Nightforce website ATACR and B.E.A.S.T

[model70rum]

Check out the Nightforce website. The B.E.A.S.T and the ACACR are up. I cant wait to get my hands on the ACATR. Seems like the perfect long range hunting scope.

ATACR | Nightforce Optics, Inc.

 

[cummins cowboy]

I still find no logical reason for a 34mm tube unless for a very very select few that use a scope at or beyond 1 mile, and even that the extra 20 moa I get from a 34mm tube gives me like an extra 200 yards like from 1700 to 1900 yards. there has been a movement toward massive tubes and if bigger is better than why not. my point is what do they really offer. I understand the rifles these scopes are to be used on are far from light but at some point even a sniper has to wonder how much weight is really feasible to lug around and a 34mm tube just ads weight. I wish they offered a 40mm scope option which despite rumors looks as if they aren't going to this year. I have got to believe it would be a bigger seller than some of these niche optics they are making.

 

[jjohns29]

More light transmission and more elevation range seems like a logical reason for the 34mm tube to me.

 

[C.O. Shooter]

I have been holding off on the purchase of a nightforce, knowing something new was coming out. The ATACR would definitely fit the bill, for my build. I guess this all depends on the price point compared to the NXS. The ATACR has all the features of an NXS and then some. I like the 20 additional MOA, 34mm tube, and ED Glass. We will have to wait and see where they hit the market at. Myself, I do prefer the MOAR reticle.

 

[C.O. Shooter]

Update:

I called and spoke to Nightforce. The ATACR, 2nd focal plane only, price point somewhere around $2400. Length is 14.3" and weighs in at 38.4 ounces. The BEAST, 1st focal plane only, price point somewhere around $3500. The length is 15.37 but I forgot to ask about the weight. Sorry. Availability is unknown at this time, however, may be sometime after SHOT 2013!

 

[shortpants]

I've been eagerly awaiting for the release of these new scopes. I'm not sure they are worth the wait? The ATACR being offered in SFP only is a bad idea IMO. The whole point of the offered reticles is speed and versatility. It's not versatile if you can only use it on 1 power setting and its not faster. I believe FFP would better suit those reticle choices. I also don't like that they are only offered in 2 reticle choices. For ELR which is what these new scopes are marketed for I still think the fine reticle offered in the NPR1 would better serve my needs. If I could have a fine reticle, FFP, and 1 moa windage holds I'd be pretty happy. Since I can't I'll have to sacrifice the last 2 for the fine crosshair and stick with the NPR1 I guess. They are all great scopes!

 

[Scot E]

There have been a lot of guys waiting years to see what they come up with. It will be interesting to see real world reviews. Knowing NF, they will exceed even the 2+ years of expectations surrounding these new scopes.

As an aside, tube diameter does not increase light transmission.

Scot E.

 

[C.O. Shooter]

SPECIFICATIONS: 5-25x56 ATACT™
Magnification: 5-25x
Objective Diameter: 56 mm
Exit Pupil Diameter: 5x: 10.52mm; 25x: 2.28mm
Field Of View: 5x: 17.96ft (5.47m) 25x: 4.92ft (1.5 m)
Eye Relief: 3.54in (90 mm)
Internal Adjustment Range: 120MOA elev. 60MOA wind./34.9Mil elev. 17.45Mil wind.
Click Value: .250MOA/.1Mil-Rad
Tube Diameter: 34 mm (1.34in)
Ocular Diameter: 44 mm
Mounting Length: 6.13in/156mm
Weight: 38oz/1077grams
Overall Length: 14.3in/363mm
Reticles: MOAR™/MIL-R™
Illumination: Standard
Zero Stop: Yes

 

[cummins cowboy]

the problem with trying to make the scope FFP is that the reticle will wash out at low power, so with FFP you should be using higher power with it anyways why not just hit full power with it. I don't take long range shots and at the same time use the features of the reticle without being at max power. in a perfect world who wouldn't want a reticle that stays the same size in all powers but there are definate down sides to that.

