Golden Eagle vs NF Competition

[Timon]

I know that this has likely been touched on before, but I have another question about the two scopes. I currently have a Golden Eagle and have always wanted a NF Competition. My question is, from people who have used them both, will I see much difference if I were to buy a NF Competition, or will I pretty much get the same thing I have? I’m sure I can sell the Golden Eagle, but then I would have to lay out a good bit for the NF. I have heard such great things about the NF and I have always wanted one, but am I going to see any bang for my bucks really. Thanks

 

[dmoran]

These are my own assessments based on my own experience, knowledge, and few others near me inputs:

The Vortex GE has proved out well on "scope checkers" for POI stability, better then the NF Comp, and is a huge deciding factor for me to why I choose the GE over the NF Comp. I also feel the GE has respectable glass, hence good clarity (better then many).

The NF Comp has the best optical clarity of any scope that I've sat behind. But that is not good enough for me to pick one over the Vortex GE, do to the POI stability issues seen in "scope checker" results.
But will state, I have not seen "scope checker" results from models made over the past 2-years or so, to know if NF has remedied/fixed the POI issues on later models (which they may have).

Just my 2-cents

 

[tom]

You will SEE a difference almost certainly, as there's nothing I've looked through as of today that beats a NF comp. optically. And this includes everybody's latest and greatest in any and all price points.

But will state, I have not seen "scope checker" reports from NF Comp's made over the past 2-years or so, to know if NF has remedied/fixed the POI issues on later models (which they may have).

My thoughts exactly, and they very well may have looking at match reports. I'll personally never know, as I'm not spending my money to do others R and D, or proof testing, any longer.

Tom

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I have my doubts on the economy issue. For NF money, I would be looking at Kahles, Trijicon 10 Mile, IOR as well. ( others will correct me, but isn't the 10 Mile built at the same plant as the NF?) and ,of course , March. Buts whats wrong with the Golden Eagle - or the Sightron 10-50?

 

[Ranger188]

I shot a GE for a couple of years and now own a comp.
Shot the Trijicon Accupower for a couple years also. ( same as the Tenmile )
Haven't had as much time behind the NF ( just bought in the fall )
It depends on your level of shooting and if you are going to shoot competitions.
The GE is a really good scope, only flaw is that it gets noticeably darker above 40x
The reticle is great and never heard a problem with tracking. Glass is close but not
as good as some of the others. You can't tell a huge difference, but it's there.
The NF is as bright a view as you'll see. The Trijicon is a close second and tracking
has been spot on.

Buying scopes is one of the hardest this to do. I sucked it up and bought most of
the ones mentioned and decided for myself what looked good to me and sold
the rest off.
Money for some of them becomes a factor. Is that little of a difference worth $1000
Only you can decide that.

 

[Timon]

I shot a GE for a couple of years and now own a comp.
Shot the Trijicon Accupower for a couple years also. ( same as the Tenmile )
Haven't had as much time behind the NF ( just bought in the fall )
It depends on your level of shooting and if you are going to shoot competitions.
The GE is a really good scope, only flaw is that it gets noticeably darker above 40x
The reticle is great and never heard a problem with tracking. Glass is close but not
as good as some of the others. You can't tell a huge difference, but it's there.
The NF is as bright a view as you'll see. The Trijicon is a close second and tracking
has been spot on.

Buying scopes is one of the hardest this to do. I sucked it up and bought most of
the ones mentioned and decided for myself what looked good to me and sold
the rest off.
Money for some of them becomes a factor. Is that little of a difference worth $1000

You will see a difference. I wish the GE would have worked for me but it was too dark and they did not have a sharp image on the edges. I tried two. I wish they would have worked because they are priced right, Vortex is a great company, and all the guys that use them regularly swear by them.

It comes down to your eyes.

If the GE works for you I don't know that if you change you will have found it worth the investment and time - but you might.

I have a NF BR that I like better than my NF Comp - I think my eyes like the additional light that it pulls in. I like my March HM better than both.

IMO, when disussing this level of scope I would try and find a deal on a March or go with a Sightron SVSSED. Next step would be a Valdada 52x or 60x. All depends on weight restrictions.

If you can get behind different scopes at a match that is well worth your time. The only place I was able to actually look through a number of high end scopes was at EuroOptic. But even they didn't have everything I wanted to check out.

Thanks. I have been a bit frustrated with the GE for the same reasons that you have mentioned. I find so many reviews where people swear by them as great, fantastic. I’ve read all kind of reviews about how great they are and shooters from all over swear by them. I have thought that maybe I just don’t get it. I’ve tried for two seasons now and I’m just not that thrilled with it, so I thought that this might be the time to try another scope. I do find the thought of a March interesting though. I was so focused on the NF, that I had not thought about them. I’m going to have to find one to look through.

 

[Ranger188]

I bought the March 10-60x56 HM cause everyone swears they are the best, well
to MY eyes it was the same as the others that I kept.
Lucky I bought it right and sold it for what I had into it.
The only area I didn't test it thoroughly, was on mirage and that's were most say
it's better. But is it $1000 better?
If you look at the equipment list at the top match's you'll see more NF comps. than
any other scope. No one is sponsored. They would shoot the best scope possible.
So I had to try one and it seems to be fine for the limited use so far.
I'll have a better opinion after a full year of using it.

 

[Mt.Boy]

Take a look at the Sightron svss Ed !! It’s heavy but nice

 

[CharlieNC]

Like others I could not see well with the GE, to the extent of not being able to aim adequately with it. The NF Comp is one of the tops for clarity.

