March HM optics

[Alex Wheeler]

I did get a chance to test out the optics of the new March HM 10-60x56. We had a dark rainy/gloomy day Friday before the match at Deep Creek. I mounted the HM on a rifle and we setup another rifle with a NF comp 15-55x, which hands down is the best resolving scope I have seen to date by a long ways. At 1000 yards we had 5 6mm holes in white corraged plastic just above an orange dot. You could see them easily with the 15-55 NF, the March was close, very close. You could see them, but it took a little more eye strain. One guy said the March looked "softer" and I agree with this. The NF comp glass has been the only scope ever on this line to resolve that well, I put the new HM a close second place and a huge improvement over the older models. Brightness was very good, especially for the darker day we were testing. One thing that was very obvious was the magnification level. And we compared it to two NF comp scopes. This HM zooms more. Even with both at 55x the HM shows a much larger image. I would say you have to set the March to 48-50x to equal the magnification of the NF at 55x. So, of all the scopes I have ever used, the HM is a solid 2nd place in resolving bullet holes at 1k. I would say the glass is excellent.

 

[Down South]

Thanks for posting your findings.

 

[DBLNUT]

I did get a chance to test out the optics of the new March HM 10-60x56. We had a dark rainy/gloomy day Friday before the match at Deep Creek. I mounted the HM on a rifle and we setup another rifle with a NF comp 15-55x, which hands down is the best resolving scope I have seen to date by a long ways. At 1000 yards we had 5 6mm holes in white corraged plastic just above an orange dot. You could see them easily with the 15-55 NF, the March was close, very close. You could see them, but it took a little more eye strain. One guy said the March looked "softer" and I agree with this. The NF comp glass has been the only scope ever on this line to resolve that well, I put the new HM a close second place and a huge improvement over the older models. Brightness was very good, especially for the darker day we were testing. One thing that was very obvious was the magnification level. And we compared it to two NF comp scopes. This HM zooms more. Even with both at 55x the HM shows a much larger image. I would say you have to set the March to 48-50x to equal the magnification of the NF at 55x. So, of all the scopes I have ever used, the HM is a solid 2nd place in resolving bullet holes at 1k. I would say the glass is excellent.

Just ordered a 10-60HM to replace a Comp, I am hoping it will make me shoot smaller

What does Nightforce do to make the glass on the 15-55 so good???

 

[JimPag]

I did get a chance to test out the optics of the new March HM 10-60x56. We had a dark rainy/gloomy day Friday before the match at Deep Creek. I mounted the HM on a rifle and we setup another rifle with a NF comp 15-55x, which hands down is the best resolving scope I have seen to date by a long ways. At 1000 yards we had 5 6mm holes in white corraged plastic just above an orange dot. You could see them easily with the 15-55 NF, the March was close, very close. You could see them, but it took a little more eye strain. One guy said the March looked "softer" and I agree with this. The NF comp glass has been the only scope ever on this line to resolve that well, I put the new HM a close second place and a huge improvement over the older models. Brightness was very good, especially for the darker day we were testing. One thing that was very obvious was the magnification level. And we compared it to two NF comp scopes. This HM zooms more. Even with both at 55x the HM shows a much larger image. I would say you have to set the March to 48-50x to equal the magnification of the NF at 55x. So, of all the scopes I have ever used, the HM is a solid 2nd place in resolving bullet holes at 1k. I would say the glass is excellent.

I agree Alex. I posted my findings of the 48X that I received 1 month ago. I thought is was an improvement over any of my other Marches, and as good as my NF Comp. I am confident that it will hold POI as good as my other Marches, but in the back of my mind I'm just waiting for my Comp to let me down and that's not good. You know as well as I do if you don't have confidence in your equipment, your not going to do very good.

 

[pat fulghum]

Simple question about the reticle choices on March HM scopes.

They have a 1/8 MOA dot crosshair. At what magnification is that dot 1/8 MOA?

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I do not have that for the March-X HM scope, but for the other March-X scopes, the 5-50X56 and the 8-80X56, the 1/8 dot subtends that distance at 40X. Even the 10-60X52 is set at 40X.

 

[pat fulghum]

Now if they could just make 2 in a row that worked we could really have something!

Tom

Tom,
Please say more. I don't understand what you are saying here.

 

[Down South]

Update..

After receiving my scope back, no problems detected at March after a good solid effort by Dave. I took it to the match this weekend at deep creek. On Thursday night I set up on the line and focused without any trouble. Conditions were good and the image was impressive just like the unit in the OP.

Friday morning it focused up nicely at 40x as it was a bit dark for more power. About 3 or 4 sighters later I noticed it going weirdo on me. I moved my Mylar strip further back and the problem was cured as long as my bolt was in battery. I feel this was the problem the whole time, and it's super sensitive to barrel heat. Maybe this is also exaggerated for me where I shoot because of the less then warm air temperature usually also.

On to the Sat and Sun matches. Conditions weren't so hot and I couldn't run it comfortable on more than about 30x. All in all it was useable, but I don't feel I had any advantage over my older model 10-60 marches. If conditions are perfect is the only time I feel it's worth the extra money and weight.

For me the search continues... Really wishing someone would crossbreed the nf comp glass with march internals lol.

Disclaimer....My opinion is only worth what you paid for it

Tom

Good info, thanks.

 

[pat fulghum]

@tom said... "moved my Mylar strip further back and the problem was cured"...

What is your Mylar strip? A mirage shade? Is it shiny or matte?


p.s. got one coming.... we will see (pun intended) how it goes.

