March vs NF

[Mulligan]

I had a comp fail at a 600 yard f-class match.
I called NF and talked to a sorry excuse for a human being. Sold all my comps at that time and bought a few March scopes. I bought a used march that contrary to the sellers info, it needed repair. March had the scope back to me in about a month. Their communication was very good. The repair was flawless.

I have had my but kicked by plenty of folks shooting a NF. I have also won my share shooting my March scopes.

One thing I will add, not every NF has the same clarity. I have a buddy who has a few Comps, one of them is really just spectacular, the others….not so much.

I think the history NF has for supporting F-class competitions and some benchrest competitions is fantastic.

CW

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

This was discussed not that long ago in another thread. My recollection is that currently March scopes are sent to Japan for servicing, but they are planning to open a US service center.

Actually, they are in the process of opening the service center. The planned date to start operations is Q1 2026. Currently, it takes about a month for repairs and that's because of shipping time. When I had a reticle change some years ago, it took just a little under 4 weeks,

 

[gmr4]

Just finished the other N F vs March thread. Interesting. Each with good points, each with the opposite.
Not anywhere close to a shooter those gentlemen are. With out being able to look thru either, hard to make heads or tails. Guys mention the Vortex G E. No one has mentioned the Vortex Razor Gen 3.
Guys using N F. Atacr make the comment. Take it of, use it as a hammer, put it back on, keep shooting.

Don't know just trying to decipher which way to go before laying out $$$.
Thank you.

I have looked through the NightForce and the March 8-80 and found the March seemed dark… others said the same that day when we all took a look. The 8-80 F Class reticle kicked in all my attention deficits… it was really busy to me…. So I’ve ended up a NF fan.. and could buy either..

 

[Retired shooter]

ELR type shooting. Will need plenty of elevation moa.
N F shows around 100. Have not researched March. If March has more moa elevation , may save some cash having to buy prism, or adjustable base.

Thanks to all.

 

[ELR LVR]

I

ELR type shooting. Will need plenty of elevation moa.
N F shows around 100. Have not researched March. If March has more moa elevation , may save some cash having to buy prism, or adjustable base.

Thanks to all.

have not tried a prism, dont like the idea of extra mediums for the light to have to pass through at ELR
even though it works
---
I use one of the MRAB Bases, what is nice is they adjust in .05 Mil increments if you choose the Mil model
so you get extra finer adjustments than a scope will provide if its a Mil/Mil Scope
It's a solid unit with no play, and accuracy is the same with it on vs off.
They provide enough adjustment for about 5 miles

https://heritage-arms.com/product/m-r-a-b-144-mil-radian-adjustment-gen-4/

 

[PaulyD]

How much to change the reticule?

I believe it was $325. I had a MOAR T and did not like how fine the cross hair was. For me it got lost in the aiming black.

 

[Retired shooter]

Thank you both.
After more research on the March optics, unless I missed it, they seem to have half( 60 moa) the available elevation of the NF. If I was not looking at the right scope ,I am sure someone here will let me know.


Have been looking at adjustable bases also.

Again Thank you both

 

[CharlieNC]

I also tried a GE in F-Class and after a "repair" followed by a replacement, it was sold at a loss; the optical quality was simply horrid in my opinion. Liking Sightron I purchased the new 10-50 ED, and found it comparable to the NF Comp. Excellent service center in NC.

 

[Retired shooter]

CharlieNC
Thank you for the reply.
Don't know much about Sightron.
Gentlemen discussing the GE seem to agree it may seem dark, not cool for older eyes.
The Atacr seems to be better in regards to reticle compared to Gen three razor, looks cluttered to me.
Gen 3 has just a little more moa.

Have always used moa. Now wondering about mill. Will not be used for distance measuring, so I question the need to change.
Thanks again.

 

[Ranger188]

@Retired shooter, I would look through a scope with a similar reticle (Vortex Razor) and see if the "clutter"
bothers you. A lot of the time you'll never notice it.
The NF ATACR is used by the military and built like a tank.
It has NF's best glass. Those reticles (MOA) have the cleaner look you want.
The Vortex Razor has their best glass and has a great warranty.
People will say, the best warranty is the one never used.
You can purchase a custom pic rail in 30 MOA or more if you think you need it.
A much cheaper option.
You could do a search over on Snipershide and see what those guys like and dislike about
those 2 scopes. They use the NF 7-35 and Razor 6-36 a lot for long distance.

