What to buy? NX8 or MK5HD

[wildfire120]

Good evening,
Having a rifle built and trying to stay light but not sacrifice any quality. I've been looking at the nightforce nx8 2.5-20x50 and the leupold mk5hd 3.6-18x44. Any feedback for these scopes? Pros and cons?

Also open to suggestions for a good lightweight scope.

Thanks

 

[Rosebud]

Pick the one that has the best reticle for your style of hunting/tactical uses. Both are quality scopes. Night force may be a bit heavier, but may also equate to durability. I prefer leupolds reticles. But that's just me. I'm hunter first, target shooter second.

 

[FireFlyFishing]

NF!

 

[Mark37082]

Are you building a LA or a SA? The reason I'm asking is mounting space and eye relief. Some actions with integral rails create challenges for mounting with certain scopes.

 

[Vortex!]

Following this thread since I have questions about these scopes too. So far I've never spent more than $300 or so on a scope but I'm starting to settle firmly in the belief that you ought to spend as much or more on the scope as you do on your gun. After all, they're both of about the same importance in the hunting game.

 

[wildfire120]

Are you building a LA or a SA? The reason I'm asking is mounting space and eye relief. Some actions with integral rails create challenges for mounting with certain scopes.

Short action. Mac bros element.

 

[Recon$$]

I own both. I give the slight edge to the Mark 5. The eye box on the NX8 will be tighter and I find the parallax to be a bit finickier on the NF. Can't go wrong either way. As suggested might come down to reticle.

 

[Mark37082]

Short action. Mac bros element.

You should be fine with either. If you want durability, NF will be hard to beat. Reticle will be an important consideration.

 

[BigPrince]

Have both lines
NX8 4-23 and 2.5-20 MilXT
Mk5HD 5-25 and 7-35 PR2-Mil (Had 3.6-18 but sold that one)

I'd choose the NX8 over the Mk5HD for durability, slimmer form factor, and better glass with less chromatic aberration. Both are great crossover hunting scopes with competitive pricing in the area they live in.

Here's the 3.6-18 side by side with one of my NX8s and a Kahles.

 

[wildfire120]

Thanks for all the info and opinion so far!

 

[Wedgy]

The Mark 5 is FFP only if that matters to you. I have both scopes and give the edge in optics to the Mark 5 and durability to the NF, weight and elevation are almost the same.

 

[WanderingGoatie]

Have both lines
NX8 4-23 and 2.5-20 MilXT
Mk5HD 5-25 and 7-35 PR2-Mil (Had 3.6-18 but sold that one)

I'd choose the NX8 over the Mk5HD for durability, slimmer form factor, and better glass with less chromatic aberration. Both are great crossover hunting scopes with competitive pricing in the area they live in.

Here's the 3.6-18 side by side with one of my NX8s and a Kahles.

View attachment 526982

I don't think there could be a better answer to the OP than this photo. Props to BigPrince

 

[Jester560]

Hands down the Nightforce. It will still be clicking right along after the Leupold has broken.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Out of those two, NF.

Without a budget, I can't give you my true recommendation for fear of scaring you away.

(Cough cough...Tangent Theta TT315M)