Nightforce 2014 Competition Review

[KT]

I received the new Nightforce 2014 Competition today. The packaging is just like any other Nightforce when you receive them. The scope is carefully packaged in foam. It comes with an owners manual, instructions on CD, allen wrench’s, stickers and lens cleaning cloth.

The first thing that stands out is the red zero stop cover on the elevation knob. Then you see the new redesigned elevation and windage knobs.

I absolutely love having the zero stop on the scope. If you shoot a match where you only shoot one yardage all weekend it isn’t such a big deal, however, if you shoot a match where you move yard lines every relay the zero stop comes in very handy. You don’t have to worry if you counted right or if you just forgot what you had dialed in. You just turn the knob down until you hit the stop and then dial in your elevation. The scope is 1/8 MOA clicks.

The next thing is the new turrets. There rotation is even crisper than the 2013 model. You also get 10 MOA of rotation on both elevation and windage. You will get two knobs with the scope. I chose the knobs with the big numbers and the each half MOA is labeled as well. EX: 0.5, 1.5, 2.5 and so on. The numbers on the knobs, as seen in the pictures, are large and easy to see. Having the half MOA labeled also allows you not to get lost in the eight hash marks between the large MOA numbers. There are no turret caps either. So you don't have to worry about losing them.

The numbering on the windage knob is different as well. It starts with 0 and then goes to 1 MOA whether you dial right or left. The windage knob also has left and right arrow’s to help you turn the correct way. The knob also has the half MOA numbers. See the picture.


I got the new FCR1 reticle on the scope. It’s kind of like the MOAR reticle but a little different. It has 1 MOA hash marks and every two MOA hash mark is numbered in the reticle so you don’t get confused. This reticle is true at 40 power which is also visible in the bottom of the reticle.

One MOA on the reticle will measure the following at different powers.

20x: 1.9 MOA
40X: 1 MOA
55X: .70 MOA

The line thickness of the FCR-1 is .016moa on 40x which means that on 55x
it is .01168moa.

Nightforce also made a change to the DDR reticle. They shrank the center dot down to .095 as it is .125 in the 2013 models. I’m a big fan of this reticle as well. The new DDR-2 subtends at 40x instead of 55x like the old DDR did. The dot is now .095 at 40x which means it is .070 on 55x.

The glass and body remain the same. In all they have listened to the shooters and made a lot of changes that were requested. I’m very impressed with the scope and look forward to getting it to the range. If you have questions please ask and I will do my best to answer them.

I also got one of the new Nightforce Spotting Scopes I will try and get a review for it as soon as I get the iPhone adaptor. If you would like better pictures send me a PM and I can email them. The site only allow's for pictures to be so large.

KT

 

[joejo]

did it come with a sunshade and aluminum covers as well?

 

[Caska]

Hi KT thanks for the review. I have one on order here in Australia and can't wait. I ordered the one with the CTR-2 reticle.

I'm very interested on your opinion about the quality of the glass. I currently use the 42x NSX on my FCLASS rifle how dose it compare with the NSX?

Thanks

 

[KT]

did it come with a sunshade and aluminum covers as well?

The sunshade and aluminum covers do come with it.

KT

 

[KT]

Hi KT thanks for the review. I have one on order here in Australia and can't wait. I ordered the one with the CTR-2 reticle.

I'm very interested on your opinion about the quality of the glass. I currently use the 42x NSX on my FCLASS rifle how dose it compare with the NSX?

Thanks

The Competition has different glass that the NXS. I have a NXS, Benchrest, and two competitions. Neither the NXS or Benchrest come close to the new glass in the Competition.

You will see a distinct diffrence in glass quality from the NXS to the Competition. Don't get me wrong I'm not calling the NXS junk, they are very good. The Competition is just that much better.

KT

 

[Caska]

Hi KT thanks for the review. I have one on order here in Australia and can't wait. I ordered the one with the CTR-2 reticle.

I'm very interested on your opinion about the quality of the glass. I currently use the 42x NSX on my FCLASS rifle how dose it compare with the NSX?

Thanks

The Competition has different glass that the NXS. I have a NXS, Benchrest, and two competitions. Neither the NXS or Benchrest come close to the new glass in the Competition.

You will see a distinct diffrence in glass quality from the NXS to the Competition. Don't get me wrong I'm not calling the NXS junk, they are very good. The Competition is just that much better.

