Newbie Shooter, Night Force Scope??

CBR600

CBR600

Regular
Rating - 100%
84   0   0
Location
Toronto, Ontario
So I am new to scopes and bolt actions. Before this, I have only run black rifles with red dots.

So I bought my first bolt action a Tikka T3X Artic Ranger in .308, this will be my go to, all around bolt action. After selling off most of my collection, I try to keep my gun count under 10.

I would like to shoot this rifle up to about 500 yards.

From my research, it seems a 1-4x power scope would be ok to shoot out to 500 yards?

I also like a easy to use reticle, since I am a novice to scopes.

I read and fell in love with the NightForce NSX 1-4 with the FC-3G reticle.

What do you guys think of this scope / reticle? Are there better option out there for a all purpose rifle?

Header-NXS-1-4x24-960x320.jpg


fc-3gill.png
 
That mag is less than ideal for 500 yard shooting in my opinion. I'm guessing you want to be able to shoot close range and out to 500 yards as well. Your probably going to be better off with a sightron STAC 2.5-17 mag scope if thats the case, or a swarovski with large magnification range.
 
I'd say it depends on what kind of groups you're expecting. If you want minute of man groups and plan on shooting cheap ammo you're probably fine. If you want to shoot for sub moa groups or plan to hunt with it at 500 I'd get the 2-10 as a minimum. That's just me though - YMMV.
 
i would say get a 2.5-10 that 1-4 is set up for extremely fast firing not the best fit for a bolt action, 2.5 is low enough to hunt with and 10x will reach way out there get 20moa turrets i have 10 and it’s easy to get lost if your 5 rotations to dial on target.
 
I've had a few nightforce scopes, and they are tough to beat. For me, they were heavier than I wanted in a hunting situation.

Personally I would choose the 2.5-10 for your application. I hate shooting 200 yards with a 10x scope, (target shooting at least), so I'm sure I would hate 4x even more.

It is not that it can't be done, it just sucks. Sure a 4x is ideal to shoot a moose at 500 yards, but ammo testing, load development, etc is far more fun at long ranges with more magnification.

I used a NXS 5.5-22 x 50mm for hunting for several years and thought it was great. If weight is a consideration, for hunting over the nightforce scopes, the Leupold VX5 and VX6 scopes have firedot illumination and 3-15 3-18 and 4-24 magnification in pretty decent weights. I love the 3-18x44 it is only about an ounce heavier than the nightforce you are looking at.
 
A scope in the 2-10 range would be great if you plan on hunting, 3-15 is a also a good choice. The other suggestions of 5.5-22 or 5-25 are quire simply ridiculous for an "all-around" firearm. It would be relegated solely to target use as such massive and unwieldy optics make short shots nearly impossible.
 
Blastattack said:
A scope in the 2-10 range would be great if you plan on hunting, 3-15 is a also a good choice. The other suggestions of 5.5-22 or 5-25 are quire simply ridiculous for an "all-around" firearm. It would be relegated solely to target use as such massive and unwieldy optics make short shots nearly impossible.
Click to expand...

Here's your winner!!
 
I run a viper pst 5-25 on my xcr-m heavy barrel gen 1. I've taken deer from 40 to 400 yards (several off hand) so it's certainly doable and not impossible at all. The throw lever certainly helps though.

That being said I've also shot gophers and coyote with a 4x optic at a decently long range. All optics are compromises - I'd say spend your money after doing your research and considering the pros and cons. Otherwise that nice new optic may wind up on the EE.
 
vultr said:
I run a viper pst 5-25 on my xcr-m heavy barrel gen 1. I've taken deer from 40 to 400 yards (several off hand) so it's certainly doable and not impossible at all. The throw lever certainly helps though.

That being said I've also shot gophers and coyote with a 4x optic at a decently long range. All optics are compromises - I'd say spend your money after doing your research and considering the pros and cons. Otherwise that nice new optic may wind up on the EE.
Click to expand...

And how often have you ever used the top end of your optic? For a general purpose all around rifle an optic with a lower bottom end is far more beneficial than an optic with a high top end. A 2-10x or something similar would be ideal. If the OP is ok with spending good money then the Trijicon 1-8x Accupower is an excellent optic. Now in the interest of full disclosure I have an Accupower 1-8x. I have with ease made hits on a 12" gong at 500 metres with the optic on my CZ 527 chambered in 7.62x39 and using surplus(green cased) ammo. 8x was a bit of a stretch at that distance but considering the calibre and the ammo I wasn't looking for Olympic level performance.

