Im considering a higher magnification scope but like a lot of guys I’m trying to save some money if possible. Ideally I like the nxs 8-32x56 with np2dd reticle and zero stop. However scopes like the Nightforce Benchrest, nxs 8-32 and 12-42 without zero stop and or vortex golden eagle cost as much as $1000 less. Do these scopes track well specifically if I get the proper moa rail so I know the last rotation up will be zeroed for 100? I know this is done regularly with scopes like kahles 624i and the likes.
Nightforce br, vortex golden eagle etc?
- Thread starter chevytruck_83
- Start date
I shoot the Vortex GE and it tracks perfectly. Never had an issue.
I have no direct experience with NF but not all the models perform the same. For a while, there were a lot of shooters reporting issues with the Comp and having to send them back. Don't know where they are in addressing this.
By the way not all NF glass is the same. So because someone with a high end NF has beautiful glass does not mean that you will have the same glass in the lower priced ones.
I don't think you will be unhappy with the Vortex GE.
I have no direct experience with NF but not all the models perform the same. For a while, there were a lot of shooters reporting issues with the Comp and having to send them back. Don't know where they are in addressing this.
By the way not all NF glass is the same. So because someone with a high end NF has beautiful glass does not mean that you will have the same glass in the lower priced ones.
I don't think you will be unhappy with the Vortex GE.
Don't forget Sightron. The 8x32x56 rocks.
I’m not following that ?
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1885Winman4590
Gold $$ Contributor
I own the GE w/ simple crosshairs and I like it a great deal. I also have used a friends NF 12-42 x 56 BR and the glass was a bit clearer, but it doesn't have the magnification of the GE. I don't think you could go wrong with either.
Had some experience w/ vortex warranty awhile back, on a different scope and the service was A-1. I don't know how it could have been better.
Had some experience w/ vortex warranty awhile back, on a different scope and the service was A-1. I don't know how it could have been better.
If you have a scope like the vortex golden for example that doesn’t have a zero stop or equivalent you can lose track of how many rotations you made on the elevation turret when going from say 100 yards to 1000 and back and fourth. So If you use a 20moa can’t rail you will need to go all the way up to get a zero at 100. Now if you have a total of 20 moa in each direction from center and start at the bottom you will have 40 moa of adjustment. At the same time you won’t be able to go to much past your zero. Thus eliminating the need for a zero stop. It may sound crazy to do this but it’s pretty common with prs shooters. Heck one of the most reliable scopes for dialing elevation is designed for this. The only way the post that pops up for the second rotation works is if you start near the bottom. Sorry if I’m not very clear. Grammar and explaining myself aren’t my strongest suits.
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No worries,
I get it.
A lot of mid and long range guys use canted 20moa rails to compensate for the lack of internal adjustment in higher power scopes, we have fixed distance targets so not much need for dialing back and forth. I don’t miss having the zero stop.
I’ve seen somewhere iirc a retro fit zero stop essentially a series of plastic washers to insert under the turret.
Jim
I actually prefer Burris Signature rings to the canted rails. With the XTR's you can get up to 40 moa or any combination since they come packaged with 5 10 and 20 inserts. Just gotta be careful with ring spacing to make sure they are what they should be. Plus they won't leave ring marks on a high dollar scope.
https://www.burrisoptics.com/blog/mounting-systems/burris-xtr-signature-rings
https://www.burrisoptics.com/blog/mounting-systems/burris-xtr-signature-rings
I got a nf br12-42 and a nf nxs 12-42 both in np-2dd. The nxs controls are a bit easier to use but the glass and tracking are about the same. If you’re doing 600 or 1k competitions you probably don’t need a zero stop. If you’re doing prs or something with a lot of holding and dialing it could be nice.
Also the 42x magnification is nice for f class. You can always reduce magnification but if you have a 32x scope sometimes it’s nice to be able to zoom in a bit bigger.
The ge and sightron are also nice. I found the glass on the Nightforce to be a bit clearer but some people disagree on that. They are all very high quality scopes and it really comes down to personal opinion.
Also the 42x magnification is nice for f class. You can always reduce magnification but if you have a 32x scope sometimes it’s nice to be able to zoom in a bit bigger.
The ge and sightron are also nice. I found the glass on the Nightforce to be a bit clearer but some people disagree on that. They are all very high quality scopes and it really comes down to personal opinion.
XTR
F-TR obssessed shooting junkie
I'll never understand putting zero stops on a target scope. You certainly aren't in a hurry or dialing in the dark, and they add $250 to the price of a NF, and in the 5 yrs I've been shooting my NF Comp scope I've never used it. Don't know how to set it and don't care. Zero stops started showing up about 10 or 15 yrs ago and since then everyone thinks you have to have one. I used to keep one of my scoped zeroed at 1000 because that is where that rifle got shot 90% of the time, I dialed down for 600, 800, 900 and 1000.
With Night Force, compared to the BR scope the NXS has 10MOA per rev on the turrets, the BR has 6MOA. If you shoot to 1000 yards and the wind ever blows to more than 12MPH you will learn why that's a big deal, at least to some of us. Coming to the line in the next match with the windage turret a full turn off is troublesome.
The BR has parallax adjustment on the objective, the NXS has it on the side. You may or may not have a prefrence one way or another on that. I think the NXS is a little lighter than the BR.
The NXS is a coupls of oz lighter than the BR but both are in the range of 35oz±. The Comp scope and the GE are in the range of 26oz±. In F-TR that's a lot of weight that you can use somewhere else.
NXS and BR scopes are illuminated, I didn't know my NXS had it for about 3 yrs, and I've never used it in the 9 yrs I've owned them (two of them).
