NightForce vs. Leupold

[fredhorace77]

was at the range today and three fellow shooters brought guns with nightforce nxs on them...2.5-10x32...

I dont mean for this to start a fight...just wanting others expirences...I sat behind this nightforce and my leupold VX3 3.5-10x40 for what almost seemed like an hour.... Comparing strictly the glass and view thru the scopes...I cant believe im saying this but i actually prefered the Leupold... Leupold was a better picture with the little mirage that was present and sharpness seemed equal....brightness equal...the image seemed to fill the entire eye piece better on the leupold...

I know nightforce turret system is second to none...but for my type of shooting which is mainly hunting style shots under 300yrds. I cant see where the Nightforce out does the Leupold for the money...Am I missing something....I mean i can get almost 3 leupold vx-3s for the price of that one Nightforce. In the past couple months i have really been considering buying a Nightforce but now that ive looked thru one i cant see where it would benefit me and my style of shooting

 

[DukeDuke]

My friend swears that Leupold's/ has a few/ glass is better than his 3 NXS. He bought them because of the magnification range they offer. To my eyes, it's all the same.

 

[6BRinNZ]

I bought NXS for its mechanical robustness not its optical perfection....the new NF 15-55 might have both. Prior to this if I was looking for amazing optics I would have looked at the March, or Schmidt and Bender.

NXS glass is adequate - the cost vs optical quality is like a lot of things not linear - go with what meets your needs.

As an example I have had my Vixen binos side by side to my Leica Geovids - optically if I try hard I can see a difference but the Vixens are still very good and more than sufficient...

 

[6BRinNZ]

Its interesting - I personally know of an individual that has had two NF BR models let go during two different nationals...he has gone NF NXS and isn't looking back....the catch is; the BR models are supposed to be slightly clearer.

 

[M14AMU]

was at the range today and three fellow shooters brought guns with nightforce nxs on them...2.5-10x32...

I dont mean for this to start a fight...just wanting others expirences...I sat behind this nightforce and my leupold VX3 3.5-10x40 for what almost seemed like an hour.... Comparing strictly the glass and view thru the scopes...I cant believe im saying this but i actually prefered the Leupold... Leupold was a better picture with the little mirage that was present and sharpness seemed equal....brightness equal...the image seemed to fill the entire eye piece better on the leupold...

I know nightforce turret system is second to none...but for my type of shooting which is mainly hunting style shots under 300yrds. I cant see where the Nightforce out does the Leupold for the money...Am I missing something....I mean i can get almost 3 leupold vx-3s for the price of that one Nightforce. In the past couple months i have really been considering buying a Nightforce but now that ive looked thru one i cant see where it would benefit me and my style of shooting

"Am I missing something"

Yep!

 

[its only light]

Personally I had a new leopold mark 4 6.5-20, I went to an ior then to NF. The leapt was terrible, the parallax wouldn't dial out completely. The ior had the best glass but was just huge. The NF for me is perfect. I have the 5.5-22x56. I think if you get into the higher mag Leopolds you would notice the difference. Just what I've noticed.

 

[JRS]

I have Leupolds, and have had Nightforce. I have always found the VX-3, and especially the VX-7 to be optically, a better scope than Nightforce. The additional weight, robustness, and periscope size objective of the Nightforce I don't need. After all... it's a scope, a precision instrument, not a baseball bat.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

Yeay, JRS. My sentiments exactly. You forgot to mention it is also not a carry handle for the rifle.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Ive owned, march, leupold, and nf. They are all so close on the optics its almost a wash. We all want to think the glass is better on the march or nf because we paid more for it. Not so. My friends 40x leupold is clear than my 10-60 set at 40x. And my 12-42 is probably equal to my 10-60. I have also had very good luck with scopes. Have yet to have a mechanical failure.

 

[its only light]

I'm not saying thats the way it is. Believe me I tried to love that leupold. After all I did spend over 1000 bucks on it. I'm saying I didn't feel like I got what I paid for. Maybe mine was a fluke or something. The mark 4 isn't a bad scope but its not worth 1200 bucks in my opinion. Not when you can get the same scope for 750 with different turrets. It's worth every penny at that price. Just saying I've had both and if I spend over 1000 on a scope again it won't be a leupy. Maybe not a NF either

 

[watercam]

I did not think much of the earlier turrets on the target Leupolds until I had them change a reticle. They also upgraded the spring system and now that are very repeatable. Just spent some time with an NXS (12-42) and came away unimpressed with the glass. Flat contrast and mediocre color transmission. Resolution was OK.
As stated above no one is arguing about Nightforce's robust construction. I simply do not need it nor am I willing to pay for it.

 

[fredhorace77]

alot of good thoughts and very valid points. I didn't mean to insult night force. I have just always been under the assumption that when I look through the scope of the Night Force I would be blown away by the difference between it and a Leupold. I was actually surprised to see that the Leupold compared so well. now I am strictly talking about a scope I would use for hunting. I don't shoot competition and I never have but if I did the night Force would probably be the direction I would go. they are an extremely well built scope but for my hunting applications I think I will just stick with Leupold

 

[Alex Wheeler]

One thing I have noted looking through many kinds of optics is, you can get variation in the lens. You may get lucky and get a great lens on a cheap scope. You also may get a mediocure lens on a great scope.

