March 8-80x

[Headgear]

Does anyone have any experience with these yet? I am on the market for a good scope. I am trying to get geared up for F-class am need to get a good custom rifle and optics. I want to buy one good scope and not regret it a year later after hearing that something else is the incredible. I like the idea of all the mag adjustment and all I hear about the clarity but its so new. New scares me. I'm shooting 308 and need a lot of elevation adjustment so this scope seems to have it all but I haven't seen many reports from end users. It almost sounds too good to be true. I'm struggling with going with an 8-32x NF and get a rifle now or get the march and save my pennies for another month or two for the rifle. I am shooting a CZ550 which is fine for practicing with for the time being.

I just hate the thought of looking through someones March after I have the NF and regretting not going to the top tear and be done with it. So If anyone has one I'd like to hear opinions on how it compares with other top end optics.

Thanks

 

[40X Guy]

I'm in the same boat as you are. I have 2 NF's which are outstanding and need to buy one more scope also. Have heard tons of good info about the March scopes clarity/resolution. And that is the way I am leaning also. I may just have to drive to Kelblys and look at them in person.

Frank

 

[TheBlueEyedBear]

I have also considered buying a March scope, and it is still in my mind. However; everytime I get close to opening my wallet that SHORT warranty period jumps up in my mind. A March scope is a considerable financial investment for optics: For the scopes to only comes with a 5 year warranty is a big sticking point for me.

 

[EdwinD]

I own/have owned several March scopes; 40x, 50x, and 10x60.

They are good, HOWEVER Leupold and Nightforce are good, and a fraction of the cost!

 

[Jay Christopherson]

I have a March in 10-60 that I use to shoot F-Class. I've made my case before about the warranty issue (not an issue to my mind, but that's a different argument) so I'll just state the case from a use perspective.

In my opinion, you will not get the use out of an 8-80. At 60x, at 600 yards, you can definitely see 6mm holes in the target- IF conditions are absolutely perfect. If there is the slightest bit of mirage, you will be dialing it down.

The glass is outstanding, but to my mind, the most outstanding feature is the precision that this scope has- every click is absolutely on the money and repeatable. If my come up says "9.3 MOA", I click it in and it's dead nutz on. I click away and come back and it's still dead nutz on.

Anyhow, for F-Class, I would probably look more at the 10-60x52 cause I don't think you will get your money out of 80X, but that's just my own opinion.

 

[fdiazverde]

March scope on top of a cz rifle are you out of your mind.frank
spend your money in a match rifle & after think of a SCOPE

 

[Preacher]

I just don't see where 80X will come in handy for anything, 60X is pushing it...........
For twice the money I'll stick with my 12x42 Nightforces, and they also track as they should each and every time...

 

[falconpilot]

I love the Nightforce scopes, but once you look through, and then use and experience the clarity and resolution of a March scope, no one will have to convince you to buy one...

 

[Headgear]

The glass is outstanding, but to my mind, the most outstanding feature is the precision that this scope has- every click is absolutely on the money and repeatable. If my come up says "9.3 MOA", I click it in and it's dead nutz on. I click away and come back and it's still dead nutz on.

This is one of the problems I am having now. I have a 8x32ED Nikon Monark and when I adjust up or down I have to tap on the turret for it to take. The second problem is that it only has 20 MOA elevation adjustment range. I had to install a 20 MOA raiil to get to 500 yards.

March scope on top of a cz rifle are you out of your mind.frank
spend your money in a match rifle & after think of a SCOPE

I don't trust the scope that I have now and the rifle is shooting sub-minute now. Last weekend I shot a 6 round group 11/2" at 500 yards. The rifle is good enough to practice with for now until I can find a decent deal on a newer, used custom/match rifle or have one built. Until then, I need a scope that I can rely on and I don't want to feel like I shouldn't have settled for less and regret it later. Of course I can afford a March or I would not be looking at them but my eyes are getting older and I don't think they are going to do any improving. I just want to get as good of a scope as I can with as much adjustment and reliability as I can and I figured some of you would have experience with enough scopes to have a good opinion about them and I appreciate your help.

Any other thoughts, keep them coming

Thank you all

 

[TonyR]

I have a NF 12X42X56 BR and a March 5X32X50 . The March is lighter and has longer eye relief and better optics than the NF. I am glad I made the investment. I leave both of them at 20X most of the time.

 

[pfinney]

I have a March X (8-80x) and a 10-60X March.
I also own several NF, so i feel that i can make a direct comparison.

The glass is better with March, no question. I use all scopes on Max mag where ever possible, but its true that I often need to dial down the X80 to around X60 or so to get the best sight picture.