 

[Fred Bohl]

Alex,

Did you mistype the range as 1000 yards?

For a 56 mm objective, the Dawes Resolution limit is 0.035 MOA or 0.361 inch at 1000 yards.
For a 52 mm objective, the Dawes Resolution limit is 0.037 MOA or 0.389 inch at 1000 yards.

To resolve two 6 mm (0.243) bullet holes overlapping by 50% you would require 83.3 mm objective.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Alex,

Did you mistype the range as 1000 yards?

For a 56 mm objective, the Dawes Resolution limit is 0.035 MOA or 0.361 inch at 1000 yards.
For a 52 mm objective, the Dawes Resolution limit is 0.037 MOA or 0.389 inch at 1000 yards.

To resolve two 6 mm (0.243) bullet holes overlapping by 50% you would require 83.3 mm objective.

Nope, we all have seen 6mm holes in the white. So far I have seen them with a 95mm atx spotter, 20-70 s2 spotter, NF comp, and March HM. I actually was calling individual 6.5mm holes as they were shot through that atx. The comp scope easily resolves 6mm holes in the white at 1k. You just need clean mountain air and zero mirage mornings or evenings.

 

[Fred Bohl]

Alex and Tom,

Pardon my intrusion in your thread. To me resolution means to be able to determine that two bullet holes over lapping by 50% are in fact two holes and not one. Your standards for what is "decernable" or "seen" are apparently much different.

Also, congratulations on your "clean mountain air and zero mirage". Around here at 773 feet above sea level in northeast Wisconsin we are fortunate to have those conditions on a winter night.

Good seeing and keep testing - I do appreciate your sharing your results.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

To me resolve means I can see something. On really good days with a comp scope or one of the good spotters you can count the number of shots in the group.

 

[Fred Bohl]

Around here on day with what we call "good seeing conditions" with low pollution, minimal mirage, my March scopes and big objective spotters I have a tough time resolving (my definition) two 6mm bullet holes at 600 yards. Tom I do tend to overlap two bullet holes at 600 yards but the best I've done at 1000 yards (not competition) is a 3 inch group.

 

[dkhunt14]

Alex and Tom,

Pardon my intrusion in your thread. To me resolution means to be able to determine that two bullet holes over lapping by 50% are in fact two holes and not one. Your standards for what is "decernable" or "seen" are apparently much different.

Also, congratulations on your "clean mountain air and zero mirage". Around here at 773 feet above sea level in northeast Wisconsin we are fortunate to have those conditions on a winter night.

Good seeing and keep testing - I do appreciate your sharing your results.

I don't think you would see that with anything. To me I would be happy with enough resolution to see any holes at 1000. It is tough to do and only know of it happening 3 times. All 3 times was a Nightforce BR. Twice it was the same person sitting beside me at Nationals that saw it. The other time was another guy at Williamsport in a shoot. Everything has to be perfect including the height and angle of the sun. And these were all 30 cal holes. Matt

 

[Clearlight]

Update..

After receiving my scope back, no problems detected at March after a good solid effort by Dave. I took it to the match this weekend at deep creek. On Thursday night I set up on the line and focused without any trouble. Conditions were good and the image was impressive just like the unit in the OP.

Friday morning it focused up nicely at 40x as it was a bit dark for more power. About 3 or 4 sighters later I noticed it going weirdo on me. I moved my Mylar strip further back and the problem was cured as long as my bolt was in battery. I feel this was the problem the whole time, and it's super sensitive to barrel heat. Maybe this is also exaggerated for me where I shoot because of the less then warm air temperature usually also.

On to the Sat and Sun matches. Conditions weren't so hot and I couldn't run it comfortable on more than about 30x. All in all it was useable, but I don't feel I had any advantage over my older model 10-60 marches. If conditions are perfect is the only time I feel it's worth the extra money and weight.

For me the search continues... Really wishing someone would crossbreed the nf comp glass with march internals lol.

Disclaimer....My opinion is only worth what you paid for it


Tom

So you are saying the problem the whole time wasnt the scope at all ,
in fact it was just mirage from barrel heat ? I guess the March helped you
see that mirage better at least ! Time for a better mirage band system .

Many of us are in places where the ambient heat is very high : in my neck
of the woods in summer , after as few as 3 to 5 shots , the heat waves off
a bare stainless barrel are a problem .

 

[dkhunt14]

So you are saying the problem the whole time wasnt the scope at all ,
in fact it was just mirage from barrel heat ? I guess the March helped you
see that mirage better at least ! Time for a better mirage band system .

Many of us are in places where the ambient heat is very high : in my neck
of the woods in summer , after as few as 3 to 5 shots , the heat waves off
a bare stainless barrel are a problem .

That's what they make fans for. Battery operated or buy a 12 volt car fan and use a 12 volt lead acid. Matt

 

[Fred Bohl]

FYI re seeing bullet holes at long range - See the attached:

 

[dkhunt14]

FYI re seeing bullet holes at long range - See the attached:View attachment 1012729

The trouble is there isn't bright spots on a dark background unless the light is coming from behind. Bullet holes on black targets are hard to see, even if in the pits standing 5 feet from them. We switched a few years ago from black to blue like the IBS uses. They are easier to see holes in the blue when standing in the pits. The only holes I ever heard of being seen at 1000 yards is in the white. Never in blue or black. Matt

 

[johara1]

Matt, +1 on seeing holes in the white. I did see .338 holes in the box at 1000 with a 42 power NF and that was the only one that ever did it........ Jim