 

[M-61]

I've always been a Leupold fan. Best or latest I now have is their 45x. Been buying Leupolds since the 60's and never had a disappointment. Bottom line is clear is clear period. Of course at a fixed 45x eye relief is very touchy, it's light gathering ability is great for what is a target scope. It holds the point of impact perfectly. And I'm not looking for a handle nor a scope to roll down a hill with. I would have a hard time figuring out a way to justify the enormous difference in cost I (no pun intended) just don't see it!

 

[fdshuster]

For those of us who need a higher magnification variable, the Nightforce Benchrest is one to be considered, especially since Leupold does offer one higher than 25x, in the 8.5-25x 30mm LRT. I have one of the Leupolds and it is a very nice scope, so am able to compare side-by-side with my Nightforces.

Then there is always the matter of click adjustments. Leupold only offers 1/8 moa in the Comp Series, 35,40 & 45x. I have 3 of those also, and they too are very good. All other Leupold models are offered in 1/4 moa only.

Guess what I'm saying is that they are both excellent scopes, each with their own design limitations, and it's up to the buyer to decide which suits his needs. I don't have a problem with Nightforce or Leupold.

It does seem to me though that Leupold had better start offering what the buying public is demanding or they will be left behind. The newest Nightforce Competition that goes to 55x is an example of progress.

 

[fredhorace77]

It does seem to me though that Leupold had better start offering what the buying public is demanding or they will be left behind. The newest Nightforce Competition that goes to 55x is an example of progress.

Burris told me that this is why they dropped so many of ther scope lines...The recently started making scopes for Stiener optics and needed to free up some machinary...The rep told me that the hunting market is just where the money is "Not" at right now...he said the tactical market and competition markets have grown expentionaly and Burris has choosen to follow those. I personaly hated to hear this because I loved the older burris "made in USA" hunting scopes.

 

[xswanted]

I have a NF Benchrest and love it. Clicks up and down exactly where its supposed to and does everything I need it to do...glass ain't have bad either ;D

I also own a pile of Leupolds......for me its a toss up. Hunting guns.....Leupold all the way....target/prairie dog guns.....I could use either! or a Sightron. But i like to expeirment!

 

[JRS]

Use the scope/scopes that appear to be the best for your eyesight. Just as is the case for fingerprints, no two people have the same eyesight. As for repeatably, I use the same method as I use with a torque wrench. If I need 30 inch pounds, i'll go up to 31 or 32 then click back down. If I need a click up on my scope, i'll go up two and back down one. I have NEVER had a problem with repeatably using this method. There are big tradeoffs when choosing a huge objective lens and enormous power. One of them being clarity, another is weight. Not to mention USEABLE power.

 

[wwbrown]

I have been involved in a couple of rifle optics programs for military programs in the past and have twisted many turrets of most of the optics in a price range above Leupold.

What Nightforce offers is pretty good optics in an amazing mechanical package that is almost bombproof. NF reticles move when the turrets move not after you fire a shot or two and the adjustments are 100% repeatable and calibrated. Yes some of them fail but that is true of almost any product out there.

Outstanding optics and a bombproof package is available in scopes like S&B, IOR, Premier Reticles and a few others. Be prepared as you will pay dearly for the combination of amazing optics and bombproof mechanics. My hunting guns all sport Meopta scopes (the european versions) as they are a combination of great optics at a good price. I have never had a problem with Meopta mechanics but have not run them through the paces as much as other scopes mentioned so I cannot say the mechanics are bombproof.

I have heard great things about Sightron's 10-50 and have looked through a couple and was impressed with the optics so I think these are a good possibility for the target shooter.

Like most other purchases you try to determine what you need, how much you have to spend try as many options as you can and lay your money on what you thinks meets your needs the best.

Just my long-winded two cents,

 

[Scott Harris]

What Nightforce offers is pretty good optics in an amazing mechanical package that is almost bombproof. NF reticles move when the turrets move not after you fire a shot or two and the adjustments are 100% repeatable and calibrated. Yes some of them fail but that is true of almost any product out there.

Outstanding optics and a bombproof package is available in scopes like S&B, IOR, Premier Reticles and a few others. Be prepared as you will pay dearly for the combination of amazing optics and bombproof mechanics. ...

That's why everyone loves NF and Leupold has fallen in popularity. Glass clarity is very good for even a modestly priced scopes and comparisons of more expensive ones is like splitting hairs. I've never heard anyone say "i missed that buck" or "I dropped a point" because the glass wasn't clear enough. Turret repeatability is absolutely essential and where virtually all inferior scopes fail. As mentioned above, NF is the least expensive scope that gives you virtually perfect turret repeatability and long-term reliability.