If you are asking whether the March are 'worth' the extra over a NF, then no, i dont think they are. but if you have the money, and you want the absolute best available, then March it is all the way.
Also, a poster above mentioned the S&B scope...i also have this one (12.5-50X PM11) and its inferior in every way to the March. I would put it around the same level as the NF, yet it costs 3X as much.....

Frazzle

 

[tenring]

My March 10-60x is over 5 years old and I have never had a problem with it, but its not worth nearly twice as much as a NF. Good optics and very repeatable. I shoot 500 M groundhog matches, and seldom set power above 45X. The FOV is narrow and mirage is a bear cat at the higher number.

How much does Kelby's ask for the 8-80x??

 

[UK]

the tube diameter argument is weak, the larger tube is to allow more adjustment in the erector system, you will generally find the secondary tube inside the scope which is where the light has to travel through to get to your eye is similar with most manufacturers.

 

[NateHaler]

Tube diameter on the S&B is 34MM, the March is 30MM. Which will transmit more light?

Maintube diameter has no effect on light transmission. The answer to the question above depends on objective lens diameter and magnification. Even so, if the OP is considering 80x, he's obviously not interested in exit pupil.

As to others pondering such tremendously high magnification, ask yourself if you'll be shooting at only stationary targets in perfect light conditions. If the answer is "yes", then super high magnification might work for you. For most of us, it's not even useful.

Palma shooters can often shoot as well with their mandated aperture sights as they can with telescopic sights. That tells me that, depending on how/what you're going to shoot, the super high mag scopes are probably just like the blanket Linus hauled around.

 

[UK]

agreed JRS, the important factor is the diameter of the erector tube as this is where the light passes through to get to the eye throught the lens system, however main tube diameter was used as a marketing ploy by some manufacturers a few years ago to con buyers into thinking this was an advantage.

 

[Josh11]

I would go with a NF just because of what people on here said about how they only use it around 50x. I don't have either but as a poor man shooting F-Class using a Weaver T-36, 36x to 50x is all I would need for 600 yard matches. But I havent looked through a march. If you are not happy with it, sell it and count your loses and buy the other. I think you would be just as happy with a NF. If you never had a good scope this would be like xmas every time you went to the range. I wish I had this problem of picking between the NF and March. Let us know what you do.

 

[pfinney]

JRS

It was me that commented that March is superior in every way to the S&B. By your reply, its pretty obvious that you dont own both scopes. I will admit that my comment should have read "for my purposes the March is better in every way than the S&B".
The March has a sharper image and far better resolving capabilities. If you owned both, you would not argue that. The March holds a more solid POI in differing temps. When you adjust mag the POI is in the exact same place, not so with the S&B.
However, in fairness, the S&B has a wider FOV (which is nice but not important to my shooting), and has a brighter image, also nice, if only the clarity and resolution was better. |Also, the S&B have more elevation adjustment, but once again, that does not benefit me at all. Bottom line for me is that the March allows me to stay on aim regardless of other variables, it has a far wider mag range, has much better optics and as such, is better in all of the important areas for ME. My father however, prefers to look through the S&B, though he doesnt compete and therefore has different sets of criteria.
I admit my 1st statement was rather biased and hope this post clears that up
Frazzle

 

[ericskennard]

I use a Nightforce BR 12-42. It works well. I recently had the opportunity to compare it side by side with a S&B and the March. The S&B had a blue look while the March was clear as a bell. The S&B was supposed to be 1/8 minute clicks but clicked 9 points between minutes. Maybe this is in miliradians? I don't know.

I got to use the March for a couple hours yesterday in the extreme Florida sun. Mirage is no extra charge here. I just can't tell you how clear the March was at long range through the mirage!

I keep hearing complaints about the warranty of a March. My friend dropped his F-Class Open rifle on the cement Top Turret first. Yes Jim Kelbly said it was damaged to the point it would have to go back to Japan. Yes he spent a lot sending it there.

In one week, Deon sent him a brand new scope. He called them on the phone and said the damage was his fault. They said they didn't care they stood behind their scopes 100%. Let's see, the last time I sent a scope to Oregan it took me two tries and several weeks each to get the problem fixed.

If I had the money, I would not hesistate to buy a March. I am not knocking S&B or NightForce. I am just giving my 2 cents having had the three scopes side by side.

 

[falconpilot]

Eric,

Thanks for the above post. For someone to suggest the Kelbly's isn't top notch customer service, it's obvious that they haven't dealth with them...

Jim

 

[mikecr]

It isn't clear to me that Eric said anything at all about Kelby's service.
Did Kelby send it off & deal with Deon? Or the owner?