OP,

The reticle you have listed is good but there are other options to look at. Personally when I source good glass I avoid role specific or calibre specific reticles. A more standard graduated reticle like a mildot or similar reticle will offer the same advantages as the FC 3G reticle(holdovers) and then some. I've also used the Nightforce SHV 4-14x50 F1 and it is an excellent optic(one on the EE right now for $1200). A fair bit lighter than the NXS series which does come at the cost of some(albeit not much) durability. The 4x bottom end is pushing it for offhand rapid shooting but is doable. The top end is more than enough for 500 metres and the first focal plane design means your holds are the same regardless of which power you stop at. The illuminated centre "+" is a nice touch as well. I'm a mils guy so the 0.1 mil per click model and the MIL-R reticle is the ticket, super easy to use and the turrets match the reticle which is an absolute must if you choose a graduated reticle.

Another option if you're looking to save coin but want performance is the Trijicon Accupower 3-9x40 or the Accupoint line in the same magnification range. Again with the mildot or milsquare reticle. Both are second focal plane so your subtensions(hold overs) are only valid at max power, your zero(centre point) is valid at all powers. If you look around the Accupower can be had for under $800 CDN and the Accupoint for around $1000 CDN.
 
Last edited:
OP...before buying anything, spend some time looking through various scopes at the distances that you’ll be shooting, or better yet go out with a buddy and shoot a few rounds on their rifles with different scopes. You can’t go wrong with a Nightforce optic, but magnification and reticle configurations really need to be looked at carefully...
 
My vote goes to bushnell LRHS 3-12.
Exceptional clarity, Excellent knobs,excellent reticle.FFP.

It's so clear! And clarity is gonna be very important,at 500 yrds.

I regret selling mine,and will get another.
 
I'll echo others and say get a 2.5-10 or 1-8 or something similar. That gives you plenty of mag for the longer shots, I've shot my Leupy Mk4 3.5-10 out to 1000 yards without problem, same for my NF SHV 4-14 F1. I've also shot a 3x Elcan at 500. I think it all really depends on what you're trying to hit at 500 and what kinda weight you're ok with. All optics are compromises but in the interest of saving weight I'd stay with 10x and below.
 
I run a 3-12 in competition. I can clearly see a Fig 14 at 600m in good conditions (on 12X). There have been some matches or individual stages where I wished I had bought a 4-16.

Remember this, if you can’t clearly see it, it becomes difficult to line up on the center of a small target. So while I have been getting by with my 3-12, In retrospect I should have bought a 4-16.
 
J996 said:
I run a 3-12 in competition. I can clearly see a Fig 14 at 600m in good conditions (on 12X). There have been some matches or individual stages where I wished I had bought a 4-16.

Remember this, if you can’t clearly see it, it becomes difficult to line up on the center of a small target. So while I have been getting by with my 3-12, In retrospect I should have bought a 4-16.
Click to expand...

I agree 100% with what you're saying, for COMPETITION, that's why I just went to a 3.5-20x. But the OP hasn't said anything about competition and has given himself a max distance of 500 at what I'm assuming are (possibly incorrectly?) not tiny targets (ie game, silhouettes, possibly?). I know from experience that it's no problem to line up on a 2/3 ipsc target at over 800 yards and that's slightly under 1.5 moa in width. The lower mag scope will be lighter as well which is an important consideration for a "do everything" rifle, imo.
 
CBR600:

I have quite a number of Nightforce scopes. They include the NXS 2.5-10x30, 2.5-10x32, 2.5-10x42, 3.5-15x50, 5.5-22x50, 8-32x56 and 12-42x56, the ATACR 5-25x56 and the NPR1, NPR1, MOAR and Velocity reticles. I really love the Nightforce scopes for their optic clarity, durability and repeatable and consistent tracking ability. They have functioned well for me in all situations, hot, cold, wet, dry in competition, benchrest, silhouette and in all field hunting environments. I have not used the 1-4 power scope. For a good all around scope out to 500 m for competition and or hunting I don't think you can go wrong with the 2.5-10x42. The higher power Nightforces are a little heavy for my taste on a hunting rifle, although I have used them and will again. 10 power is not a problem to shoot 0.5 MOA targets at 500 m if your rifle will. The higher powers are great for very long range targets or for very detailed load work. i.e. benchrest shooting. They can be a bit cumbersome and even detrimental with their reduced field of view versus the lower powers. The 3.5-15 is a great middle ground if weight is not a concern. As far as the reticles go, I like either the MOAR reticle or the Velocity reticle. The Velocity reticle is great, but it takes some work to get the right one for your rifle and know how it holds at different distances and in different conditions (temperatures and elevations). The NPR1 and 2 reticles are a bit fine for hunting in my opinion. I don't have direct experience with the other reticles, so they may be suitable to your applications as well. A lot of reticle selection has to do with personal preference.

I think you are headed down the right path buying quality optics and personally I really like the Nightforce scopes.
 
I second the suggestion on the NXS Compact 2.5-10x42 for an all around scope, reticle of your choosing. The Trijicon 1-8 Accupower suggested earlier is a great scope as well, the only downside is due to the FFP, the reticle gets a little large for my liking if you are just punching paper at the higher magnifications.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom