Nightforce Competition Fix

[Jet]

This thread is created to discuss a solution to a problem many of us have experienced. It is not intended to be a bashing thread so please don't veer off in that direction.

Like many of you I've had trouble with the reticle holding POA in my Nightforce Competition scopes. Have three of these scopes, all have been checked on my Hood scope checker and all have moved. All have gone back to the factory for repair. Two came back fixed and the third came back worse then when sent.

The third scope was used to try and come up with a fix to the problem. A friend wanted to attempt a fix and took on the project and found a fairly simple solution. The fix was to add a screw at the 7:30 position, similar in design to the Burris PosiLock design.

With this set up and the screw loose you can make turret adjustments like normal. Once your adjustments are made, snug up the screw and it freezes the reticle and power adjustments. When snugging up the screw the reticle does shift a 1/2 MOA at a 45 degree angle. This is easy to compensate for.

This set up was tested by my friend and then by me each using our own testing equipment and the scope held solid when the screw was tightened for both of us. Pics below show the modification.

Friend isn't interested in doing these on a large scale so please don't ask for contact information on having yours done. If you have the equipment it is a relatively easy modification. Just know that NF likely wont honor any warranty work once this is done.

 

[CaptainMal]

Wonder if Nightforce is or can view this? Sure would tell them where to look or what to re-design.

My Burris Posi-lock scopes sure do hold. As you state, when changing the adjustments and tightening back up, it did seem to move. Often you have to do a few repeat adjustments and checks to get it locked in the position you want. Great for hunting. Not so good for target as adjustments are often fine-tuned as conditions change.

Curious why you cannot change power/magnification with your lock.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Maybe instead of locking it up how about just an additional spring more in line to the Burris system intended from the factory?


Ray

 

[powderbrake]

Maybe instead of locking it up how about just an additional spring more in line to the Burris system intended from the factory?


Ray

This is what Nightforce does on their benchrest models.

 

[davidjoe]

I don’t see why warranty department should complain about you drilling a hole, but man that’s going to ding resale. Burris does or did have a patent on that lock.

 

[davidjoe]

 

[Jet]

Wonder if Nightforce is or can view this? Sure would tell them where to look or what to re-design.

My Burris Posi-lock scopes sure do hold. As you state, when changing the adjustments and tightening back up, it did seem to move. Often you have to do a few repeat adjustments and checks to get it locked in the position you want. Great for hunting. Not so good for target as adjustments are often fine-tuned as conditions change.

Curious why you cannot change power/magnification with your lock.

Once the screw is secured I don't want to induce any internal movement. Can you change the power? Maybe, but I won't.

 

[Jet]

Maybe instead of locking it up how about just an additional spring more in line to the Burris system intended from the factory?


Ray

Maybe someone else with a drifting scope will attempt to expand on this. A spring maybe the ticket. I'll shoot this as is for awhile and report back.

 

[Herzo]

Unertl figured that out a week or so ago

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Rich seems to have found an inexpensive fix to an expensive problem

An even cheaper fix would be to "not" buy the Nightforce scope. Ain't no way I would allow "someone" to drill a hole in an expensive scope and possibly destroy it, and void the warranty!
But those seeking better equipment are a different breed!
Good luck with it!

Frank

 

[Mulligan]

This thread is created to discuss a solution to a problem many of us have experienced. It is not intended to be a bashing thread so please don't veer off in that direction.

Like many of you I've had trouble with the reticle holding POA in my Nightforce Competition scopes. Have three of these scopes, all have been checked on my Hood scope checker and all have moved. All have gone back to the factory for repair. Two came back fixed and the third came back worse then when sent.

The third scope was used to try and come up with a fix to the problem. A friend wanted to attempt a fix and took on the project and found a fairly simple solution. The fix was to add a screw at the 7:30 position, similar in design to the Burris PosiLock design.

With this set up and the screw loose you can make turret adjustments like normal. Once your adjustments are made, snug up the screw and it freezes the reticle and power adjustments. When snugging up the screw the reticle does shift a 1/2 MOA at a 45 degree angle. This is easy to compensate for.

This set up was tested by my friend and then by me each using our own testing equipment and the scope held solid when the screw was tightened for both of us. Pics below show the modification.

Friend isn't interested in doing these on a large scale so please don't ask for contact information on having yours done. If you have the equipment it is a relatively easy modification. Just know that NF likely wont honor any warranty work once this is done.

