nightforce or schmidt&bender
- Thread starter daniellybbert
- Start date
Pick the scope based on application. right now in the F class world Nightforce dominates the field. They have a large variety of reticules and power ranges. Current F class favorite is 12x42 more then enough power for the purpose. You may want to ask FarmBoy about his Nightforce a 5x22 it was pretty sweet to look through. That being said. The S&B in 4x16 is the new current Canadian and USA designated sniper scope. We were going to sign a contact with USO but switched either because S&B was the better scope or to be compatible with the USA in there optics. Please note that the S&B is a 34mm tube and the Night force is a 30mm tube. I think PGW Steve is familiar with the S&B product as I believe he is outfitting them on his Timberwolf for our boys. Congratulations again PGW on a fine rig.
Here is a link to S&B review.
http://www.snipershide.com/opticsguide1.php?id=33
Here is a link to S&B review.
http://www.snipershide.com/opticsguide1.php?id=33
The Canadian move to the S&B is not based on trials and the CF requirement was for the reticle to be on the first focal plane. This disqualified Nightforce.
This setup also means that the reticles on the S&B will appear heavier on higher power and smaller on lower power. This can sometimes make them too heavy for target precision shooting and too faint for low power snap shooting. So you preference/use may dictate what you need.
The S&B optics are slightly better, and their adjustments are very nice, crisp and repeatable.
The Nightforce scopes have VERY fine reticles, great for precision target work, less good for hunting, or mil use. The 30mm tube makes ring selection much easier (and cheaper).
This setup also means that the reticles on the S&B will appear heavier on higher power and smaller on lower power. This can sometimes make them too heavy for target precision shooting and too faint for low power snap shooting. So you preference/use may dictate what you need.
The S&B optics are slightly better, and their adjustments are very nice, crisp and repeatable.
The Nightforce scopes have VERY fine reticles, great for precision target work, less good for hunting, or mil use. The 30mm tube makes ring selection much easier (and cheaper).
Well, i use S&B 3-12x50 with p3 reticle, topped on my 700 sendero in ,300 mag and i never had to adjust the scope yet for 7 year, still shoot below 1MOA at the same place than when it was installed. This rifle had been carried for moose hunting every year since and shot at range and competition, this scope is a real winner....
Sendero
Sendero
I have use both my S&B (3-12X50 ) PMII and Nightforce 5.5-22X56 on my 338Lapua
If you shoot paper I prefer the Nighforce only because of its 2nd focal plane recticle. Mabey I'm just not use to it but I don't like the fact that 1st focal plane recticle "grows" ( doesn't actually grow ) as you magnify ..covers up more of the target than the Nightforce. The NP-R2 recticle is much finer
Proponents of the 1st FP say you can range at any power. I don't care about this because I use a laser range finder
Comparison :
- like the fact that the S&B it makes its full elevation in one turn of the turret ( or two turns if you get the 2 turn turret )
- I have the zero stop option in my Nighforce so its hard to get "lost" but it still takes a lot of cranks
- both scopes have very repeatable clicks
- as far as low light gathering I have played with both looking at a "eye" chart sitting as the sun was setting (same manification ). I honestly couldnt't tell much of a difference in resoloution ( my Nightforce has a bigger objective ). Don't take this as gospel because I don't have great eyesite and the eye chart was less than 100yrd away. BTW I was also comparing my 1" tubed Vari X IIIs, 30mm MK4 etc and the S&B and Nightforce are noticably better
- at the range both scopes have amazing resoloution ( compared to my Leupolds )
- I like the NP-R2 illuminated recticle for hunting. My S&B doesn't have IR . The Illuminated recticle S&B are to expensive for me
- don't like the fact that you need to take the turret apart in the NSX to change the brightness of the recticle
Summary
As awesome as the PMIIs are , for me Its not worth the extra $1000-$1500 over the nightforce . TSE has nighforces at a great price . The new PMII 5.5-25X56 illuminated is over $3200 in Canada ! You can get a equivalent mag NSX at TSE for $1800 .
You are better off spending the money you save towards a Swarovski / Leica / Zeiss spotting scope . Wouldn't belive how many guys spend huge money on their rifle scopes and buy cheap spotting scopes. I was one of those fools for years !
The best bang for the buck right now is actually the USO "Canadian" contract scopes they made for the Candian 338lapua sniper rifle trials ( you can see pics of them on PGWs web site ). They are selling them off at a great price of $2000USD to get rid of them ( since they didn't win the contract ). The USO SN-3 usually go for $2800USD with all the options the "Canadian" scopes have
http://www.usoptics.com/sub_pages/NPA-SN3OD.php
If you shoot paper I prefer the Nighforce only because of its 2nd focal plane recticle. Mabey I'm just not use to it but I don't like the fact that 1st focal plane recticle "grows" ( doesn't actually grow ) as you magnify ..covers up more of the target than the Nightforce. The NP-R2 recticle is much finer
Proponents of the 1st FP say you can range at any power. I don't care about this because I use a laser range finder
Comparison :
- like the fact that the S&B it makes its full elevation in one turn of the turret ( or two turns if you get the 2 turn turret )
- I have the zero stop option in my Nighforce so its hard to get "lost" but it still takes a lot of cranks
- both scopes have very repeatable clicks
- as far as low light gathering I have played with both looking at a "eye" chart sitting as the sun was setting (same manification ). I honestly couldnt't tell much of a difference in resoloution ( my Nightforce has a bigger objective ). Don't take this as gospel because I don't have great eyesite and the eye chart was less than 100yrd away. BTW I was also comparing my 1" tubed Vari X IIIs, 30mm MK4 etc and the S&B and Nightforce are noticably better
- at the range both scopes have amazing resoloution ( compared to my Leupolds )
- I like the NP-R2 illuminated recticle for hunting. My S&B doesn't have IR . The Illuminated recticle S&B are to expensive for me
- don't like the fact that you need to take the turret apart in the NSX to change the brightness of the recticle
Summary
As awesome as the PMIIs are , for me Its not worth the extra $1000-$1500 over the nightforce . TSE has nighforces at a great price . The new PMII 5.5-25X56 illuminated is over $3200 in Canada ! You can get a equivalent mag NSX at TSE for $1800 .
You are better off spending the money you save towards a Swarovski / Leica / Zeiss spotting scope . Wouldn't belive how many guys spend huge money on their rifle scopes and buy cheap spotting scopes. I was one of those fools for years !
The best bang for the buck right now is actually the USO "Canadian" contract scopes they made for the Candian 338lapua sniper rifle trials ( you can see pics of them on PGWs web site ). They are selling them off at a great price of $2000USD to get rid of them ( since they didn't win the contract ). The USO SN-3 usually go for $2800USD with all the options the "Canadian" scopes have
http://www.usoptics.com/sub_pages/NPA-SN3OD.php
