Nightforce atacr 7x35 Vs trijicon tenmile 5x50.

[Alwayscoldbore]

Hello all,

First post long time lurker....as the title says...I have both in my cart ....

My goals for the rifle is long range shooting at 1000+ as far as our rangefinders will let us go...

I live in AK so one thing that is important is low light performance....because by the time I'm off work it's dark...

Next is which is better optically? Since I shoot by my self a lot....I'm usually spotting for myself(only real reason for wanting the 50x)

Would like to hear from someone who has both, I've looked at all the threads I could find...

Lots of people say the trijicon is a lot of scope for the money.....and I'm fine with that....

But is the atacr worth the extra grand?(which I'm also fine with....I'd like to just say screw it and get a tier one ish scope and not look back)

So far everything I can find on the trijicon says it's definitely worth it.....

But... is the nightforce worth more? Performance only, no price biases please....if the atacr is better I'd like to know.....

If there is any other scope in that range I should look at let me know.....

Been eyeballing the sightron sved 10x50 as well.
March scopes have my eye too but I seem to find mixed views on them....but the 10x60 hm
And some of the newer fx scopes are pretty appealing.....if anyone has experience with all three....

wasn't quite ready to go TT or zco yet .... if that's where I'll end up anyways also let me know hahaha...

Thanks in advance.

 

[Woofie]

If you are looking at the Tenmile I strongly suggest you look at the Delta Optical 5-50X56 too. I have two of them and I absolutely love them. As I have said on other FB sites, I believe the Delta punches $1,000 above its price point. I just purchased a Valdada Recon G2, so believe me, I know whereof I speak. Not a direct comparison as the Valdada has a 40mm tube versus the Delta's 34mm but with a parallax wheel on the Delta allowing fine focus at extended distances, it's a close run thing. Both very bright.
BTW, Delta, NF, Valdada Recon G2 and Tenmile... all come from the same plant in Japan, although one has to understand that the buyer (Brand) determines the internals they want so you shouldn't suppose direct equivalency, as there are certainly differences. (20202 v 2021 Delta 'scopes shown - mine)

 

[Alwayscoldbore]

Thanks for your insight.....yes the delta was on the list originally...but then turned to trijicon because I had hear they where basically the same scope but trijicon would be easier with warranty issues in the US.

 

[6MMsteve]

The Trijicon tenM is a beast of a scope well built, had one and it is bright on gloomy days, campared to a old sightron 36BRD I had... is like walking into a dark room and turning on the lights, exactly like that..

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

(snip)
Been eyeballing the sightron sved 10x50 as well.
March scopes have my eye too but I seem to find mixed views on them....but the 10x60 hm
And some of the newer fx scopes are pretty appealing.....if anyone has experience with all three....

wasn't quite ready to go TT or zco yet .... if that's where I'll end up anyways also let me know hahaha...

Thanks in advance.

If you're a longtime lurker, you've probably seen some of my posts praising the March family of scopes, in particular, the 5-50X56, and the 10-60X56 HM. I bought my first March over 8 years ago, the 5-50X56, and it was on my Match F-TR rifle for over 20,000 rounds of F-TR high pressure match ammo with heavy bullets. For the first 6 years, it had an MTR-2 reticle, and then age finally caught up to my eyesight and March swapped it to an MTR-5 and I was back in the game.

Mixed reviews for March? Really?

My next March scope was the incomparable March-X 10-60X56 HM, the one with the two Super ED glass elements. I have recounted how I was able to go from my standard 40X magnification with my 5-50X56 with its one ED glass element, to 50X magnification with the 10-60X56HM. The IQ degradation caused by the mirage is slowed down by ED glass and slowed further by Super ED glass Currently, only March uses Super ED glass in their scopes and only of few of those: The two Genesis, the March-X 10-60X56 HM, the March-FX 5-42X56 HM and the 4.5-28X52 HM. All other March scopes, except the 24mm objectives (LPVOs), use ED glass.

Let's address your specific situation.

First off, you are comparing two different riflescopes. One has a minimum magnification of 7 with a 5X zoom range. Yawn. It has a 30mm tube meaning its tube wall are 2mm thick and weighs close to 40 ounces at 16 inches long. It's a pig of a scope with a restricted magnification range. It does have ED lens.

The other scope is a 5-50X56, quite comparable to the March 5-50X56 designed 8+ years ago, but it's a new model for Trijicon. It's also 16 inches long and close toe 39 ounces and it has ED lens. What gave me a smile is that they brag about the tube being made of 6061 aluminum as if that was a plus. The tube is 34mm but since it has 100MOA of adjustment range, the tube walls are 2mm thick. Sort of makes you wonder how heavy everything is inside those two scopes.