 

[JFrank]

Hello All
In regards to warrany issues.
How many of you all have actually had problems.
Is Nighforce repaired in the US. seeing as they are made in the US.?
Does the March go back to. J A pan & co. for repair?

Thanks.

Nightforce facility is in Idaho, just a couple hours from me.
I love mine and would not be without them.

 

[Shooter13]

Go back a few years and you can find guys having problems with them. I have 3 and one went south on me in the middle of a 1K F match. I bough it new and it had never been abused. Took it to 100 yards and shot a box test and it shot parallelograms instead of a square box. I put my 12x42 NSX in the same rings and it shot a nice square box. I called NF and got the complete run around about how it was probably my fault somehow and my torque wrench was bad. The guy was total azzhat. So just to make sure I wasn't stupid and missed something I put it back in same rings, same torque wrench, same rifle and went back to range where it again shot parallelogram box tests. Put the NSX back on and again no problem. Called them back and thankfully got a different tech that wasn't a jerk and sent it in for repair. But of course I still got the SOP call that NF gives everyone "there was nothing wrong with it". For the money you can't buy nicer glass but for more money you might buy more reliability. Given they do fix them and the next price point up is at least 30% more and without a doubt the glass is spectacular I still consider them a decent value.

Back when I first started shooting comps I ask a question on here about "testing" a scope, maybe with the scope checker thingy where you put 2 scopes in, anyway later that evening I get a call from Lightforce (no, I didn't misspell it), took the call and spoke with a gentleman about scope (he was from Nightforce), a very informative call. He basically stated that Nightforce held zero and if I ever had a problem to send it in. I just thought it was pretty cool that they had that much concern. I still use Nightforce, I have a couple of March HMs and I do like them.

 

[Retired shooter]

Ranger 188

@Retired shooter, I would look through a scope with a similar reticle (Vortex Razor) and see if the "clutter"
bothers you. A lot of the time you'll never notice it.
The NF ATACR is used by the military and built like a tank.
It has NF's best glass. Those reticles (MOA) have the cleaner look you want.
The Vortex Razor has their best glass and has a great warranty.
People will say, the best warranty is the one never used.
You can purchase a custom pic rail in 30 MOA or more if you think you need it.
A much cheaper option.
You could do a search over on Snipershide and see what those guys like and dislike about
those 2 scopes. They use the NF 7-35 and Razor 6-36 a lot for long distance.

Ranger
Thank you for your reply.
My situation is I'm not around the club range much when others are there. . Definitely not on weekends when the still employed are there. Being retired , I let them do their thing. Club range is only 6 hundred max. The other problem is finding an optic in stock to compare.

Will have a different rail ordered & installed after I get the action & barrel, still patiently waiting.
Yip, will check out the other forum.

Have a great day Sir.!

 

[Shooter13]

@Retired shooter I see you are in KS and I am sure you can find some guys on here from there that would be willing to let you look/shoot through their scopes, I was going to offer but doubt you'd want to drive from KS to KY! LOL

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Thank you both.
After more research on the March optics, unless I missed it, they seem to have half( 60 moa) the available elevation of the NF. If I was not looking at the right scope ,I am sure someone here will let me know.


Have been looking at adjustable bases also.

Again Thank you both

I think you read that wrong. At the NF website, the Comp is listed with these specs:
Magnification Range: 15-55x
Focal Plane: Second
Overall Length: 16.2 in/411 mm
Weight: 27.9 oz/790 g
Body Tube Diameter:30 mm
Mounting length: 6.4 in/162 mm
Elevation Feature:ZeroStop™
Click Value: .125 MOA
Internal Adjustment Range: E: 55 MOA W: 50 MOA
Parallax Adjustment: 25 yd/ 23 m - ∞

On the other hand, the March-X 10-60X56 HM (High Master) has these following specs:

Magnification: 10X-60X
Focal plane: Second
Overall length: 16.18 in/ 411mm
Weight: 32.1 oz/910g
Tube Diameter: 34mm
Mounting length: 7.09 in/ 180mm
Elevation Feature: SetStop
Click Value: 1/8 MOA
Revolution range: 10MOA per rev.
InternalAdjustment Range: E: 60 MOA W: 40 MOA
Focus range: 10yd/3,3m - ∞

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[swd]

Back when I first started shooting comps I ask a question on here about "testing" a scope, maybe with the scope checker thingy where you put 2 scopes in, anyway later that evening I get a call from Lightforce, took the call and spoke with a gentleman about scope (he was from Nightforce), a very informative call. He basically stated that Nightforce held zero and if I ever had a problem to send it in. I just thought it was pretty cool that they had that much concern. I still use Nightforce, I have a couple of March HMs and I do like them.

