Scope debate for Stag 10

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MartyK2500

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Making the finishing touches on my Stag 10 build,
Which involves an 18.6'' fluted barrel, ultralight handguard, flash hider (not a brake) so I can shoot with no ear pro in the woods.
The rifle will be used for the following,

9-12x range sessions per year, of 25-30 rounds @ 100-300M
2x coyote hunts per year (500-600M walk between car and hide),
2-3x mid range (500-600M) gong shooting sessions, with again a 500-600M walk between car and spot,
And 1x Deer hunting session per year, this one involves an airplane trip to an Island, with many KMs of snowed in territory to walk in.


I tend to say 2.5-10x44 NF NXS will be the answer for the hunt,
But the 3.5-15x50 NF NXS would be more appreciated all year long afterwards, that extra 5x zoom and extra size objective bell will be nice.

Did you guys have a similar debate on either a bolter or gas gun, with similar usage planned for it?
Scope brand doesn't matter, it's more a mag range discussion.
What way did you go and did you regret going that way?
 
That’s good,
I had not considered this.
Maybe even offset irons for a close shot. As I spend a large amount of range time with irons.
 
If I could've put any scope on my Stag-10 6.5 it woulda been a Leupold Mk5 3.6-18 with an offset DPP. I'm a big fan of the Mk5 (I have a pair of them on my comp guns with offset DPPs). I happened to already have a Bushnell LRTSi 3-12 on hand so that's what I went with instead (in a Badger mount with 20 moa of cant and a TRS-25 on top). That Bushy is a lot of scope for the money, I've got a few of them on different rifles. They make a great "dmr" optic. Definitely heavier than the NXS 2.5-10 but they are solid and durable as well.
 
If you’re contemplating an NXS, why not take a look at the newer releases in Nightforce’s NX8 line.
A 2.5-20 as well as a 4-32

The 2.5-20 seems like the perfect blend between your listed options.

I just upgraded my bolt gun to an ATACR, but I’ll likely be putting either the 2.5-20 or the 4-32 NX8 on my stag next year.
 
FoxAlpha said:
If you’re contemplating an NXS, why not take a look at the newer releases in Nightforce’s NX8 line.
A 2.5-20 as well as a 4-32

The 2.5-20 seems like the perfect blend between your listed options.

I just upgraded my bolt gun to an ATACR, but I’ll likely be putting either the 2.5-20 or the 4-32 NX8 on my stag next year.
Click to expand...

My 6.5 bolt gun does have the 5-25x56 ATACR, MIL-R FFP,
That's when I now fell in love with NF and don't feel like vortex in my life anymore!

I was genuinely interested in an NX8 2.5-20 for my bolt gun last year.
Made a CGN post about it too to get feedback.
Everyone was telling me the eyebox was very unforgiving.
And now to personally know someone with one, he dislikes it and is contemplating going back to a 5 zoom range scope instead of 8.


rugbydave said:
If I could've put any scope on my Stag-10 6.5 it woulda been a Leupold Mk5 3.6-18 with an offset DPP. I'm a big fan of the Mk5 (I have a pair of them on my comp guns with offset DPPs). I happened to already have a Bushnell LRTSi 3-12 on hand so that's what I went with instead (in a Badger mount with 20 moa of cant and a TRS-25 on top). That Bushy is a lot of scope for the money, I've got a few of them on different rifles. They make a great "dmr" optic. Definitely heavier than the NXS 2.5-10 but they are solid and durable as well.
Click to expand...

3 to 12 mag range is a nice range.
It's crazy how light they spec the 2.5-10 NXS scope, and it should be as reliable as the 3.5-15 bullet hole NSX scope too.
I'll look into bushnell, heard they got this crazy mail-in rebate right now.
Just scared of being disappointed and go back to spend for NF.





Edit : I believe I have just answered myself.
Was looking at my collection tonight and remembered I have an Old Savage 10 HS precision which I wanted to scope with a 3-15 someday.
This solves it, buy the 3-15 for the Stag, if I don't like it (mainly for weight) just transfer it to the savage and get the 2-10 for Stag later on.
 
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MartyK2500 said:
My 6.5 bolt gun does have the 5-25x56 ATACR, MIL-R FFP,
That's when I now fell in love with NF and don't feel like vortex in my life anymore!

I was genuinely interested in an NX8 2.5-20 for my bolt gun last year.
Made a CGN post about it too to get feedback.
Everyone was telling me the eyebox was very unforgiving.
And now to personally know someone with one, he dislikes it and is contemplating going back to a 5 zoom range scope instead of 8.
Click to expand...


