Real experience with 30mm vs 34mm scopes

[OmegaRed]

I'm looking at buying a scope thats going to get swapped around a bit between varmint guns, out west elk gun, and anything in between that I'm doing load dev on and need some more magnification than your standard 3-9.

I am settled right now on 5.5-22 NXS, but would consider other options. Big elevation adjustment is a must, reticle obviously needs to be adaptable and useable but also fine enough for target and varmint work.

That being said, are you gaining that much in a 34mm vs 30mm? Bumping from NXS to ATACR or some of the Leupolds in 34mm? I realize there's a lot of other differences between them, but I'm really trying to not jump to that next tier of scope if possible. Then again, I don't want to settle on a scope that's going to see a hell of a lot of use.

I have NF BR and Comp, plus Vortex GE, have had S3, so I'm aware of clarity of glass between ED and non ED. But...these scopes are also over twice the magnification levels so how much is overkill/diminishing returns? TIA

 

[jelenko]

My understanding is the key difference for what you are describing is in the amount of elevation adjustment in the scope => just check for what's available in the 30 and 34mm scopes you're considering.

 

[hogpatrol]

I have two Trijicons 34mm scopes. They're heavier than the NXS. My 2¢, If you're going to tote it over a good distance or all day, the NXS may be a better choice.

 

[xswanted]

Elevation adjustment is about the only thing g you’re gaining.

I wouldn’t let a 34mm tube scare me away from buying one, but I don’t think a guy needs it.

One thing to look at though is I believe the 34mm Leupold VX6 in the 4-24 is lighter than a Nightforce NXS. So weight might not actually be a factor.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I can't speak to the other scope brands, but for March, going from 30 to 34mm means that the thickness of the main tube wall is 2mm more than for the 30mm tubes, which makes the riflescope immensely strong. I acquired my first March 7 years ago and have had it on my F-TR match rifle all along. Several dozens of club competitions, several Nationals, a dozen State matches and one World comp, plus all sorts of load development and banging around. Nothing bothered that scope.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I laugh every time I read comments about ounces difference in scope weight and needing to carry it all day.My advice, turn off the tv and it's garbage and get off the couch.

 

[redrockranger]

I think that the Elk rifle should have a dedicated scope it's own.

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

I'm looking at buying a scope thats going to get swapped around a bit between varmint guns, out west elk gun, and anything in between that I'm doing load dev on and need some more magnification than your standard 3-9.

I am settled right now on 5.5-22 NXS, but would consider other options. Big elevation adjustment is a must, reticle obviously needs to be adaptable and usable but also fine enough for target and varmint work.

That being said, are you gaining that much in a 34mm vs 30mm? Bumping from NXS to ATACR or some of the Leupolds in 34mm? I realize there's a lot of other differences between them, but I'm really trying to not jump to that next tier of scope if possible. Then again, I don't want to settle on a scope that's going to see a hell of a lot of use.

I have NF BR and Comp, plus Vortex GE, have had S3, so I'm aware of clarity of glass between ED and non ED. But...these scopes are also over twice the magnification levels so how much is overkill/diminishing returns? TIA

1) I understand wanting to share scopes and if you are meticulous with notes you can move them back and forth though I would strongly suggest one piece rails with the same MOA value and if possible limiting to rifles that similar ballistics curves.

2) From my own comparison, optics & lens quality matter more than tube diameter.
Kahles 10-50 MOAK with 30mm tube is noticeably clearer than a Sightron SVSS with 34mm tube.
Both have ED glass but being marked ED doesn't mean all lenses are ED quality used in the scope.

3) You want the ability to see your out west Elk regardless of range so 5.5x MIGHT be too much on rare occasions they come in close. I agree with redrockranger your Elk rifle warrants its own scope.

4) With Varminting it is ok to have multiple rifles. Rimfire for shorter range and center fire for reaching out.

Sightron scopes are 25% off at Grafs.com now. There's an article in the bulletin.
Not trying to move you off of a great NXS scope just giving you some options for having 2 scopes

 

[JEFFPPC]

On page 5 of these optic pages there is quite a discussion on the Kahles. Some love it, some say it was not clear and several said they would white out. Don't know, never looked thru one but do know 2 guys who bought them and quickly got rid of them. I know the SVED 10 x 50 Sightron has been involved in 2 matches where at 400 and 500 yds no one could see 6mm bullet holes due to mirage, except me. I was spotting for the young guys with big dollar top name scopes on either side of me.. So look before you spend a lot of money. I looked through all but Kahles and Trigicon and have seen nothing as bright and clear as the SVED Sightron. Do not depend on others except for discussion on mechanics , reliability, and warranty service. By the way, my only other Sightron experience was a straight 36x Sightron prpobably 15 yrs ago I bought and returned for a refund because it did not repeat. So, no I did not drink any kool aid.

