Decisions???? NF Comp 42X or Vtx Golden Eagle

[Italianusmc_ny]

Hello all is AS Land.

Finishing up my rebuild of a Savage 12 Fclass in 6BR Norma.
Cant decide between the Nightforce Competition 42X or a Vortex Golden Eagle.
I actually have one of each already, the NF on my .223 Fclass and the Golden Eagle on my .308 Heavy F-Open.

Let's start the conversation, sway me in one direction.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Kahles 10 -50

 

[Dub]

The nightforce competitions I have are both in the 15-55 versions. Both are on my F/TR rifles one 308 and one 223. I can highly recommend them but they were not in your choices.

 

[Italianusmc_ny]

The nightforce competitions I have are both in the 15-55 versions. Both are on my F/TR rifles one 308 and one 223. I can highly recommend them but they were not in your choices.

The reason I didn't list it and didn't mention.
I can get the NF 42x or Vortex Golden for about the same price.

 

[Dub]

The reason I didn't list it and didn't mention.
I can get the NF 42x or Vortex Golden for about the same price.

Based on that information I would say the Golden Eagle

 

[rebs]

I have a friend that has the GE and said it gets dark after about 40 X

 

[dthomas]

You said you already have one of each, whichever one you like best get another one of them.

 

[Dgd6mm]

My V. G.E. is clear and bright on 60x, all the way to the edge. I bought it because it was better than my 12-42 N.F. BR.

 

[std7mag]

Any thought as to a Sightron SIII 10-50?

I've been seeing more at local matches?
To my eyes anyways i don't see much difference between them & NF Competition.

 

[R.Morehouse]

If you are shooting at target paper at known distances use whatever scope you have the ability to test to make sure it holds point of aim. This is MUCH more important and having the brightest glass on the market. I use March & Kahles ( tested ).....Had a Sightron S-III 8-32, I thought it was a fine scope & tested well. Just left it on the gun when I sold it..................Happy Shooting

Regards
Rick

 

[sqrlgtr]

Hello all is AS Land.

Finishing up my rebuild of a Savage 12 Fclass in 6BR Norma.
Cant decide between the Nightforce Competition 42X or a Vortex Golden Eagle.
I actually have one of each already, the NF on my .223 Fclass and the Golden Eagle on my .308 Heavy F-Open.

Let's start the conversation, sway me in one direction.

Which do you prefer?I dont have either but have friends that have both the GE and NF and to me the NF was the winner by just looking through them at the shooting bench but might have been different if I could have adjusted them to my eyes.

 

[cardman5448]

I have used the Golden Eagle and the Sightron 10-50x. For short range benchrest (100-300 yds) I would use the NF 42x. The NF is much lighter and has very clear glass. The Sightron and Golden Eagle were a toss up for clear class. On overcast days the GE got quite dark above 45x. I sold both the variables and went with the NF.

 

[johara1]

It's a no brainer, if you get the Vets. discount, you can buy two GE. to one NF. comp.and I sure had better luck with the GE shooting than the NF. comp. and I had 5 of them..... The fixed power NF. I don't think is made anymore.... if you are looking at fixed power look at the Sightron 45, it's a winner ....jim

 

[wkdickinson]

I have a Nightforce 5.5-22 X 50 NXS, Vortex GE and an 8-32 X 56 Sightron SIII. All are great scopes. But my GE gets "dark" when I go much above 40X, however conditions are seldom good enough to do that, so not much of an issue. I think the value proposition of the Sightron is by far the best of the 3 though. I personally can't see much difference in the glass between the SIII & NXS and the SIII has better glass than my GE (however that is not a fair comparison because of the 32x vs 60x). Assuming the Sightron 10-50X is similiar, that would be my choice.

 

[johara1]

I have a Nightforce 5.5-22 X 50 NXS, Vortex GE and an 8-32 X 56 Sightron SIII. All are great scopes. But my GE gets "dark" when I go much above 40X, however conditions are seldom good enough to do that, so not much of an issue. I think the value proposition of the Sightron is by far the best of the 3 though. I personally can't see much difference in the glass between the SIII & NXS and the SIII has better glass than my GE (however that is not a fair comparison because of the 32x vs 60x). Assuming the Sightron 10-50X is similiar, that would be my choice.