The March scope closest to these scope is the March-X 5-50X56. It has ED lens and the tube is 34mm in diameter. However, the walls of the tube are 4mm thick, not the 2mm of the others you're looking at. Yet, even with that much thicker (stronger) tube body, the March-X 5-50X56 is 30 ounces at 15.75 inches. It is extremely well engineered inside. And the March scopes are not made with 6061 aluminum; they are made from a ingot of expensive aluminum that is machined down to the final shape; not extruded in any way. The scope is filled with argon, not nitrogen. Everything is designed for the long haul.

A step up from that is the March-X 10-60X56 HM, with its two Super ED glass elements; they are the doublet at the objective. It's a little heavier at 33 ounces and a tad longer at 16.25 inches compared to the 5-50X56, but the improvement in going from ED to Super ED glass was worth it to me. It was a 25% improvement since I was able to go from my regular 40X on my 5-50X56, to 50X on my 10-60X56.

The TTs and the ZCOs do not come in magnifications greater than 25 or so X. They are not long range scopes.

Now, you mention that you are in Alaska and that you shoot in the dark. I can assure you that scopes with a 50-60mm objective are not going to be very bright at higher magnifications in the dark. The March scopes have impressively high light transmittance values, but exit pupil size is a function of the objective lens and the magnification. It's inescapable. I could explain it in detail, but I am not without mercy, so I'll skip that. Suffice it to say, that you need to temper your expectations with a dose of reality.

Any 56mm scope will bring oodles of objective light to your eye when you dial down the magnification, but if you're always going to be shooting in the dark, may 20X or so is all you can use in a riflescope. March has a new model, the 4.5-28X52 HM that has all the features I described above (4mm thick 34mm tube, Super ED glass, argon filled, ectc.) that might work better for you. It's also smaller and lighter and has a wide angle eyepiece that gives you a wider FOV at all magnifications.

If we knew more about what type of shooting you do, we could be more helpful.

 

[Alwayscoldbore]

Thanks turbulent turtle....I assure you I have read many of your posts hahaaha also every one I could find regarding March scopes lol.....

I want a March badly for the sheer quality.....

At work will add to this after...

 

[jamesdmock]

If you are looking at the Tenmile I strongly suggest you look at the Delta Optical 5-50X56 too. I have two of them and I absolutely love them. As I have said on other FB sites, I believe the Delta punches $1,000 above its price point. I just purchased a Valdada Recon G2, so believe me, I know whereof I speak. Not a direct comparison as the Valdada has a 40mm tube versus the Delta's 34mm but with a parallax wheel on the Delta allowing fine focus at extended distances, it's a close run thing. Both very bright.
BTW, Delta, NF, Valdada Recon G2 and Tenmile... all come from the same plant in Japan, although one has to understand that the buyer (Brand) determines the internals they want so you shouldn't suppose direct equivalency, as there are certainly differences. (20202 v 2021 Delta 'scopes shown - mine)

Valdada does NOT come from Japan. At least, the two that I own came from Romania.

 

[Delfuego]

Neither. Get an ATACR 5-25 its better than both of those. You don't need or want the extra magnification, it's not going to do you any favors. Nightforce tracks. Tracking is more important than anything else. If you don't wanna spend the extra cash, the NX8 is a good option too.

 

[Alwayscoldbore]

Neither. Get an ATACR 5-25 its better than both of those. You don't need or want the extra magnification, it's not going to do you any favors. Nightforce tracks. Tracking is more important than anything else. If you don't wanna spend the extra cash, the NX8 is a good option too.

For what I want to do I need the mag ...or at least want the extra power....but will trade top end power for better low light performance and image quality

 

[6MMsteve]

look through a Burris Signature HD 5x25 and I haven't looked through one but it could be a gem..

 

[Alwayscoldbore]

look through a Burris Signature HD 5x25 and I haven't looked through one but it could be a gem..

Burris just doesn't float my boat....not saying they are bad....I've just never been interested save the xt3 if it was illuminated....
A shooting friend got a heck of a deal on the xtr2.......

 

[Alwayscoldbore]

If you're a longtime lurker, you've probably seen some of my posts praising the March family of scopes, in particular, the 5-50X56, and the 10-60X56 HM. I bought my first March over 8 years ago, the 5-50X56, and it was on my Match F-TR rifle for over 20,000 rounds of F-TR high pressure match ammo with heavy bullets. For the first 6 years, it had an MTR-2 reticle, and then age finally caught up to my eyesight and March swapped it to an MTR-5 and I was back in the game.