 

[KY_Windage]

I'm looking at buying a scope thats going to get swapped around a bit between varmint guns, out west elk gun, and anything in between that I'm doing load dev on and need some more magnification than your standard 3-9.

I am settled right now on 5.5-22 NXS, but would consider other options. Big elevation adjustment is a must, reticle obviously needs to be adaptable and useable but also fine enough for target and varmint work.

That being said, are you gaining that much in a 34mm vs 30mm? Bumping from NXS to ATACR or some of the Leupolds in 34mm? I realize there's a lot of other differences between them, but I'm really trying to not jump to that next tier of scope if possible. Then again, I don't want to settle on a scope that's going to see a hell of a lot of use.

I have NF BR and Comp, plus Vortex GE, have had S3, so I'm aware of clarity of glass between ED and non ED. But...these scopes are also over twice the magnification levels so how much is overkill/diminishing returns? TIA

You typically get more turret adjustment with the 34mm but you will probably not need more than comes in the NXS 5.5-22. That is esp. true if you use a 20moa base and/or Burris Signature rings (they have interchangeable inserts that allow you to move the scope tube around). I use one or both of those to be able to position my scope so that when I am sighted in at 100 yds my elev. turret is only 7 - 10 moa above rock-bottom. That leaves me plenty for shooting to at least 1,000 yards, even with a Competition which has only 55 moa of internal adjustment. Also means I don't need zero-stop.

"Fine enough for target and varmint work" for me means either the MOAR-T reticle or the obsolete NP-R1 or NP-R2 reticle, which were the predecessors to the MOAR-T. Those three reticles are all I will buy in NF.

Yes, the ED glass is slightly better but the NXS is still great glass, and with it you will never miss that it isn't ED. The 5.5-22 is IMO the most versatile scope NF has made. It is not enough for serious target shooting beyond 500 yards for me, but they weigh more than half a pound less than a 5-25 ATACR, esp. if you get the 5.5-22x50, which is my favorite (not that there is anything wrong with the 5.5-22x56). The 5.5 is a fantastic hunting scope that is not too heavy to pack around. The super-thin reticles above can disappear in a dark area when hunting, but if you have the illumination set right a simple push of the button on the parallax knob lights it up for the shot.

NF has made the 5.5 with both HS and regular turrets (20 moa per revolution vs. 10). I prefer the 10, as it is too easy to get 2 clicks withe HS when I wanted only one.

Good luck.

 

[dolek]

I laugh every time I read comments about ounces difference in scope weight and needing to carry it all day.My advice, turn of the tv and it's garbage and get off the couch.

That's funny...I don't watch TV, I don't sit on the couch either....I work 60 hours a week, run Marathons and have 10 percent body fat ....despite all that awesomeness I still try to shave ounces off my hunting rigs . Brains over brawn I guess ?

 

[hogpatrol]

That's funny...I don't watch TV, I don't sit on the couch either....I work 60 hours a week, run Marathons and have 10 percent body fat ....despite all that awesomeness I still try to shave ounces off my hunting rigs . Brains over brawn I guess ?

Agree, carry that extra four ounces in the jungles of Africa or the mountains of the western U.S. following game for six to eight hours. It takes energy to carry weight and the less weight, the better. Not everyone is sitting in tree stand in Pennsylvania waiting for a deer to walk by.

 

[JEFFPPC]

That's funny...I don't watch TV, I don't sit on the couch either....I work 60 hours a week, run Marathons and have 10 percent body fat ....despite all that awesomeness I still try to shave ounces off my hunting rigs . Brains over brawn I guess ?

Your the exception and you know it, as was I. I worked 60 hrs a week, ran both marathons and several ultra marathons, played basketball well into my 50s and no I never worried about a few extra ounces of weight. And I hunted Western States and walked into treestands 3 mi from where I parked to get up a tree an hour before daylight here in Pa. Maybe I did that so I did not notice a few extra ounces of weight but was more interested in the performance of the equipment. Yes I still hunt with a custom. 280 that has a varmint weight barrel and sight settings to 1000 yds. Never weighed it but I imagine 11 lb range. In my mid 70s in good health, still not worried about a few ounces. I always have ran a lot of hills, it breaks most of the competition. My mantra was, When the going gets tough, the tough get going.Not brawny but will power.

