Leupold Mark 4 VS Nightforce NXS

[mitch_04]

Hi, I'm trying to help my dad with a decision on what scope to get. He likes the Nightforce NXS 8-32, but the Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 8-25 is a much better price. I've read about the older Leupolds having canted reticles, and other possible problems, while no one ever says anything about the Nightforce. Has anyone had bad problems with the Mark 4 8-25? Thanks.

 

[mitch_04]

Forgot to add, any other scopes in that price range that are as good as or better than the 2 listed would be nice to know, feel free to add in!

 

[holstil]

Hey Mitch, I have a M4 8.5-25 and 12-42 NF BR. I love em both for different reasons. I just sent the Leupy back to the factory for parallax and side focus,lash) issues and as it turns out there was more. The report that came back with it said the elev. adj was not as it was supposed to be and that there was only about half the windage adj. and that it was corrected to full range. I can't remember the exact numbers. I don't know for sure about all that because the last time I used it I dialed 26 moa from my 100yd zero to the correct zero at 1000yds. At any rate they fixed my issues and didn't charge anything for repairs or return shipping. They did tell me that the return time would be around 10 days in a confirmation letter, however it turned out to be a month. In fairness to them, it was during the holidays. No harm no foul.
I'm a big Ziess fan and I feel my ziess conquest's are superior to both as far as glass is concerned. That being said the Leupy is an excellent scope that I am glad I have and recommend it to anyone. If I had to make a choice between a M4 8.5-25 and a NF BR of same power, I'd take the Leupold. My comparison to the BR model is because I don't have or have used an NXS. I'm sure they are great also.
I agree with the reviews that I read here on the site. The Leupold's have a warmer feel to them than the NF's I've seen.

Just about everything I look through on a gun looks good to me after looking through the Brunson's I work with all day.:crazy:
Good luck Jim

 

[squirrelduster]

I have a Sightron SIII 8-32 and the NF NXS 8-32.
The glass on both is incredible.
There is a huge price difference so it would depend on what you plan on using it for. In my opinion if you are a turret cranker go with the Sightron and if you want MOA grids for hold over go with the Nightforce.
I think the glass on either is better than the Leupold's that I have looked through.

 

[wfeher]

go with the sightron, much better scope than leupold and for the price it's a better bang for your buck compared to the nightforce.

 

[eitmsmf]

I have owned both and own one sightron. The leupold was ok but I feel the sightron is a better value. The NXS is on a completly different level compared to those two. The adjustments and optics are far better. I only sold the NXS to help finance my growing benchrest addiction. Good luck.

 

[1shot]

I've either owned or shot every scope mentioned on this thread. I can honestly say that the only scope that is superior to the NightForce is the March. However, I can't afford one! One scope that wasn't mentioned and the real sleeper in the LR crowd if the 8-32x50 Burris Black Diamond. My LR partner and I placed his 8-32 Burris, my 8.5x25 LRT Leupold and my 8-32 NightForce NXS all side by side, and focused them on a odd looking knot in a tree at about 400 yds. We both agreed, that the NF had a slight edge over the Burris in both clarity and brightness. Having said that, it should have, given the fact that the NF has a 56mm objective lens, the Burris a 50mm.,not to mention it costs 3x as much) The Leupold was clearly in 3rd place in this evaluation, and it has also been returned to the factory to correct a reticle that wouldn't maintain a zero.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd

 

[NateHaler]

Mitch, except for the limited reticle choice in the Sightron SIII 8-32x56 -- as in just one reticle currently available -- I think it is clearly superior to the Leupold you cite, and equivalent to the NF at about half the cost... except maybe for the heavy duty reputation of the NF.

I have owned/used all of these. And some others.

Best bang for the buck would be the Sightron SIII and the Burris Black Diamond,or Pentax LS30, also made by Burris but branded as Pentax) the other poster mentioned.

NOTE: The BD/LS30 will have significantly less internal elevation adjustment than the others. 39 MOA in the BD/LS30 8-32 version, vs. about 70 MOA for the Sightron and about 65 MOA for the NF in their respective 8x-32x scopes.

 

[6BR]

The Nightforce NXS model is one othe best scopes on the Market. S&B or US optics would be another good choice, but your getting into the $2500.00 range. NXS Scopes are much better than Leupold. I have owned Leupold too, however, they don't compare to Nightforce NXS scopes.

 

[mikecr]

There is absolutely nothing 'better' about an NXS over Leupold Mk4. 6br is full of it...

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

There is absolutely nothing 'better' about an NXS over Leupold Mk4. 6br is full of it...

EASY.... 6BR is giving his opinion... and I think he is entitled to it.... With the documented issues Leupold has had, I think there is plenty of basis for that opinion.

 

[Clark]

I got the 8.5x25x50 MkIV mill dot illuminated.
I like the knobs.

Night Force scopes are heavy.


I have ~50 scopes.
The dozen Leupolds I have are the most trouble free.
I had the reticle fall out of a Leupold while on a cantilevered [diving board] scope mounted on a 91/30.
Leupold replaced it with a new scope that week.

 

[Mudcat]

I have a Mk4 and an NXS, the Mk4 is about to get traded on an NXS. Do I need to say more?

John

 

[billmo]

I OWN 4 MK IV LEUPOLDS AND 3 NXS NIGHTFORCE SCOPES. THEY BOTH ARE GREAT SCOPES AND I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN BOTH MAKES. HOWEVER, IF ANY OF THEM HAD TO LEAVE THE LEUPOLDS WOULD GET BUS TICKETS FIRST. JUST MY OPINION. BILL

 

[6BR]

MIKECR, I am not full of it and if you read much, you'll see that Nightforce scopes are some of the best optics money can buy. I was stating my opinion and I want to give people knowledge about the best product they can afford. I use to be a Leupold guy, until I looked through a Nightforce NXS. Leupold scopes are very nice and I have owned many of them. However, in my opinion, the Nightforce NXS scope is a much better scope and that's why I will only buy Nightforce NXS's. When I look through and use both the Leupold and Nightforce NXS, there is a noticeable difference in clarity and function-ability. The Nightforce NXS is much clearer and functions much better.

 

[dreever]

The high end scopes available today are Nightforce, S&B, and March to name three. Of those three the Nightforce is almost $1000 less expensive. Is it better than a Leupold Mark 4? Well that depends who you ask. Is a Ford better than a Chevy? The debate will go on forever.
Nightforce has a better track record than Leupold when it comes to reliability. Both have lifetime warranties while the high end March does not. Both are repairable here in the U.S.A. the S&B and March are not. I for one find that an important consideration. If bulletproof construction is important to you then NF gets the nod. If weight is important to you the Leupy is lighter.
My personal preference is Nightforce after years of saying 'I won't pay that for a scope!' Times change as well as mindsets. Right now I'm saying the same thing about S&B and March since I'm completely happy with Nightforce.

So to answer your original question. I would pick the Nightforce.

Danny