. But for sure the ATACR would have made it visibly easier.
At 25 minutes after sundown, with only 5 minutes of Montana legal light left, the Nightforce ATACR scope strengthens its lead. It was definitely an advantage for this 1250 yard shot. I doubt I would take this shot with the NXS as the sides of the image were starting to fuzz up and close in. The Nightforce ATACR scope was still clear across the entire field of view and the shot was still an option.
Then from exactly 300 yards, I aligned the reticle with the marks. They lined up perfectly on 25x.
I have heard some statements that some SFP scopes do not carry a true to scale correction when you reduce magnification, so I dialed the power back to the 1/2 way point and checked it there.
The reticle, while on 1/2 power setting, aligned on the nice indicator mark Nightforce gave us, was spot on as well now showing the subtension lines to be correctly spaced at 2 moa. Perfect!
OK, now off to the field to start checking out the new ED glass the Nightforce ATACR scope sports.
First let me apologize for the very weak through-the-scope photos. I do not have the proper equipment and they were taken by me holding my pocket Sony as still as I could. The actual images through the Nightforce ATACR scope were very much clearer and more vivid. But I wanted to try to share what I was seeing to some extent, and give an idea of what this scope will do at long distances as well as close. I used my 300 win and it's NXS 5.5~22x56 for a comparison measuring stick.
Here we go!
First up, some unsuspecting mule deer at 1609 yards.
They are right out here. Not quite a mile from the muzzle.
Again, the poor image quality is not what I saw through the scope. Blame the poor image on me and my cheap camera with no attachment to take through the scope photos. The Nightforce ATACR scope showed more clarity and noticeably more color than the NXS, even when compared at the same 22x. I have never been disappointed in the glass in an NXS, and I won't say the ATACR is tons better in midday light. But it is for sure noticeably more vivid and has higher resolution.
Let's do some antelope at 363 yards. All these through the scope pics are on 25x.
How about a few elk at 1240 yards. These pics were done midday with some mirage as well.
Since I had located the elk, I wanted to come back as the sun went down to see what happens as the light goes away. Sunset here today was 7:56. I started taking side by side notes at 8:00.
These elk were at 1250 yards.
At 15 minutes after sundown, or with 15 minutes left of legal shooting time in Montana, if it were during hunting season, the Nightforce ATACR scope and its new ED glass started to really pull ahead in my book. I had my wife there, so I asked her opinion of the image we were looking at in both scopes and she stated the Nightforce ATACR is definitely brighter and clearer. Again, I felt at this time I could make the shot with either the NXS or ATACR. But for sure the ATACR would have made it visibly easier.
At 25 minutes after sundown, with only 5 minutes of Montana legal light left, the Nightforce ATACR scope strengthens its lead. It was definitely an advantage for this 1250 yard shot. I doubt I would take this shot with the NXS as the sides of the image were starting to fuzz up and close in. The Nightforce ATACR scope was still clear across the entire field of view and the shot was still an option.
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