I’ve had a few calls with them over the last 20 years. All but one have been very helpful, respectful and bent over backwards to get the issue resolved. Unfortunately the first guy I talked to about my last issue had no business or future being in customer service, LOL. I should have written his name down but I was so pissed off I just wanted to get off the phone. But again he’s the first and only one I ever had a problem with.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

ELR type shooting. Will need plenty of elevation moa.
N F shows around 100. Have not researched March. If March has more moa elevation , may save some cash having to buy prism, or adjustable base.

Thanks to all.

It is my understanding that a lot of ELR shooter like to use FFP riflescopes. March has the March-FX 5042X56 GEN 2 which has 130MOA/40MIL of elevation travel and 48 MOA/14MIL of windage travel. It also has the Super-ED glass.

 

[JFrank]

CharlieNC
Thank you for the reply.
Don't know much about Sightron.
Gentlemen discussing the GE seem to agree it may seem dark, not cool for older eyes.
The Atacr seems to be better in regards to reticle compared to Gen three razor, looks cluttered to me.
Gen 3 has just a little more moa.

Have always used moa. Now wondering about mill. Will not be used for distance measuring, so I question the need to change.
Thanks again.

@Varminterror is very familiar with the ELR shooting and the scope set ups the guys are using, maybe he’ll chime in. IIRC he is also in KS

 

[Retired shooter]

Back when I first started shooting comps I ask a question on here about "testing" a scope, maybe with the scope checker thingy where you put 2 scopes in, anyway later that evening I get a call from Lightforce (no, I didn't misspell it), took the call and spoke with a gentleman about scope (he was from Nightforce), a very informative call. He basically stated that Nightforce held zero and if I ever had a problem to send it in. I just thought it was pretty cool that they had that much concern. I still use Nightforce, I have a couple of March HMs and I do like them.

Ranger 188

Ranger
Thank you for your reply.
My situation is I'm not around the club range much when others are there. . Definitely not on weekends when the still employed are there. Being retired , I let them do their thing. Club range is only 6 hundred max. The other problem is finding an optic in stock to compare.

Will have a different rail ordered & installed after I get the action & barrel, still patiently waiting.
Yip, will check out the other forum.

Have a great day Sir.!

Back when I first started shooting comps I ask a question on here about "testing" a scope, maybe with the scope checker thingy where you put 2 scopes in, anyway later that evening I get a call from Lightforce (no, I didn't misspell it), took the call and spoke with a gentleman about scope (he was from Nightforce), a very informative call. He basically stated that Nightforce held zero and if I ever had a problem to send it in. I just thought it was pretty cool that they had that much concern. I still use Nightforce, I have a couple of March HMs and I do like them.

Shooter

If NF still has that kind of customer service, that will help attract & maintain the user base.
Good info to hear. My son uses a NF of some type on his 338 Lapua. Had to send it in for repair, something he did by mistake. They returned it, & charged a minimal amount.

I had a gun shop mount my first Vortex. Thought it may be worthwhile. BIG MISTAKE.
Had issues. Called Vortex, shipped it to them,( if my memory is correct, they paid shipping both ways). Got it back about a week later.

Gun shop over torqued the mounts, caused parallax issues Invested in my own torque wrench. Every phone call to Vortex always very courteous. Great veteran discount. If NF has all the same qualities, service, when needed, courteous, and dependability, I might did down deep, and splurge.

Thank you.

 

[Retired shooter]

I’ve had a few calls with them over the 20 years. All but one have been very helpful, respectful and bent over backwards to get the issue resolved. Unfortunately the first guy I talked to about my last issue had no business or future being in customer service, LOL. I should have written his name down but I was so pissed off I just wanted to get off the phone. But again he’s the first and only one I ever had a problem with.

Only takes one like that. Time you tell other shooters , the damage is done.

Thank you.!