Sightron v. Nightforce question.

[mrbeer]

I am sold on Nightforce BR scopes, BUT, are they worth the few extra $$ above and beyond the cost of a comparable Sightron?

The reason why I ask is as follows: I am in the process of designing a new BR / F class rifle for lightweight BR and open F....and I may need to make a compromise with scope weight to meet the weight limits.

Are nightforce scopes THAT much better than Sightron....and are they worth the extra $$? I certainly do not want to skimp on optics. Are people placing or winning national comps with Sightron Optics?

Any info you all have would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[mikecr]

Up front; I don't like either Nightforce BR or any of the sightrons.
But of the two, with your concerns, I'd go Sightron.

For one, other than US optics I don't think there are heavier scopes than NF. And the Sightrons weigh less.
BR scopes should be as lght as possible, and this is why I feel that the NF BR is the worst of any BR scope ever put to market(it's the heaviest).

Second, there is nothing special about NF glass(or Sightron's). So you gain nothing there either way.

Beyond weight, it really just comes down to reticle preference and cost. That is, unless you think there will EVER be a need for illuminated reticles on your BR guns!!!!
NF just don't get it......

 

[JRS]

Up front; I don't like either Nightforce BR or any of the sightrons.
But of the two, with your concerns, I'd go Sightron.

For one, other than US optics I don't think there are heavier scopes than NF. And the Sightrons weigh less.
BR scopes should be as lght as possible, and this is why I feel that the NF BR is the worst of any BR scope ever put to market(it's the heaviest).

Second, there is nothing special about NF glass(or Sightron's). So you gain nothing there either way.

Beyond weight, it really just comes down to reticle preference and cost. That is, unless you think there will EVER be a need for illuminated reticles on your BR guns!!!!
NF just don't get it......

Interesting!
Any particular reason why you think the scope should be as light as possible when mounted on an F class gun? What is special about the glass in both brands is that they are made by the major manufacturer in in Japan and not the stuff coming from China ;D

 

[Preacher]

Of the 2 mentioned I like my NF's better, and sure am glad they have a bit of heft to them on my big boomers... Lots of places to loose weight, and I don't want a scope being one of them..
The little extra money spent on the NF seems a plus to me, but thats just my opinion...
I have the 8x32, and the 10x50 Sightron, 2's enough for me....

 

[mikecr]

I may need to make a compromise with scope weight to meet the weight limits

This is why I think the scope should be as light as possible.

As to F-class weight limits,, I don't even know why they bother to have em.
I see no value to mankind in F-class

 

[fdshuster]

There are benchrest competitions, like our groundhog for score matches that have no limits on weight, or if there are, they are so heavy that adding a 36 oz. Nightforce would not be an issue. My bench rifles with heavy varmint contour barrels and NF scopes weigh between 12.5 and 14#, and if anything the weight makes them ride the bags better. My son competes in F-Class F/TR using Nightforce NX's and there again the 34 oz weight is not an issue. In fact he added weights to his Accuracy International stock to bring the total weight up to 17.3#. In one of our local matches, with 14 competitors I counted 8 Nightforce scopes, (all benchrest models), 3 of the higher end Leupold's, and 3 Weaver T-36's. I can understand that if needing to meet weight requirements (10.5# and 13.5#) for IBS group matches the heavy NF, and others would be a problem, but for the many "other" type matches, where local club rules apply, and even F-Class, their weight is not a problem. As far as NF quality: I'm very happy with my 2, 12-42's and 1, 8-32x. Prefer the one piece tube, screw-on lens caps, 1/8 moa clicks, wide choice of reticles, 3 very detailed manuals that are provided with the scopes, repeatability, clarity, etc. Many of these features not being offered by "others".

 

[mrbeer]

Great Info, Thanks!

The bottom line is that I should go by a scope and spend less time obsessing over what I need to get. I'll design the rifle around the weight of the nightforce scope and see what happens. Im looking at the following.

Farley Black widow action
MCRees MP-MODSS Stock / Chassis as they call it
Krieger match barrel 6 Dasher
"xyz" scope

The stock is highly adjustable and needs no bedding...its sort of like a tube gun setup with swappable forends and butstock so you can switch out parts for BR and F-Class

 

[JRS]

Great Info, Thanks!

The bottom line is that I should go by a scope and spend less time obsessing over what I need to get. I'll design the rifle around the weight of the nightforce scope and see what happens. Im looking at the following.

Farley Black widow action
MCRees MP-MODSS Stock / Chassis as they call it
Krieger match barrel 6 Dasher
"xyz" scope

The stock is highly adjustable and needs no bedding...its sort of like a tube gun setup with swappable forends and butstock so you can switch out parts for BR and F-Class

Your choice of course, but if this stock is the one I have held in my hands.... it is "heavy".

 

[mikecr]

I should go by a scope and spend less time obsessing over what I need

If this is what you got out of the replies, you're surely on a dismal path to failure.
Everything has a beginning, middle, and end. Beyond blind luck, it takes consideration of all three -before succeeding(not after failing).

 

[GLZ]

Your choice of course, but if this stock is the one I have held in my hands.... it is "heavy".
[/quote]
My S700, fixed (non-folder)butt, single shot center, 3" flat forend goes 76 ounces!

 

[JRS]

Your choice of course, but if this stock is the one I have held in my hands.... it is "heavy".

My S700, fixed (non-folder)butt, single shot center, 3" flat forend goes 76 ounces!
[/quote]One of the major concerns he has is making weight. The stock you reference here is 3 pounds heavier than an MBR.

 

[GLZ]

Yep, the stock will almost get him half way to 10 lbs. Never weighed it with the bag rider bar, that ought to get it to 5 pretty easy. Put a NF on it and you don't have much left for an action or barrel.

 

[Tozguy]

No matter how good our gun and ammo is the better we see the better we shoot. I chose the NF BR scope and still make the 13.5 lb weight limit. By calculation, using a 22 oz carbon fiber stock for example, it would even be possible to make the 10.5 LV limit with decent components. Scimping on the scope is not necessary nor desirable for me.

 

[GLZ]

No matter how good our gun and ammo is the better we see the better we shoot. I chose the NF BR scope and still make the 13.5 lb weight limit. By calculation, using a 22 oz carbon fiber stock for example, it would even be possible to make the 10.5 LV limit with decent components. Scimping on the scope is not necessary nor desirable for me.

Correct, with a 22 oz stock he can make 10.5. The stock he wants(McRee Chassis), I have on hand, and it is almost 5 lbs by itself.
The McRee chassis are nice but they do not tend to morph into a light weight setup.