Can the Nightforce BR 12-42 do it all (100-1000yards)?

[topher136]

I have a new 6.5x47 Lapua build and looking for a scope with more magnification than my current Vortex. 80% of my shooting will be at 100-200 yards but I will be able to go 500 and 1,000 a couple of times a year.

I have been looking at the NF BR 12-42 but I am worried that it only have 40MOA of internal adjustments. Will this be enough to be used primarily for 100 yards and then dial it up for 1,000. My current dope says I need over 28 MOA to reach 1,000. That would mean my 100 zero would be sitting in the lower 1/4 of the glass.

My other option would be a Sightron SIII 10-50. It has 50 MOA of travel so it wold be better but I sure would like to get my first Nightforce.

Anybody have any experience and Pro/Con for me?

Thanks

 

[XTR]

With the right rail it can/will work. My first FTR rig with a shortish barrel and 175smk's needed 36moa to get to 1000. On my Remington 700 action it needed a 30 MOA base, that put me just off of the bottom at 100 and less than a turn from the top at 1000.

If you Get the scope a 20moa rail may be all you need, there is something wonky with my R700 most only need a 20 rail. Once you mount the scope and shoot it and get a100 yard zero you can see exactly how much you have left at the bottom and get a rail to use it if you don have enough to reach out to 1000

 

[X-Caveman]

It has worked for me on a Tac 30 with a 20 MOA rail, but it's less than ideal, in my opinion. It's 4 full laps on the elevation turret, plus about 2/3rds of a fifth. Unless you are really careful, it's easy to get lost. Remember, no zero stop. Secondly, the reticle will subtend properly at 22-24 power (I forget). If you want to make MOA based windage holds at long range, you'll give up a lot of magnification if you dial it down.

It'll work, but a Competition model may be better. It has a zero stop, and is 10 MOA/ rev. The reticle choices are better for LR shooting and they subtend properly at 40x. Is it worth the extra $? That is the $900 question.

 

[CaptainMal]

I have two of those Nightforce BR's mounted on Dashers. One was an easy fit with a 20 moa rail. It did 100 yards at about 5 moa and then had 35 more to go to 1000. I use about 25 moa+- to go from 100 to 1000 yards after I set my 100 a good inch high so I don't shoot out the aiming point.

Now the other took some adjustable rings and shimming to get down to 100 with but 1 moa left. Now at 1,000 I have about 13 - 15 moa left in case I want to go out farther.

If you play with the mounting they work well. Most reasonable 1,000 yard cartridges use no more than 30 moa.

 

[dreever]

I'd look for a 12-42 NXS with the high speed adjustments .250 MOA adjustments. Don't know about the .125 MOA adjustments though.
Mine on a 20 MOA rail is only 7 clicks off the bottom at 100 yards.

Danny

 

[KWeigel]

I have two and love them. With 20 moa rail I have zero issues. I also have two comps but at current pricing it seems like a no brainer to me. Get two used bench rests for the price of a used comp. You will never regret the purchase and will always be able to sell.

 

[terbal]

On my wife's 6BR, not quite. Her Nightforce 12-42x56, wound up 5 MOA short at 1,000 with a standard rail. My choices were to buy a good 20 MOA rail for $75-$125, or pay $10 for some metal shims sold at Sinclair. Being a cheap SOB, I choose the shims. Super easy install. Only had to use one shim to get 10 MOA. Shim doesn't seem to affect her accuracy. She still outshoots me and routinely places in the top 3 at our local matches.