 

[CA_Shooter]

With the GE price increase its making the NF scopes much more compelling

 

[Timon]

With the GE price increase its making the NF scopes much more compelling

That is very true. I just found out that Nightforce offers a Law Enforcement discount program. I’m going to find out what this is all about. Every little bit helps. I have to submit some stuff.

 

[Timon]

I have been reading everything I can find about these two scopes. I have found that, for the most part individuals that commented or reviewed them, found the glass on the NF to be better. I have found a number of writings that discussed the NF’s inability to hold zero, while the GE was very good at it. Have the shooters that user the NF Comp found that to be true?

 

[Intell]

Like others I could not see well with the GE, to the extent of not being able to aim adequately with it. The NF Comp is one of the tops for clarity.

Ive had both and this was my experience also.
I bought a GE when they first came out, it had a really bad “glare” so bad you couldn’t see a aiming point and the darkness on the high end. I sold it a few years later, it did track well.
I have a comp and there is no comparison in the image, the NF comp is great in that area which everyone knows.
I have a Trijicon 10-50 Ten mile and it’s better than the GE I had.
If I were looking for a target scope in the $1500-$2000 range, I would take a Trijicon after using one a fair amount last year, tracking was spot on.
Vortex needs to upgrade the glass in the GEs to at least razor quality and they would have a winner.
I can’t comment on how my NF tracks yet, it’s new and it’s only been shot at short range so far.

 

[Sandstorm]

I have a NF Comp and my eyes prefer the SVSSED Sightron a whole lot better.
I have used Sightrons for many years and just like the way they work with my eyes.
I also hear good things about the Ten Mile Trijicon and of course March optics.
Only your eyes will tell you what they like and everything else is just hearsay....No one can tell you whats really going to work for you...sad but true.
Its going to cost you unless you do what RKS mentiond.......getting to look through as many as possible,
before droping the big bucks....or what I tend to do is just buy it and sell it later...

 

[boltfluter]

I am not really a Goolden Eagle fan or a Vortex fan for that matter . But, I have purchased my last Nightforce scope, as they just do not stand behind the product from a warranty standpoint. I have 3 very unhappy friends that will attest to that. I have zero tolerance for poor customer service from any company, big or small. Companies live and die by their customer service. Period.
Paul

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Scopes are really tough. Seems like everyone has a different preference on the glass. Mechanics we can test though. I shot a comp that I modified with something similar to a Burris posi lock so it would hold zero. That was a nice scope. I have always like the NF BR. But now I have GE. I dont go above 40 anyhow so the glass has been fine for me. When your running a group your not really paying attention to how good the glass is anyhow. The Kahles certainly did test the best, some guys love the glass others dont. I will probably stick with the GE all things considered.

 

[spudgun]

I have 2, GE's on my 600 - 1000 yd guns. Love the scope but above 40X they do get darker as mentioned in a previous post.

I also notice that some of the darkness and focus was caused by mirage. During the winter months I noticed that I can go above the 40X power and still get a good image.

However normal temps it will show the barrel and ground mirage really bad.

Now as far as POI the scope tracks great.

I also have 2, 6-25X50 PST II scopes and they are great also, good image at full power and no loss of brightness at high power. Used these for 600 yds for about 2 years. Only changed to the GE because of the 1/8 MOA per click in stead of the 1/4 MOA adjustments.

 

[Timon]

I am not really a Goolden Eagle fan or a Vortex fan for that matter . But, I have purchased my last Nightforce scope, as they just do not stand behind the product from a warranty standpoint. I have 3 very unhappy friends that will attest to that. I have zero tolerance for poor customer service from any company, big or small. Companies live and die by their customer service. Period.
Paul

I do have to say that in my opinion, Vortex customer service is second to none. One time I asked them for a few of the little set screws that hold the turrets on. They sent me the wrong ones. I called them back about it. A few days later I received a package from them. Not only did they send me a set of screws, they send me a new set of turrets, both of them, a large metal Vortex sign, a Vortex hat and a whole bunch of stickers. That, is customer service.
This is something that really tears at me. I know if I have any problem with my GE, Vortex will fix it or give me new one in a couple of days. I have had friends, novice shooters, who screwed up their scopes by doing just stupid things to them. Off they went to Vortex and in a couple of days they came back fixed with absolutely no cost to them. I don’t know if I want to give up this security. However, I’m going to try to find somewhere that I can look through several different ones to see what my eyes think. This one comment about NF is more concerning to me than all the other comments about them, given what I said above about Vortex.

 

[JFrank]

At last years nationals I shot a GE and don’t recall being above 40x all weekend in fact I had to change to eye glasses that did not have the lens option that shades the sun as this was just too dark, my older Sightron 1050x60 was not that way.

 

[k80skeet]

I know that this has likely been touched on before, but I have another question about the two scopes. I currently have a Golden Eagle and have always wanted a NF Competition. My question is, from people who have used them both, will I see much difference if I were to buy a NF Competition, or will I pretty much get the same thing I have? I’m sure I can sell the Golden Eagle, but then I would have to lay out a good bit for the NF. I have heard such great things about the NF and I have always wanted one, but am I going to see any bang for my bucks really. Thanks

That's like comparing a Ford pickup truck to a Indy Race Care. They shouldn't even be compared. I have a lot of Nightforce scopes and never have I ever thought once about buying a Vortex.