Mixed reviews for March? Really?

My next March scope was the incomparable March-X 10-60X56 HM, the one with the two Super ED glass elements. I have recounted how I was able to go from my standard 40X magnification with my 5-50X56 with its one ED glass element, to 50X magnification with the 10-60X56HM. The IQ degradation caused by the mirage is slowed down by ED glass and slowed further by Super ED glass Currently, only March uses Super ED glass in their scopes and only of few of those: The two Genesis, the March-X 10-60X56 HM, the March-FX 5-42X56 HM and the 4.5-28X52 HM. All other March scopes, except the 24mm objectives (LPVOs), use ED glass.

Let's address your specific situation.

First off, you are comparing two different riflescopes. One has a minimum magnification of 7 with a 5X zoom range. Yawn. It has a 30mm tube meaning its tube wall are 2mm thick and weighs close to 40 ounces at 16 inches long. It's a pig of a scope with a restricted magnification range. It does have ED lens.

The other scope is a 5-50X56, quite comparable to the March 5-50X56 designed 8+ years ago, but it's a new model for Trijicon. It's also 16 inches long and close toe 39 ounces and it has ED lens. What gave me a smile is that they brag about the tube being made of 6061 aluminum as if that was a plus. The tube is 34mm but since it has 100MOA of adjustment range, the tube walls are 2mm thick. Sort of makes you wonder how heavy everything is inside those two scopes.

The March scope closest to these scope is the March-X 5-50X56. It has ED lens and the tube is 34mm in diameter. However, the walls of the tube are 4mm thick, not the 2mm of the others you're looking at. Yet, even with that much thicker (stronger) tube body, the March-X 5-50X56 is 30 ounces at 15.75 inches. It is extremely well engineered inside. And the March scopes are not made with 6061 aluminum; they are made from a ingot of expensive aluminum that is machined down to the final shape; not extruded in any way. The scope is filled with argon, not nitrogen. Everything is designed for the long haul.

A step up from that is the March-X 10-60X56 HM, with its two Super ED glass elements; they are the doublet at the objective. It's a little heavier at 33 ounces and a tad longer at 16.25 inches compared to the 5-50X56, but the improvement in going from ED to Super ED glass was worth it to me. It was a 25% improvement since I was able to go from my regular 40X on my 5-50X56, to 50X on my 10-60X56.

The TTs and the ZCOs do not come in magnifications greater than 25 or so X. They are not long range scopes.

Now, you mention that you are in Alaska and that you shoot in the dark. I can assure you that scopes with a 50-60mm objective are not going to be very bright at higher magnifications in the dark. The March scopes have impressively high light transmittance values, but exit pupil size is a function of the objective lens and the magnification. It's inescapable. I could explain it in detail, but I am not without mercy, so I'll skip that. Suffice it to say, that you need to temper your expectations with a dose of reality.

Any 56mm scope will bring oodles of objective light to your eye when you dial down the magnification, but if you're always going to be shooting in the dark, may 20X or so is all you can use in a riflescope. March has a new model, the 4.5-28X52 HM that has all the features I described above (4mm thick 34mm tube, Super ED glass, argon filled, ectc.) that might work better for you. It's also smaller and lighter and has a wide angle eyepiece that gives you a wider FOV at all magnifications.

If we knew more about what type of shooting you do, we could be more helpful.

So yes I am a long time lurker and have read just about every post you have on March scopes hahahhaa......

Yes I want a March or least play with one one day....... I am interested in mainly 2nd focal plane.....so the 10x60 hm was a scope I pined over......
And the 5x42 is also a sweet one....

But I have hear they are tight to get behind(opinion) and "darker" then other scopes.....also just somethings I've read....so I take it with a grain as well.....


The main reason not going for a March at the moment was price.....I'm willing to spend up to 3000 at this point in my life hahahaa.....

But if the trijicon is 98 percent that of the atacr.....I would swing that way hahaha.....

But I really would like to just buy a "forever" scope.....for now hahaha until the next one comes along.....


This is a hobby I do currently for fun.....
So I don't compete save with my self and a few friends......

The particular goal for this build is to set it up for long range and ELR shooting......

Terminus action,proof 6.5CM steel barrel,JP APAC chassis,....will have a eratac base with which ever scope I end up with......

I want to hit 1 mile this winter if not further lol
Rangefinder upgrade is next....(another reason I didn't want to drop the coin on the March yet)

 

[Woofie]

Valdada does NOT come from Japan. At least, the two that I own came from Romania.