Getting dark at higher power is nowhere near as important as holding point of impact. When they test a scope they don't have a lot of issues with brightness but they sure are worthless if they ar bright and clear but won't point of impact.....one more thing to see how bright one is compared to other they should be the same power..... jim

 

[Ranger188]

Have you looked at the Sightron fixed 45x with ED glass?
Great glass, dot reticle and a lot cheaper than the GE or NF
Look for Lance here, he sells Sightron's as cheap as you'll find anywhere.
I think he was giving an additional 10% off, so probably under $800

 

[Ned Ludd]

Among the potential merits of fixed power optics include lower cost and lighter weight as compared to adjustable magnification scopes. However, there are also a couple issues associated with the use of fixed power scopes in competitive shooting such as F-Class. First, if the chosen [fixed] mag is too high, it can increase the risk of crossfire for some shooters due to limited field of view. Second, the magnification cannot be adjusted lower with a fixed power optic if the mirage gets really heavy. There are ways to deal with both the increased risk of crossfire and sensitivity to mirage, but both are considerations in terms of scope choice.

Personally, I wouldn't choose a fixed-power optic over about 36X for a couple reasons. Although I own a couple fixed 36X IOR-Valdada BR scopes, I have looked through other fixed-power scopes in the 40X to 45X range and the field of view is just a bit too small to easily see the target number boards at the ranges I shoot most often. I am one of those that WILL crossfire if I can't see a significant portion of the target number board. I find magnification of around 28X to 30X is more than sufficient for my eyes to hold halfway between scoring rings, even at 1000 yd. I can't reliably shoot any more precisely than that at 1000 yd, so greater magnification isn't a big selling point for me. In addition, the higher the magnification, the greater the perceived effect/distortion will typically be when the mirage comes up. I find dropping down to around 30X will usually minimize that effect to a manageable level. Alternatively, inserts are available for some scope designs that reduce the front aperture size and can help tame bad mirage, albeit with some reduction of light passing through the scope.

The bottom line is that what seems optimal to my eyes may be markedly different than what your eyes need. Looking through a potential scope purchase is the best possible way to let your own eyes judge any merits or liabilities the scope may have. You stated that you already own both scope choices, so perhaps you could list the pros and cons of each scope for us, and in doing so, it might help you make a decision.

 

[LarryDScott]

Choose the Sightron 10-50X60 over a fixed power.
You will be happy. LDS

 

[johara1]

Among the potential merits of fixed power optics include lower cost and lighter weight as compared to adjustable magnification scopes. However, there are also a couple issues associated with the use of fixed power scopes in competitive shooting such as F-Class. First, if the chosen [fixed] mag is too high, it can increase the risk of crossfire for some shooters due to limited field of view. Second, the magnification cannot be adjusted lower with a fixed power optic if the mirage gets really heavy. There are ways to deal with both the increased risk of crossfire and sensitivity to mirage, but both are considerations in terms of scope choice.

Personally, I wouldn't choose a fixed-power optic over about 36X for a couple reasons. Although I own a couple fixed 36X IOR-Valdada BR scopes, I have looked through other fixed-power scopes in the 40X to 45X range and the field of view is just a bit too small to easily see the target number boards at the ranges I shoot most often. I am one of those that WILL crossfire if I can't see a significant portion of the target number board. I find magnification of around 28X to 30X is more than sufficient for my eyes to hold halfway between scoring rings, even at 1000 yd. I can't reliably shoot any more precisely than that at 1000 yd, so greater magnification isn't a big selling point for me. In addition, the higher the magnification, the greater the perceived effect/distortion will typically be when the mirage comes up. I find dropping down to around 30X will usually minimize that effect to a manageable level. Alternatively, inserts are available for some scope designs that reduce the front aperture size and can help tame bad mirage, albeit with some reduction of light passing through the scope.

The bottom line is that what seems optimal to my eyes may be markedly different than what your eyes need. Looking through a potential scope purchase is the best possible way to let your own eyes judge any merits or liabilities the scope may have. You stated that you already own both scope choices, so perhaps you could list the pros and cons of each scope for us, and in doing so, it might help you make a decision.

I don't ending up on someones target other than yours is a scope problem, it is a tracking problem with your rifle.... jim

 

[rardoin]

I don't ending up on someones target other than yours is a scope problem, it is a tracking problem with your rifle.... jim

In BR perhaps but in F-class there is plenty of opportunity to have the rifle bumped a little and be on the adjacent target at 1000yds and not notice it if the optics FOV/travel of the fine front rest adjustment makes it hard to see the target number board. In F-TR it is even easier to move off target and have that occur during times other than recoil of the rifle. Having the ability to dial back the magnification to make the top/bottom of my number board visible is invaluable as one crossfire at a big event and your going to have a bad week.