Fair enough, I guess I’m one of lucky few that’s never been bothered by a tight eye box. Hell I didn’t even know what that meant until last year.
I’ve got an ATRS modern spotter build planned and it’ll likely be home to an NXS 2.5-10 as well. I’ve come to learn that any Nightforce purchase is never a bad one.
 
I think that NXS 2.5-10 is an awesome candidate for a .223 "dmr-ish" rig but I'd want a bit more mag on a 6.5, hence my suggestion for the 3-12 Bushy or the 3.6-18 Mk5. That 2.5-20 NX8 looks like a great option as well. The downside to the 3.5-15 NXS is that it is SFP, like the 2.5-10. Not a big deal in a scope that maxes out at 10x but with a scope that goes to 15x, I'd want FFP. Dunno if you could find one of the older NXS 3.5-15 F1s since I don't believe NF makes them anymore.
 
Rugbydave,
All my scopes I currently own are FFP,
In my mind, I may be wrong, if I went the SFP route, I’d be always using at either extremes.
ie ; closeup shots for hunting deer, always on the 3.5, longer shots for yotes and gongs, always 15.
I may be wrong on this one.
But yes a FFP 3.5-15 NXS would be nice.


Jerry, looks nice, but looks heavy!
The original BCL handguards make them very front heavy, and with a big scope like that it must balance things out but still looks a few lbs too heavy for a few km hike.
Did you weigh entire rifle for fun?
 
Mystic Precision said:
View attachment 369722

Its an absolute pig... one of my heaviest rifles. But it balances well.

hopefully, get to run a match with it... cause we still can. :)

Jerry
Click to expand...


Looks good,
If I was in match building scenario sure I’d run a 5-25 or whatever.
This being a woods gun with a few training sessions to familiarize myself with it,
I went ultralight handguard, fluted 18.6’’ barrel, AAC flash hider (not a brake not a comp) so I can shoot it without ear pro in a hunting scenario.

Got plenty of match stuff going on here.
 
MartyK2500 said:
Rugbydave,
All my scopes I currently own are FFP,
In my mind, I may be wrong, if I went the SFP route, I’d be always using at either extremes.
ie ; closeup shots for hunting deer, always on the 3.5, longer shots for yotes and gongs, always 15.
I may be wrong on this one.
But yes a FFP 3.5-15 NXS would be nice.


Jerry, looks nice, but looks heavy!
The original BCL handguards make them very front heavy, and with a big scope like that it must balance things out but still looks a few lbs too heavy for a few km hike.
Did you weigh entire rifle for fun?
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's correct about SFP scopes, the sub tensions are only correct at one magnification (generally the max). I don't think being on 15x would be a hindrance for shooting gongs from the prone but I know for positional shooting I'm normally at 10-13x and I'd think 15x would also be a lot for coyotes unless they're a real ways away. That's why I always prefer FFP scopes.
 
rugbydave said:
Yeah, that's correct about SFP scopes, the sub tensions are only correct at one magnification (generally the max). I don't think being on 15x would be a hindrance for shooting gongs from the prone but I know for positional shooting I'm normally at 10-13x and I'd think 15x would also be a lot for coyotes unless they're a real ways away. That's why I always prefer FFP scopes.
Click to expand...

Very good point, never shot on moving criters and 15x may be too much.
I know when shooting reappearing/disappearing huns heads @ 300M my scope is set to exactly that, 15X
 
An FYI and follow up, received my NXS 3.5-15x50, and I find eye relief too far even with an A2 stock.
NXS will go on a spare bolt action (that was scopeless), and now back to drawing board to scope AR10.

Now debate will be between a 2-10x42 of some sort, and fixed mag like trijicon.
 
If you were ok with the weight of the NXS (30oz) and have a similar budget in mind for scoping your Stag, I'd look at the Leupold Mk5 3.6-18 (26oz) or the NF NX8 2.5-20 (28oz) but if you're looking for a scope that can generally be had for a good deal (and Bushnell still have the 30% rebate on) have a look at either the Bushnell LRTSi 3-12 or 4.5-18 (both 28oz). All these scopes are FFP and lighter than the NXS you got and although I can't speak to the NX8, the Mk5s and the LRTSis are all very rugged, dependable scopes.
 
I’ll definitely have a look at the mk5.
See if it can be had in lower mags.

Even with 15x, it was a bit much for an AR10.

I have had a chance to look through NX8, the eye box is much too tight

Edit : was looking at Jerry’s picture and a cantilevered scope mount may be my option.
 
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I’m not sure if you’ve looked at the primary arms 3-18 hud dmr. I just put that on my stag10, the glass looks clear in low light, but I just love the reticle.

I really would love to try the 2.5-10 primary arms out as well
 
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