View attachment 1113092 View attachment 1113093 View attachment 1113094

Thanks for sharing.
This is awesome.
CW

 

[Pete Wass]

I think the problem lies at the other end of the erector tube, where the pivot is located. I have had a number of 6X Burris scopes with the spring in them that would not hold zero. There is a Youtube of a DYI scope repair a lad does and he added an o ring behind the pivot point and states he believed that was where the problem lies. Years ago, a man in Texas use to "Fix" wandering scopes by adding an o ring to the pivot area and adding a coil spring in a tube a la the Burris. A friend had him do a Weaver 36X scope. It worked for awhile but began to wander again after awhile. Either this problem is rare or a lot of people do not realize their scopes are wondering. It's difficult to tell often due to the conditions one is shooting in and the lack of confidence one has in their shooting ability. Surely there is a way to fix the problem. The difficult thing is finding someone willing to take on the search and them willing to do the necessary repair. HBR shooters have a big problem in that regard because no companies make 6X lite scopes any longer. If someone would be willing to reverse engineer this problem and find a solution, there are likely thousands of scopes out there that could be repaired and be serviceable. I once had a scope fitted with screws opposite the turrets. It was a PIA to deal with and I didn't feel it solved the problem. So, there is an opportunity for someone out there. If someone takes up the challenge, they will have all the work they ever want to do.

P.S. I looked for a book on how to repair scopes. There was one published years ago but are unobtanium except for the one for sale on Amazon for $1500., I think it is, so it must have a lot of great information in it's 100 few pages. $1500. is a bit too much for an 80 yo lad to take a flyer at.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I forgot about this, old thread. I did a little over a dozen of these mods. It did work. I have a brand new comp on order to see if they fixed it by now. I have a feeling they did.

 

[LVLAaron]

I forgot about this, old thread. I did a little over a dozen of these mods. It did work. I have a brand new comp on order to see if they fixed it by now. I have a feeling they did.

I have two purchased in the last couple of years... I don't have any problems with them holding zero.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

You guys put them on a scope checker?

 

[LVLAaron]

Anecdotal on my part... They both shoot cleans... and you know f class guys crank around on the magnification during a match.

 

[Fuj]

I'm not sure of the exact date but there was a big concern at a
major shoot about 10 years ago. I was led to believe that a 2nd
release of the NF comp came a little latter on. Mine is now about
5 years old and gets used in competition and workups on a regular
basis. I did return mine, but that was just to replace a windage knob.
Other then that, I have had no issues with the one I own. I will note
also that I do not shoot low recoiling rounds, so my scope gets a
pretty good work out.

Could the OP or others list the date these scopes were purchased
and new or used....Mine was purchased about the first of the year
back in 2019.

 

[AlNyhus]

I shoot with a couple of people that had issues with the early NF Competition series scopes. The latest ones don't seem to have any issues. Oddly, the discontinued 42X Competition series scopes built on the same platform as the early 15-55 Competition Series never seemed to have problems.

I'd love to see NF trim up the BR series scopes to save some weight. Leave the rock solid internals but go to a 50MM objective and eliminate the illumination hardware.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[46490]

This thread is created to discuss a solution to a problem many of us have experienced. It is not intended to be a bashing thread so please don't veer off in that direction.

Like many of you I've had trouble with the reticle holding POA in my Nightforce Competition scopes. Have three of these scopes, all have been checked on my Hood scope checker and all have moved. All have gone back to the factory for repair. Two came back fixed and the third came back worse then when sent.

The third scope was used to try and come up with a fix to the problem. A friend wanted to attempt a fix and took on the project and found a fairly simple solution. The fix was to add a screw at the 7:30 position, similar in design to the Burris PosiLock design.

With this set up and the screw loose you can make turret adjustments like normal. Once your adjustments are made, snug up the screw and it freezes the reticle and power adjustments. When snugging up the screw the reticle does shift a 1/2 MOA at a 45 degree angle. This is easy to compensate for.

This set up was tested by my friend and then by me each using our own testing equipment and the scope held solid when the screw was tightened for both of us. Pics below show the modification.

Friend isn't interested in doing these on a large scale so please don't ask for contact information on having yours done. If you have the equipment it is a relatively easy modification. Just know that NF likely wont honor any warranty work once this is done.

View attachment 1113092 View attachment 1113093 View attachment 1113094

Just a curious question - were the scopes that you have built around the same time? I was wondering if it was a batch of scopes built at the same time or is it across the whole assembly line (time frame). How long before the problem surfaced, rounds fired and caliber - could that be an issue as well as a possible QC problem?

 

[Jet]

The scopes mentioned were some of the early models (not the first generation) but were 1-2 years apart in manufacturing. Last year I purchased a couple more since the newer models I've tested do not have issues. Time will tell and I will continue to test all scopes I use for competition annually.