Night Force competition vs March scopes a

[JamesnTN]

Ok thought I'd see what everyone has preference over between these two scopes at 600 and 1000 yard competition.
Back when I competed I used the NF. BR models. Now with new scopes on the market such as mentioned in header I like to get a feel of pros and cons of both scopes.
I've heard the downfall thus far of NF is the lack of reticles and the eye box is very sensitive or short.

My plans are to purchase a march 10-60 BR model with 1/8 clicks and a 3/32 dot any comments on this to would be appreciated. This is a lot of money and I figure I'd ask you guys as I like to make this purchase right from the get go and have no regrets later.

I do understand there is the sightron but I just don't feel it's earned itself yet as a high end contender especially when mirage becomes a factor.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have a 10-60 and a nf 12-42 br. If you shoot free recoil and want to shoot fast I'd go with the br, eye box is less critical, I find myself in the dark searching for the scope sometimes in the middle of a string with the march. I have looked through the comp model and it is very nice on par with the march or better. The resolution in my march does not impress me over NF or Leupold comp.

 

[ShootDots]

I always loved Leupolds till I had a small string of bad ones that were very fragile. However, the "new" one that is coming out this summer is built for F-Class and the like.. I spoke with a Rep from Leupold a few weeks ago and they are not going to have many reticules at first>>> as a matter of fact, none that I would consider. BUT, when they come out with a reticule that suits me, I would consider buying one again. The glass on a Leupold is on par or better than my NightForce scopes.. They appear "brighter" and I like that effect.. How that scope will stack up against a March, I don't know>> But it is only going to cost "about" $1800.00, considerably less than a March.. It will be interesting to look thru one!

 

[dragman]

I am finishing up a rifle for this year 1000 yard varmints I have shot the gun the last 2 days with the NF BR, the Comp, and the Siii sightron. I would rank them
1- competition
2- Siii
3- br

There all great but that's my ranking

 

[bholcomb]

I shoot f class and some benchrest and I decided to go with a march 8-80. Unless it is an overcast day, 60-80 is pretty much useless. However, when you can turn it up that high, it is incredible! The March is definitely clearer than my old NF and there are no problems with tracking. IMO the March is worth the extra money.

 

[Scott Harris]

I "owned" a 1st gen comp and "own" a March 10-60. Also had a chance to examine the new NF comp. Both companies make a fantastic product that is durable and tracks perfectly. It's hard for me to see a difference in the glass. But I do prefer the March and they are in the same price range. That's my choice, but the new NF Comp has fixed all it's deficiencies and it's on par with the 10-60 March in my opinion. Your choice.

 

[eddief]

Not impressed with the March

NF BR best deal for the money, great glass 42X is useable

NF Competition, glass is better than the BR (better than March in my eyes also. 55X really isn't useful (to me). Overall, if you have the extra money and nothing else better to do with it, buy the NF Comp model. For the price increase over the BR it isn't cost effective IMHO.

I was excited about the new Leupold, until I seen it and looked through it at SHOT. Didn't like the turrets or feel of the clicks (NF spoils you). Glass wasn't $1800 worthy and not as good as the NF BR.

There it is in a nutshell for me. YMMV

 

[Kings X]

March all the way.
I cannot afford to have another NF crash during a match. My BRs are on 22 now.

 

[JamesnTN]

I can't say I've ever had a NF go bad on me but I was using the 12-42 models not the new competition model.
I'm pretty sure my choice will be the March 10-60 Tactical with the 3/32 dot.

 

[dkhunt14]

Wait till your March fails and it costs 100 plus to send to Japan. Seen one come apart on a 300 WSM with just a few rounds. Very expensive to send back and takes a while to get back. I also looked through one at 2008 Nationals and with the mirage I thought the view was terrible. Matt

 

[Raythemanroe]

I think if the NF is even comparable then the warranty should be the deciding factor

 

[Cigarcop]

I purchased a March 10x60 this year with the 3/32 dot and I'm pretty happy with it so far. I will say the eye relief is a bit short but it is on the NXS 12x42 as well. I do wish the side focus/parralex knob was a bit easier to turn!
All in all I'm satisfied

 

[Jay Christopherson]

Wait till your March fails and it costs 100 plus to send to Japan. Seen one come apart on a 300 WSM with just a few rounds. Very expensive to send back and takes a while to get back. I also looked through one at 2008 Nationals and with the mirage I thought the view was terrible. Matt

This is actually not my experience. I've sent a scope to them a few times (for reticle changes, not warranty work) and the cost has been less than $100. Turnaround has been less than two weeks.