34mm tube size also has nothing to do with increased light transmisson this is a factor of objective lense size and glass quality. Its an interesting market for these I have to ask how many people are buying these uber tactical scopes ie the 34mm tubes horus reticles etc. must be something as bushnell and leupold are almost exclusively focusing the new product in this area. I personally would think a nightforce with a 40mm obj in say the 3-15x range would sell more scopes for nightforce, but then again what do I know. maybe its a function of price with a scope that costs 3 grand you only have to sell half as many vs the regular NXS model.

 

[shortpants]

the problem with trying to make the scope FFP is that the reticle will wash out at low power, so with FFP you should be using higher power with it anyways why not just hit full power with it. I don't take long range shots and at the same time use the features of the reticle without being at max power. in a perfect world who wouldn't want a reticle that stays the same size in all powers but there are definate down sides to that.

34mm tube size also has nothing to do with increased light transmisson this is a factor of objective lense size and glass quality. Its an interesting market for these I have to ask how many people are buying these uber tactical scopes ie the 34mm tubes horus reticles etc. must be something as bushnell and leupold are almost exclusively focusing the new product in this area. I personally would think a nightforce with a 40mm obj in say the 3-15x range would sell more scopes for nightforce, but then again what do I know. maybe its a function of price with a scope that costs 3 grand you only have to sell half as many vs the regular NXS model.

I agree with you about the reticle washing out at lower power but that does not mean it is useless. I personally have found I shoot better inside 800yds when I crank the power down a little. For 500yds and under I like 12 power or close to it. I can still use the reticle for quick follow up shots and don't have to worry about having the turret set to any exact position. While hiking from a to b I carry with power set low for quick target acquisition if I jump an animal. It is my opinion that these great reticles are handicapped by SFP. I'm not saying their useless just handicapped. For inside 1000yds which covers 99.9% of hunting situations I feel the FFP and MOAR or similar Mil/Mil setup is the most useful and practical.
All that being said for beyond 1000yds the fine crosshair found in the NPR1 becomes a crucial asset I believe. In my case I'm trying to extend my shooting beyond as far as possible which for my caliber is around 1500 yds on rocks/steel and about 1200 on game. I use the main crosshair 99.9% of the time so for me I feel giving up the positives of the FFP/MOAR is worth gaining a crosshair that is half the thickness. I can still use the reticle for follow up shots and carry it on low power. This is just what I believe will work best for me. YMMV.

 

[marinetowgunner]

More light transmission and more elevation range seems like a logical reason for the 34mm tube to me.

The erector tube i believe is still the same size. If so then you aren't going to get more light processing through the scope. The erector is probably the same size looking at the amount of travel the scope has. A larger erector would me less travel correct?

 

[Scot E]

Here is a pdf giving more explanations regarding the BEAST's new technology. Pretty interesting if you ask me. I am going to have to play with one to determine how useful it will be for LR hunting but I love their ingenuity. You can tell this scope is designed mostly for military applications though and I can see many benefits there.

View attachment BEAST-5-25x56F1.pdf

Scot E.

 

[shortpants]

I agree Scott. The Beast is quite a scope and its easy to see why the military would find it useful.

 

[Coyboy]

I would have been happier with a 5.5-22x50 in 30mm tube, moar, and a first focal plane. At a price point that was affordable.

The ATACR will have a very small market, in 2nd FP only, I have shot targets out west to 1900 yards with my 5.5-22, I'm not going to replace my current scopes for an extra 200 yards of elevation at nearly twice the price. I see it's use as ELR shooters who may buy just one of these for there dedicated ELR rig. Definetly not a scope I would drop on a 1000-1200 yard gun.

The "Beast" not sure that the graduations on the dial will be spaced far enough apart for something with 60 moa in one revolution. They better have somthing special to compete with a S&B.

The ATACR if in FFP and priced at $2500- $2800 would sell like hotcakes to the precision rifle shooters/tactical comps. But with 2nd focal plane they are pretty much worthless for that use. And they call it "Advanced Tactical Riflescope"
It's not Tactical if it sucks at that application.