Leupold or Nightforce

Boomer686

Boomer686

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Just bought a new 338 LM. So now what optics??? I have a Leupold LRT 6-20x50 on one of my rigs. I love it but was considering a nightforce 5.5-22x50 or 56 mm for no other reason than trying them out. Price wise they are similar. I plan on shooting 300-700M with the 338 so I figure a 20moa base i s plenty with a set of TPS rings.

Thoughts??

Regards,
 
Take a look at Premier Reticle Heritage, ATR and PGW has them. I just picked up one in the 5X25X54 range. I had a thread going on reviews and some owners weighed in.
 
I'm almost in the same boat, thinking of getting a new scope and thought about Nightforce. Last week I was at the range and someone had a 5.5-22 and let me take a look. Very nice but in all honesty I thought what's the big deal. Perhaps I was looking for some amazing image after all the reviews I've read about their optical superiority. Don't get me wrong, it was impressive, but not quite what I thought it should be. Optically I couldn't see the difference between the NF and a Leup Mk4 and now I'm wondering if it's also worth the extra weight the NF has. Having said that it was a bright mid afternoon so perhaps I should've compared the image in the evening. Still considering NF but in my opinion nothing special about the optics over a Mk4.
 
If you have the cash, go german

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Now that Nightforce offers 20 MOA per turn of the turret there's no reason not to go with one of them. I've got a 5.5-20x56 on my 300 WM and wish I had the 20 minute turret.
 
There are like in everything else Pros and Cons to each brand.
The optical differences between the NF and the MK4s are not going to be really THAT noticeable to most. There is a subtle difference only, I believe the NF has a slight edge mostly in lower light conditions.
The biggest difference between the NF and the MK4s is that you have the capability of having the reticle and turret in the same unit of measure with the NF scopes.
Why anyone would have Milrad reticle coupled with MOA turrets totally escapes me, but several scope makers still do this foolishmess.

ALL Nf scopes come with illuminated reticles, it is not an added cost option like the MK4s AND there is not another fragile turret put on the tube to house the reticle illumination switch on.

Personally the NF R1 reticle which is the most popular reticle NF offers makes the most sense being 1 moa secondary reticle markings, but I find it too busy so prefer the R2 which has 2 moa secondary lines.

The new Rapid Turn turrets I got a chance to play with in the field this weekend and am very impressed at how much of an improvement that is for long range shooting.

As Mildot pointed out we also carry Premiere Reticle and S&B both of which are fine optics, but nearly 2 times the $$ and are both Metric and 1st focal plane.
Having been born with MOA and 2nd focal plane optics have had a devil of a time getting my head wrapped around a weird unit of measure and the fact that the reticle gets bigger or smaller with magnification.
 
Both are nice but the NF is the only one that I've seen fail at a competition, only once but I've never seen it happen to a Leupold.
 
I've owned a couple of Nightforce scopes and they are GTG, I'm somewhat biased since I'm drinking the Premier Reticle "koolaid". I threw it out there only as an alternative.
Having ATR deal in all three is a bonus, no qualms dealing with Rick for any model or brand.
 
The finest scope of this type that I have ever looked through has to be the S & B, and would be my first choice if i was in the market. I find that my Swarovski scope is clearer then the Leu. or NF, although a different type of scope.
 
Certainly lots of info and I appreciate everyone chiming in. The S&B are fantastic scopes (I've used them but never owned one) but I'm on thin ice already with all my gun purchases this year according to my finance minister (read: wife) so... the S&B will probably have to wait it out for a little while. Maybe for when I get a 98B or something of the like...... Anyway keep the info coming!

Regards,
 
I can only speak about my experience, I had a Leupold Mark 4 & Nightforce 2,5X10X24.
Both clear and robust scopes.I really the idea of the reticle and turrets in the same configurations (ie) mil/mil. I would research this if you don't know and if you do give it some consideration.With the "right" reticle hold overs and adjustments become very easy.
 
After some more deliberation I called Rick at ATR and order my NF today: 5.5-22x56 with fast turn turrets and stops. I am looking forward to trying this out.

Thanks again Rick!

Regards,
 
If you want to check out the good stuff...
Have a look at March Scopes
http://www.deon.co.jp/march/menu2_5.htm

and US Optics
http://www.usoptics.com/

Beings that you already have a big rifle maybe it's not a concern for you, but when trying to decide what to go with , keep an eye on weight.

Lupees and March are fairly light but S&B and Nightforce are almost twice the weight.

March scope have a wild zoom range and some very high magnification.. like 80 power also. They have a 5 to 32, 10 to 60
The March scope I like is 2.5 to 25 power- that's wild.

And Kelby's will ship to Canada.
 
dizzy said:
Al milspec optics are twice the weight, simply for durability,
Click to expand...

It's the added Milspec that weighs more. I add Milspec to my camera tripod to keep it from shaking in the wind. That said, I try not to get any Milspec on my backpack as it makes it heavy and tiring to carry.
 
BigUglyMan said:
It's the added Milspec that weighs more. QUOTE]

I wonder how much mil spec weighs.

Does mil spec come as one standard weight of x ounces per unit or is it a percentage of the non mil spec weight? And what if the mil spec requires it to be light as part of the mil spec? Does than mean that all non mil spec items must be even lighter in order to qualify as non mil spec?
Click to expand...
 
fclassguy said:
I wonder how much mil spec weighs.

Does mil spec come as one standard weight of x ounces per unit or is it a percentage of the non mil spec weight? And what if the mil spec requires it to be light as part of the mil spec? Does than mean that all non mil spec items must be even lighter in order to qualify as non mil spec?
Click to expand...

I believe (if high school chemistry taught me anything) that "milspec" is actually a type of alloy. A combination of "Millenium " and "Spectacularium". If memory serves it weighs around 5% more than "Civilianium", the standard material used is the construction of non-milsprec firearms. Beware of items of Civilianium masquerading as Milspec - they are likely overbuilt and clunky in order to overcome their lack of milspec.
 
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