 

[dragman]

The side focus and the clarity is the reason that I love my competition. I don't free recoil so the eye relief has never bothered me any in fact I shot one on a bigger 30 and had no problem spotting my shots at the range. I wish they would use the 12-42NXS tube and put the better glass and give her a little more power. If they do that for next year the can count on my 2200-2500 bucks.

 

[Tahoe Shark]

Of course opinions are just that, so here is mine.

My wife and I both shoot F open and T/R and varmint steel matches. We used to shoot US Optics. We have had March 8-80's since they came out. We can constantly shoot at 60+ power @ 600 & 1000 yd matches. The scope is clear and bright until you pass 60 power and then it does get slightly darker but still not an issue. The reticle is the MTR-1 and you ave a good view of the X ring Never had a problem with any of the scopes. Never had a problem with the eye relief. The knobs are superb. I like my March scopes, you may not. There are many wonderful scopes on the market today that will do the job.

Tim

 

[JamesnTN]

Of course opinions are just that, so here is mine.

My wife and I both shoot F open and T/R and varmint steel matches. We used to shoot US Optics. We have had March 8-80's since they came out. We can constantly shoot at 60+ power @ 600 & 1000 yd matches. The scope is clear and bright until you pass 60 power and then it does get slightly darker but still not an issue. The reticle is the MTR-1 and you ave a good view of the X ring Never had a problem with any of the scopes. Never had a problem with the eye relief. The knobs are superb. I like my March scopes, you may not. There are many wonderful scopes on the market today that will do the job.

Tim

Thanks for your input Tim I spoke with guy at Kelblys today and I ordered the 10-60 with tactical knobs and with the 3/32 dot.
For many that worry about the warranty I talked in depth with them over this and the main reason there is a 5 year warranty is for fact japan will not allow a 100% built and assembled product in there country be shipped out with a warranty past 5 years. Now this is a total 100% product items installed and assembled. Dion will warranty the scope beyond this if there is a defect that arises with the product outside of neglect or tampering with the scope.
Damn they are expensive I will have to say but if it's needed then so be it. Can't win if ya can't see it.

 

[1shot]

If you either own or have the scopes mentioned, you already know that there is a lot of really good information from several different posters on this thread. Two years ago, my shooting partner and I did a little informal test. It was an early March day that was cold and clear with very little wind. We placed a towel on a window sill in my kitchen window facing my woods. We set the following scopes up, all aiming at a knot hole in a wild cherry tree about 450 yards away. 1. Leupold 1" tube 3.5-10x40mm
2. Leupold 30mm tube 8.5-25x50mm LTR
3. Burris Black Diamond 6-24x50mm
4. 8-32x56mm NF-NXS,
5. 10-60x52mm March.
All scopes were focused on the same target and viewed by both my partner, my wife who doesn't shoot at all and myself. We all agreed that the March was the brightest and the most clear of the scopes being evaluated. However, the sleeper was the Burris costing 25% of the March. The Nightforce was close, but not as clear around the edges as the March, but for nearly 1K less, I could learn to live with it.
Conclusion: At some point that is either determined by your eyes and or your wallet there is a graduated scale of diminishing returns relative to the amount of money spent. Assuming all the scopes tested track equally and weight isn't a factor, the Burris is the best glass per dollar spent. If money isn't an object, the March is the clear winner. (no pun intended) with the NF-NXS close behind. If you ask yourself is there a thousand dollars difference between the two? I would answer that depend on how dear $1,000.00 is to you. I will also say that the March comes standard with a light reducer ring and the NF doesn't. With the March, I find myself using the reducer more times than not. BTW, I'm not sponsored by any of the companies in this post, nor am I some youngster with "young eyes". I'm 57+ as well as both of the other testers.
I hope all this helps,
Lloyd

 

[Raythemanroe]

Burris Black Diamonds have good glass or so mine does..I have the Sightron SIII 10-50x and my Black Diamond 8-32x holds up to the mirage better without washing out and yes with both on 32x...But my Sightron has more adjustment and better adjustments...I was interested in Burris's new high power scope except it's front focal plane and reticle are not what I want..

 

[DaveMarine1]

I used to shoot the NF BR 12x42 and I liked it, it was clear, bright, tracked wonderful. However I traded it off just for the sheer fact that I wanted the new Comp scope and also, I could use the weight that it saved me. The Comp scope is nice. I think it clear and handles the mirage well and the adjustments really seem to respond within the scope and you can fine tune it very well for the different conditions and lighting, etc... The eye relief does not seem to be much different than the BR to me and I don't mind it.
I suggest the Comp if you can afford it, or the BR because if you don't want to spend $1400 for that, just look on this forum and get a nice used one for $1000 or $1100, they seem to be out there all the time. Just my $.02