KT

Thanks

 

[falconpilot]

I got my 2014 competition mounted today. The CTR-2 reticle is perfect. I've got a 1/16 dot on my March and sometimes during long expended strings, I can lose it. IMO, NF got this one perfect. What I've always like about NF side focus this that it's very easy to get a good clear picture and this one is no expection. I love the high speed eye focus as well. The numbers are the knobs are a big improvement, and the glass is as good as the March. The eye relief is a little short, but nothing that I don't think I can get use too. Hats off to NF for listening to their shooters.

 

[lawrence97]

I just received mine with the FCR-1 reticle and it is very bright and the clicks are crisp.
KT, you mentioned receiving 2 sets of knobs? Mine only came with the lens rag, a cd and a couple of stickers and Allen wrenches.

Has anybody else received 2 sets of knobs?

 

[KT]

I'll find out if there only shipping the one knob.

KT

 

[falconpilot]

It's my understanding that some of the scopes were shipped to the dealers without having the extra knobs in the box. The dealer I bought my scope from was good enough to tell me that I had to wait an extra day or two before they would ship out scope to me so they could get the knobs from NF , and include them with the scope before they shipped them out. I'd suggest contacting whomever you bought your scope from, and requesting they send you what you were suppose to have received t begin with.

 

[marwitz89]

Just ordered a competition with the ctr2 reticle. Previously had the np2dd and ddr. Hope I like the ctr2...

 

[Steve Blair]

So, KT, you wrote about what the scope is and what you like but nothing about any advantage it provides. Are your scores higher since you installed it? How about posting some of the scores you shot with the NXS and those with the Competition? One match might be an anomaly but several matches should tell the tale. You might also note what cartridge you shoot. Some of us shooting heavier recoiling cartridges are a little concerned about the short eye relief vs. NXS.

 

[falconpilot]

KT was simply stating his impression of the scope. Why the indirect attack??

Positives -

1) Brilliant glass
2) Zero stops
3) Knobs that you can actually see and read
4) It's lighter than NXS
5) Did I say that the glass is much, much , better
6) They got the cross hairs perfect this time around
7) The scope performed a tracking test perfect, and precise. Tracking test was done on a 338 Lapua, so I hope that qualify as big enough for Steve. Both eye brows are intact, untouched..BTW, I hate shooting the damn kicking thing. I'm a sissy.. ;D
8) The quick set eye focus is enough to justify the scope in itself, and the rubber ring will provide some protection if you get it a little close in recoil..
9) It has very nice screw on metal caps instead of the cheap bikini covers
10) Its 55X over 42...and it's useable..



Negatives

1) Eye relief is a little short(we are talking about .65 of inch shorter)this can be gotten use to as most people shoulder up to a bigger gun anyways.
2) Would have been nice if NF had of done it right on the 2013 models..as a result, a lot of people that bought 2013 models are taking a big hit on the value of their scope....People complained, NF listened and made the changes. It's called progress...

Time will tell if they hold up and are as good scopes as the NXS, but I love mine and feel it was money well sent. On the line today, I invited several shooters that current have NXS's setting atop their rigs to look through this scope. Every single time, the response was wow, the glass is so much cleaner, clearer, and brighter. One of the guys went home and ordered one..

 

[Steve Blair]

KT was simply stating his impression of the scope. Why the indirect attack??

[br]
No indirect attack, Jimmy. Why dodge the questions with more BS about features? If the scope does not improve scores, WTF is the point? It could be covered with little sparkles and have every gadget known, but if it does not improve performance, who cares? Most of the items mentioned have no relevance to me and, I suspect, others. Reading the elevation dial on an NXS and knowing the current value has never been a challenge. You may think they got the crosshairs right, but I don't. NF does not offer the reticle I prefer in the new scopes. When sighting through March and NF Competition scopes, they are clear. The question is: does that translate to better scores? [br]
If you just want something to show, great. Buy whatever you want. I'm only interested if it improves total system performance. We call that "scores". A proper review would certainly cover the features and changes from previous models but would also provide some insight regarding utility. KT did not. Hence, the (unanswered) questions.

 

[falconpilot]

I'll tell you what Steve. Give me several matches, and I'll report back to you...but till then it's mine, and many, many great coaches, leaders, and trainers around the world opinions that -

ANYTHING that gives a person more confidence in their chosen sport or profession, will make them better at what they do. PERIOD

This will translate into better scores...

