Nightforce?????

[Caleb85]

am I not looking in the right place for NF scopes or are people really paying almost $2000 for a scope? I would love to have a couple but come on!!! I have two leupold VX3 6.5-20X50 LRs but I love the way NF turrents and reticles are set up ..but cant see paying that much for them.. anyone have info im missing please share!!...

 

[Broz]

If you feel the that a lesser price scope will fill your needs then by all means buy it. But after owning many Mark 4's and NXS's I will gladly pay the extra for the NXS or now even a little more for the ATACR.

The feel you mentioned in the turrets are one thing I like as well.

But yes, the retail price of an NXS with zero stop and HS turrets is $1956. Deals are around where you can save a few hundred if you shop.

Jeff

 

[marioq]

Ditto!!!!!!!! You pay for quality...

 

[NomadPilot]

am I not looking in the right place for NF scopes or are people really paying almost $2000 for a scope?

Folks are paying more than that for some scopes! Believe it or not, NF is upper-middle class.

Schmidt & Bender 3-20x50 Police Marksman LP 34mm Riflescope
Premier Heritage 3-15x50 Light Tactical Riflescope
Trijicon 3-15x50 TARS 34mm Rifle Scope
U.S. Optics 3.2-17x44 LR-17 30mm Riflescope

You get the idea!

 

[Caleb85]

upper middle class!!!!!????? well dam whats my leupolds ? the walmart brand of long range scopes?hahaha lol I just grew up on leupolds so I just keep buying them. is there any companies that offer turrents like whats on the nightforce? and reticles that could be put on (into) my gold rings? or will I be spending enough on those I should just be buy a NF? hey thanks for the help fellas !!

 

[Broz]

I have zero fear of buying a used NF. Their warranty is transferable, and seldom needed.

So you may consider a used NF NXS. The older 5.5 ~22 non-zerostops with 10 moa turrets and 100 moa of elevation can be had for around $1300 add a couple hundred for a zero stop model. In my opinion these are unbeatable at this price, and the Leupolds you are referring to in your previous posts are not even in the same league.

Jeff

 

[cummins cowboy]

it really depends on what you do with the scope, if you want to dial the scope and are sick of jacking around get a NF. I don't see myself ever trusting leupold again when it comes to serious turret cranking. if you look around there are those that will sell NF for less than the usual prices.

 

[HARPERC]

upper middle class!!!!!????? well dam whats my leupolds ? the walmart brand of long range scopes?hahaha lol I just grew up on leupolds so I just keep buying them. /QUOTE]

To new to Nightforce personally to sing it's praises yet, but you made me laugh with the walmart-middle class stuff. Then you described my relationship with Leupold. Until my most recent purchase.

So what I can tell you what I found comparison wise in the "scope class" I shopped. The The cheapest I see a comparable Leupold scope is the 6.5-20 ER/T 30mm tube I just looked and on one site it was $3000, and another was $2500. I haven't seen the new Mark 8 34mm tube 3.5-25x anywhere, but it's listed over $4000 on Leupold's site.

The ATACR I bought was listed at $2328. I spent a long time shopping this pick, actually longer than the ATACR has been on the market. Decided to let the roof go one more year.

If you are truly interested in a scope in this class look up the review Broz did on this site.

I went to the range earlier Leupolds on both rifles both 2.5-8, one Mark3, one Mark 4.
I was content with their performance. The guy next to me had a 6-18x Leupold that would not track. He said it was his last Leupold.

Point being any of them can fail, but I'm seeing it more in their "inexpensive" lines.

Habits are tough to break.

 

[Mikecr]

Obviously Y'all haven't tested & used Leupold Mk4 scopes like an 8.5x25 M1.
But I agree that lower Leupold models are not as good. I think Leupold should drop 3/4 of their scope offerings, as they're merely diluting their own market..

But watch NF doing the same, and not all NF scopes are worth the money. Don't assume it.
Some are riding on the back of their flagship NXS(which is no better than a Mk4).

 

[HARPERC]

I've used my share of Leupolds, and will use them again. My post was about pricing I haven't used the Nightforce yet, and it may disappoint me.

I do believe the Mark 4's are good scopes, but a quick look at the net said the 3.5-10 was $1599. The comparable Nightforce was $1605.

$6 is not a cost based decision.

 

[Broz]

I have owned Mark IV's. The last one the turret clicks felt so cheap I sold it before even mounting it. Very indistinct detents and the audible clicks varied in sound. It was new and I traded for it looking for a lesser expensive option. To me, and yes I have used both, in the field, there is no comparison between a NXS and a Mark IV. I will take the NXS hands down any time. That is not to say the Mark IV is a bad scope. And for sure the Mark IV is lighter. But for a long range scope I see them as in different leagues. Maybe if I had tried the Mark IV first I would not feel this way. But being use to the NXS I just could not warm up to the Mark IV. It probably didn't help that I was a true Leupold fan for a good portion of my life and was forced to change after repeated failures of LR VXIII's. Two on one hunting trip that were both mounted on Weatherby's, a 300 and a 270. Four scopes sent back in 2 years. Leupold does have a good warranty also, good thing.

Jeff

 

[BCMAG2]

I'm not sure where some of you boys are shopping, but Midway sells the Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20x50 mm LRT with my preferred TMR reticle for about $1200 the last time I looked, and large dealers on Ebay are sometimes even cheaper. That's what I have on my 300 RUM and have shot out to a mile with it with success, accuracy and repeatability.

Is the Nightforce a better scope? Probably...especially with its desirable zero stop feature. Is it worth almost double what the Leupold costs? Well, that's up to the individual I guess. I can say that I have shot side by side with Nightforce guys on multiple occasions, and we traded rifles. I could not see any difference in clarity or brightness, and none of the Nightforce guys said they could either. My only regret with my Leupold is that I did not opt for the 8-25x model.

 

[Broz]

Speaking of the 8~25 Leupold jarred my memory. I had a few of these and I had a hard time getting in the eye box for a full view on 25X. I also have this problem with the 24 X Viper PST. So maybe it is partially me but I have heard other complain of this also. So I feel this is one very important thing to look at. When ever I drop in behind a Nightforce on full power I am not fighting to get a full view. It just comes easier. This to me is very important and I have grown to expect it for my long range scopes. I am no optic specialist, so I can't and won't try to explain what causes this. Just my personal observation afield.

Jeff

 

[varmintH8R]

Speaking of the 8~25 Leupold jarred my memory. I had a few of these and I had a hard time getting in the eye box for a full view on 25X. I also have this problem with the 24 X Viper PST. So maybe it is partially me but I have heard other complain of this also. So I feel this is one very important thing to look at. When ever I drop in behind a Nightforce on full power I am not fighting to get a full view. It just comes easier. This to me is very important and I have grown to expect it for my long range scopes. I am no optic specialist, so I can't and won't try to explain what causes this. Just my personal observation afield.

Jeff

I have had the exact same experience with one of the scopes you mention, and a few others as well. My NXS is definitely more forgiving. This is another good reason to try and look through (or preferrably shoot) a mounted scope before you drop a grand or two. Comfort, clarity, and some of the other intangibles are hard to understand just by looking at the specs (at least for me).