The NP-2DD reticle was the most popular reticle that NF made for shooting F class. The new DDR-2 in the Comp scope is just a copy, and a lot of people will tell you (self included) that they didn't need to change anything. The new one isn't better, just slightly different.
All track great, the didn't become the most used scope in F class by being slouches.
The Vortex GE is a great scope, and can be gotten for about 1100 to 1300, that's less than you can get any of the NF models. I think the glass is on par or slightly better than the older NF models.
The NF Comp has the best glass, and it has a zero stop if you must have it. I really noticed this last yr load testing. I use ¾" Avery label dots for aiming points when I test at 300 yards. I put a black dot in the middle with a sharpie to hold on when I shoot at 100. I had a sheet with the black dots on them that I used to test one day at 300. Shooting 2 rifles same session, one with a GE the other with a NF Comp. Only the comp was able to resolve the black dots. That said, I shot the highest X count in F-TR last yr at the Mid Range FCNC with my GE, so I don't think that little bit of resolution difference matters much.
I own 2 NF Comps, 2 NXSs, a GE and an 8-32x NF BR. These days the NF Comp scopes ride my Long range F-TR rifles.
[edit] All of my opinions and experience above related to the NXS are with the 42x version
With Night Force, compared to the BR scope the NXS has 10MOA per rev on the turrets, the BR has 6MOA. If you shoot to 1000 yards and the wind ever blows to more than 12MPH you will learn why that's a big deal, at least to some of us. Coming to the line in the next match with the windage turret a full turn off is troublesome.
The BR has parallax adjustment on the objective, the NXS has it on the side. You may or may not have a prefrence one way or another on that. I think the NXS is a little lighter than the BR.
The NXS is a coupls of oz lighter than the BR but both are in the range of 35oz±. The Comp scope and the GE are in the range of 26oz±. In F-TR that's a lot of weight that you can use somewhere else.
NXS and BR scopes are illuminated, I didn't know my NXS had it for about 3 yrs, and I've never used it in the 9 yrs I've owned them (two of them).
The NP-2DD reticle was the most popular reticle that NF made for shooting F class. The new DDR-2 in the Comp scope is just a copy, and a lot of people will tell you (self included) that they didn't need to change anything. The new one isn't better, just slightly different.
All track great, the didn't become the most used scope in F class by being slouches.
The Vortex GE is a great scope, and can be gotten for about 1100 to 1300, that's less than you can get any of the NF models. I think the glass is on par or slightly better than the older NF models.
The NF Comp has the best glass, and it has a zero stop if you must have it. I really noticed this last yr load testing. I use ¾" Avery label dots for aiming points when I test at 300 yards. I put a black dot in the middle with a sharpie to hold on when I shoot at 100. I had a sheet with the black dots on them that I used to test one day at 300. Shooting 2 rifles same session, one with a GE the other with a NF Comp. Only the comp was able to resolve the black dots. That said, I shot the highest X count in F-TR last yr at the Mid Range FCNC with my GE, so I don't think that little bit of resolution difference matters much.
I own 2 NF Comps, 2 NXSs, a GE and an 8-32x NF BR. These days the NF Comp scopes ride my Long range F-TR rifles.
[edit] All of my opinions and experience above related to the NXS are with the 42x version
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I understand most people that buy these scopes typically compete at specific ranges and don’t change much so a zero stop isnt necessary. I don’t compete. I shoot for fun at My local range which goes out to 300 yards most of the time. I do however take trips where I get to shoot out to 1000 yards a couple times a year. This range has steel and paper targets from 30 yards to 1050. Not having a zero stop I could definitely see myself getting lost and having to reset my zero. I know all of the mentioned scopes are very high quality but I also realize most people won’t dial them to their far extremes like I’m thinking about doing. That’s the only reason I’m concerned.
Even thought many of us compete at maybe 2-4 different distances, we also practice with our rifles. For me, I vary my setting to adapt from 100 yards to 500 yards regularly and my Vortex hold point of aim very well regardless of the settings.
I do keep a log book and in that book, I have the number of clicks for each of the distances. This will vary slightly based on humidity, temperature, altitude, etc, but the recorded settings get me very close for the first couple of shots until I adjust for that days and locations conditions.
Both the NF and the Vortex are excellent scopes and I don't believe you will be unhappy with either.
I do keep a log book and in that book, I have the number of clicks for each of the distances. This will vary slightly based on humidity, temperature, altitude, etc, but the recorded settings get me very close for the first couple of shots until I adjust for that days and locations conditions.
Both the NF and the Vortex are excellent scopes and I don't believe you will be unhappy with either.
bpd459
Gold $$ Contributor
Greetings,
Long time high power shooter, new FTR shooter. I purchased a Vortex GE ECR reticle for my FTR rig. I have a little experience with my wife's NF 12-42BR. I'm very impressed with the GE. Its windage / elevation tracking outstanding .
I like it so much I will be getting a standard cross hair model for my back up rifle.
Good luck,
John
Long time high power shooter, new FTR shooter. I purchased a Vortex GE ECR reticle for my FTR rig. I have a little experience with my wife's NF 12-42BR. I'm very impressed with the GE. Its windage / elevation tracking outstanding .
I like it so much I will be getting a standard cross hair model for my back up rifle.
Good luck,
John
I spoke with vortex. they said the tracking would be fine but optical clarity drops as you get further from center. That’s a function of all scopes.
I went with the nxs 12-42x56 Nightforce for sale on this site. I really like the no-2dd reticle and I think Nightforce reputation is without question by now.
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