IOR Valdadas come from Bucharest. The Valdada Recon G2 is made at Light Optics Works in Japan. Which is what I said.

 

[FeMan]

I don't have both but I have several ATACR's as well as Kahles, Swaro, and Leopold scopes and Leica and Swaro binos and spotters. My 7-35 ATACR glass is comparable to the best of them. I just shot steel out to a mile last weekend and used it as our spotter rather than my 2-60 x 80mm swaro spotter.

I am not familiar with the Trijicon. It may be great but I shoot a lot with many different people in tactical and F-class and have never seen one on the line. I see plenty of ATACR's though.

One caution on magnification; in most cases the environmental conditions will wash out the image at high magnifications and you lose a lot of clarity as you turn it up and the exit pupil shrinks. That can limit your ability to see better no matter how good the scope. My ATACR typically sits on 25x and my Swaro spotter on 20x because I can make out images better than at higher magnification.

The other caution is unless the glass quality is THE best (and light conditions are favorable), you probably wont find much benefit in 50x. At least that's my experience.

 

[ronsatspokane]

I don't have that particular Nightforce but my neighbor has 3 of them. Mounted one on his 300 win mag a while back. Nice scopes. Very good glass. Anyone should be proud to have one mounted on their rifle and be very happy with it. The Nightforce I do have is the comp. I also have the Trijicon 10 mile 50 power. Also have the Sightron 10x50x60 albeit not the SVED version. Of the three the Nightforce and the Trijicon are very comparable. I won't be selling either of them. If I do pick up another scope in that class though it'll be the Trijicon. Seems brighter and renders colors better to my eye. Keep in mind that i'm splitting hairs in that comparison. Both are very good.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

So yes I am a long time lurker and have read just about every post you have on March scopes hahahhaa......

[/QUOTE]
Well, I apologize for the first post you read, but the other ones are on you.

Yes I want a March or least play with one one day....... I am interested in mainly 2nd focal plane.....so the 10x60 hm was a scope I pined over......
And the 5x42 is also a sweet one....

[/QUOTE]
The March-FX 5-42X56 is an FFP design with a wide angle eyepiece. The March-X 10-60X56 HM is better suited to my purposes, which is F-class at a constant 50X, (regardless of some people's experiences.

But I have hear they are tight to get behind(opinion) and "darker" then other scopes.....also just somethings I've read....so I take it with a grain as well.....

[/QUOTE]
I have never heard or read anything that said they were "darker" than other scopes. In fact, I could not see how that's possible with same magnification and objective diameter. The March scopes have a very high transmittance ratio, especially with the high master (Super ED glass). It's not because of the Super ED glas itself, but rather a combination of advanced coatings and high-refractive glass in the other non-Super ED lenses.

As for being tight to get behind, when you get to some of the short March scopes with high zoom ratios, that's possible as you increase the magnification, however for the scopes we are discussing here, that is not an issue.

You should know there is a new March-FX 5-40X56 GenII now available. It's an FFP with some neat features. I might be testing one in the "near" future.

The main reason not going for a March at the moment was price.....I'm willing to spend up to 3000 at this point in my life hahahaa.....

[/QUOTE]
I get that. March scopes are not cheap and they are made to order.

But if the trijicon is 98 percent that of the atacr.....I would swing that way hahaha.....

[/QUOTE]
Whichever way you swing, I'm sure you will make a right decision. But remember that the 7-35X56 ATACR is not the same type of scope as the Trijicon 5-50X56 you're considering.

But I really would like to just buy a "forever" scope.....for now hahaha until the next one comes along.....[/qoute]

The March is built for the long haul, as I detailed earlier.

This is a hobby I do currently for fun.....
So I don't compete save with my self and a few friends......

The particular goal for this build is to set it up for long range and ELR shooting......

Terminus action,proof 6.5CM steel barrel,JP APAC chassis,....will have a eratac base with which ever scope I end up with......

I want to hit 1 mile this winter if not further lol
Rangefinder upgrade is next....(another reason I didn't want to drop the coin on the March yet)

If you really want to got ELR, you should look at the March Genesis, the 6-60X56 HM or the 4-40X52 HM. They have 117MIL/400MOA for the first and 86mil/296MOA built-in and thus no need for fancy bases. They have Super ED glass, the 4mm thick tube the wide angle eyepieces and irrespective of the adjustment you have, you are always looking though the middle of the scope where the best IQ is. These are awesome scopes, but their price will make you gasp.

Good luck on your selection and have a lot of fun with whatever you select.