 

[TrapperBR549]

My experience is limited to a VX5 30mm tube. After reading all I could find I concluded that the only differences between the 30mm and the 1" were:
1. 30mm has more adjustment
2. 30mm tube should be stronger in theory
3. 30mm is bigger and heavier

It does not have greater field of view and is not any brighter. If you need the adjustment go for it but if they made a VX5 in a 1" tube I would have bought it instead.

 

[davidjoe]

Your the exception and you know it, as was I. I worked 60 hrs a week, ran both marathons and several ultra marathons, played basketball well into my 50s and no I never worried about a few extra ounces of weight. And I hunted Western States and walked into treestands 3 mi from where I parked to get up a tree an hour before daylight here in Pa. Maybe I did that so I did not notice a few extra ounces of weight but was more interested in the performance of the equipment. Yes I still hunt with a custom. 280 that has a varmint weight barrel and sight settings to 1000 yds. Never weighed it but I imagine 11 lb range. In my mid 70s in good health, still not worried about a few ounces. I always have ran a lot of hills, it breaks most of the competition. My mantra was, When the going gets tough, the tough get going.Not brawny but will power.

... Marathons and Ultramarathons, at least you two guys neither one have to worry about outrunning wolves and bears when you are hunting because your body fat content is too low for them to bother giving chase. I like my guns so heavy they are effective clubs when the bullets run out.

 

[Delfuego]

It's not about the tube diameter...
NSX is a 20 year old scope design, ATACR is better in every way.

 

[F Class John]

All things being equal (great glass vs great glass) the larger tube will always have some kind of advantage. Whether you see it or not, or whether it actually translates to an improvement for you is all dependent on your eyes. Personally, if I have two equally glassed scopes with the same reticles and controls etc., I would take the larger tube. Maybe I'm alone on this but visible light transmission is visible light transmission and a larger tube will always have the edge in a fair and equal fight. The problem is that you almost never have a fair fight because there's so many variable so pick the scope YOUR EYES prefer and forget the size or other peoples preference.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

All things being equal (great glass vs great glass) the larger tube will always have some kind of advantage. Whether you see it or not, or whether it actually translates to an improvement for you is all dependent on your eyes. Personally, if I have two equally glassed scopes with the same reticles and controls etc., I would take the larger tube. Maybe I'm alone on this but visible light transmission is visible light transmission and a larger tube will always have the edge in a fair and equal fight. The problem is that you almost never have a fair fight because there's so many variable so pick the scope YOUR EYES prefer and forget the size or other peoples preference.

Yeah, the larger tube will have an advantage in light transmission ONLY if the erector tube in it is larger than the one in the corresponding 1inch tubed riflescope. Since you said "equally glassed scopes with the same reticles and controls etc.," this also implies that the erector tube is the same (which in most probability it is anyway,) so there is no advantage in light transmission or anything you can detect except for the greater adjustment range.

 

[JEFFPPC]

... Marathons and Ultramarathons, at least you two guys neither one have to worry about outrunning wolves and bears when you are hunting because your body fat content is too low for them to bother giving chase. I like my guns so heavy they are effective clubs when the bullets run out.[/QUOTEI am sure I never had less than 10% body fat but I ran 80 to 100 mile a week on average for about 20 yrs. Good part is I am sure it has contributed to my good health in my 70's. But throw all those miles into knee injuries from wrestling and basket ball and there is a trade off. Bunch of over used parts. But I am a believer in mind over matter. Orthopedic surgeon over 20 yrs ago said I would be in a wheelchair in less than 6 wks I needed a knee right now. Darn, still going, same 2 knees I started with, I like God's design best. Last piece of gear I will ever cut corners on while hunting will be the scope/ rifle.

 

[KY_Windage]

It's not about the tube diameter...
NSX is a 20 year old scope design, ATACR is better in every way.

Well, except in price, and in weight. My 5-25 ATACR weighs TEN OUNCES more than my 5.5-22x50 NXS. It costs about 50% more on the new or used market. Sure, the ATACR has the benefit of improved technology and 20 years of experience, but the NXS is still a great scope.