Being able to see the mirage, and target more clearly, should and will improve scores.

I'm using to shooting a 1/16 dot on my March. I personally find the .095 dot on the CTR-2 reticle perfect, although you may not. I too wish that I could get the old CH-3 reticle as it was my favorite ever, but the CTR-2 is a good compromise.

If painting the gun pink gives the shooter more confidence, chances are that they will shoot better. Isn't that enough? Too each his own..

I'd have to disagree that all the new features listed doesn't matter to most shooters. NF listened to shooters to make these changes. Wish they had corrected the shorter eye relief for those that it bothers, but it can lived with.

I'm very aware of what "scores" are...I've had a few very goods, some very bad ones..

 

[Steve Blair]

The only aspect relevant to me is performance. Let me ask you this. If you saw a posting purporting to be a "review" of a new firearm (or automobile, or aircraft) and all it did was regurgitate what could already be found in marketing media, would you run out and buy one? I suspect not. You would want unbiased reporting (which either you or KT could presumably provide) on which you could make a judgement. Even then, you might still want to shoot, drive or fly the prospective purchase if anything other than a trivial expenditure. Since scopes in this class are not trivial expenditures, field reports are what matters. [br]
Also, since I mostly shoot Long Range, it is likely that my biases are not the same as yours. Regardless, I am still interested to read whatever you or KT may learn and choose to report after match use.

 

[falconpilot]

I shoot LR too(shot 1000 yard today) and so far, I very pleased with it and it's performance. I'm not really sure how to provide a judgement as so many factors play into shooting mid/LR,(winds varying from one matches to next, is the rest of your equipment performing as it should, etc, etc)but I'll do my best after I shoot a few more matches. What exactly are your biases? Lay out a foolproof test to prove value of scope, and I'll try to report on it...only problem is, everyone's ideal of values will differ..

 

[Steve Blair]

Well, there is no foolproof test for the reasons you just stated. There can only be a collection of data points against which one applies criteria deemed important. Having said that; I rarely touch the scope after beginning record fire except to apply one or two elevation clicks maintaining waterline. My NXS and BR scopes stay at 42X, regardless mirage conditions. This is because I found that reducing magnification provided a better sight picture but did not improve scores. I use a Nikon 82ED Fieldscope for assessing mirage. Less so with the rifle scope. [br]
Factors that I consider important are: eye fatigue over a match, eye relief under recoil (I shoot .300 WSM with 230 Hybrids), clarity, luminosity, reticle (I use NP-R1) and ruggedness. The first two are best addressed by field reports. The rest I've either already seen, know the status or have enough confidence in NF ruggedness. [br]
This all stems from seeing other shooters, who I know to be competent, switch from NF to March for a lot of the same reasons already discussed. Their scores did not change. They expressed satisfaction with the March, praised its performance, and shot the same scores they previously shot. Believe me, I look for anything that has the potential to provide an advantage. I would absolutely go back to my Shehane if I thought the .300 had no advantage. So, I have an open mind on the subject but would like to see some first-hand, anecdotal data regarding performance improvement.

 

[falconpilot]

Steve,

We shoot the same then. Once I start record, I very rarely, if ever click. I hold off as needed. I will click up or down a few for elevation if toward end of string on hot barrel, it starts driving them low, but not often. I shoot all day today at 50X, and I use a Kowa spotting scope to help keep up with mirage. I'll see what I come up with..

 

[KT]

So, KT, you wrote about what the scope is and what you like but nothing about any advantage it provides. Are your scores higher since you installed it? How about posting some of the scores you shot with the NXS and those with the Competition? One match might be an anomaly but several matches should tell the tale. You might also note what cartridge you shoot. Some of us shooting heavier recoiling cartridges are a little concerned about the short eye relief vs. NXS.

Steve,
I do not have any scores data to give you as I have just put it on the gun. I will shoot the first match with it at the end of May, at the NRA regionals and then another one in TN in June. Both of these are 1000 yard matches.
I have this scope mounted on my 300WSM running 230 grain bullets. I have not shot it in a match, but I have practiced with it and have not notice any kind of eye relief problems. I had a Nightforce Benchrest and NXS on this rifle previously.

I also shoot with a spotting scope along side. I have the new nightforce and a kowa. I however like to turn windage knobs. Not always but most times I turn knobs. (which freaks the guys out when I call wind during the team match). I feel I hold better elevation this way.

KT