Scope for precision rifle

Kevin M. said:
I'll post a bit more on this when I get home from work, but I can strongly recommend the NXS 5.5-22x56 with zerostop.

I had plenty of play in my budget, and I ended up with four of these scopes, one for each of my .338's and .50's.

Built like a tank, glass is very clear, and you can be 100% confident of your adjustments, they are very precise and totally repeatable.

For reticle, I would advise against a bdc reticule, they severely limit your potential to tune the rifle and loads, and never seem to work 100%. Go with an MOA reticule, or Mil if that is what you get your turrets in. Always try to math your reticule with your turrets, forget mil-dots. For NF, I can't say enough about the MOAR reticule, having the ability to count exactly moa to adjust your shot has seriously improved my shooting and my ability to call for others, it is just natural, no math to do. Shot landed 2.25 MOA over on the scope? Dial 2.25 MOA over. Bang, done!
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This ^^^^^^^!!!!!!!
 
What would be your preference, FFP or SFP?

That will be a big determining factor between the ATACR or something like the Razor II.
 
I am pretty sure that a S&B is out of my price range, and even if I could afford it, a S&B would be wasted on me.

On the other hand, has anyone used a Nightforce G7? If so, what did you think?
 
Hoag said:
I am pretty sure that a S&B is out of my price range, and even if I could afford it, a S&B would be wasted on me.

On the other hand, has anyone used a Nightforce G7? If so, what did you think?
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For less $$ you could get the NXS which has warranty anywhere, rather than simply at 1 dealer. The gimmick with the G7 is the elevation turret that is supposedly ballistically matched to your rifles trajectory. Having a capped windage turret is just plain dumb. The problem in the real world is that your trajectory changes by the minute, so if close is good enough you might be happy, but if real precision is the desire, dial up based on what the trajectory really is at that second and hit things with your bullets rather than getting kinda sorta close.
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
For less $$ you could get the NXS which has warranty anywhere, rather than simply at 1 dealer. The gimmick with the G7 is the elevation turret that is supposedly ballistically matched to your rifles trajectory. Having a capped windage turret is just plain dumb. The problem in the real world is that your trajectory changes by the minute, so if close is good enough you might be happy, but if real precision is the desire, dial up based on what the trajectory really is at that second and hit things with your bullets rather than getting kinda sorta close.
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Thanks. That was pretty much what I thought, but I wasn't sure.
 
Hoag said:
I prefer 2nd focal plane. That would lean more towards the ATACR.
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Then go with the ATACR, it was your first choice you were saving for. You will also be hard pressed to find a better SFP.

The G7 is nothing special either, they play with the turrets and change up the reticle in a limited run. Nightforce standard reticles are better in my opinion and for precision, open adjustable turrets are nicer and a more precise reference than a BDC turret that is useless whenever you change your load.
 
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S&B sublime, but NF is close 2nd. It takes a wealthy man to buy cheap scopes. I have been down the Sightron path because so many said they were good. Sorry, once you own and have owned NF, the conclusion is axiomatic. NF hands down. If NF is a lexus, sightron is the toyota yaris
 
I usually recommend S+B - seriously top tier and, yes, I have reviewed the March: Coles notes version = it ain't no S+B. NF is what I recommend it the price tag for S+B is just too much. While all but one of my NF's are the NXS, the best glass is to be found in their BR series and the NFBR 12-42x56 is, indeed, an excellent scope. While I do have some Leupold, I do think that they are no longer the best out there. I recommend Sightron as the value buy - the Siii 8-32x56 is the real gem of the pack and while not quite NF they cost less than 1/2 what you'd expect to pay for that brand. Bushnell elite are very good - the newest ones are especially so but the price tag is high. I do not recommend Vortex though many, many people really like them.
 
I just got back from a road trip to the Cabela's in Barrie. They have just started carrying Nightforce scopes. I got to take a look through a few (ATACR, NXS and SVH) and all I can say is "WOW"! The glass on these are so much better than on my Vortex PST. Although the SVH is not what I am looking for, it is coming in at about the same price point as the Vortex PST, and it is a far better scope. As things stand, it looks as if it has now become a matter of when, not if I put a Nightforce on my rifle and whether I go for the NXS or seize the brass ring so to speak and get the ATACR. (With the NXS, I can continue to use my 30mm rings, but if I go for the ATACR, it is $400ish more for the scope, + another $200ish for 34mm rings.)

At this point, the only thing that would move me away from a Nightforce would be if S&B suddenly released a $2000 scope, or if the Steiner T5Xi really is as good as they say. (Cabela's also had some Steiner scopes, but they compared more closely to the Vortex than they did to the Nightforce.)

Thanks for all the great advice that everybody gave. FWIW, I still think that the PST is a good scope, but I really was blown away by what I saw today.
 
Does anyone have any experience with March scopes? I just found out about their 3-24x42 scope. It is about the same price as the NF ATACR but is FFP. I have read some reviews about it and they tend to be glowing. The cynic in me tends to think that anything that sounds too good to be true probably is, but wow do they ever sound great!

http: //marchscopes.com/tactical-3-24-x-42-ffp.html

Review: http: //www.sincityprecision.com/?p=304

I can read the reviews online, but has anyone here ever used (or even seen) one first hand and if you did, what were your impressions?

I had planned on going for a SFP, but I do like the reticle on this and think it would be a great option as a FFP
 
As to the FFP vs SFP scope debate, there are endless threads on this online already, so I may as well put in my piece.

I prefer a thin, fine reticle at all magnifications that you get from SFP, rather than the Hash marks being accurate at all distances like you get on a FFP scope, but that is personal opinion, and can vary depending on the desired purpose of the scope.

Just my .02.
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
For less $$ you could get the NXS which has warranty anywhere, rather than simply at 1 dealer. The gimmick with the G7 is the elevation turret that is supposedly ballistically matched to your rifles trajectory. Having a capped windage turret is just plain dumb. The problem in the real world is that your trajectory changes by the minute, so if close is good enough you might be happy, but if real precision is the desire, dial up based on what the trajectory really is at that second and hit things with your bullets rather than getting kinda sorta close.
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Totally agreed.

I got the hard sell on the G7 system when buying my last 3 NF scopes, and gave it a thorough examination before coming to the same general conclusions.

What happens when my throat starts eroding in 2000 rounds and I need to change my load to keep the rifle accurate? All of a sudden the turrets are no longer tuned to the load.

I'll take and MOA reticule and MOA turrets every day of the week and twice on sundays over the G7.
 
Thanks. I am aware of the differences between FFP & SFP scopes and the advantages / disadvantages both offer. My (latest) question was not about FFP vs SFP, it was whether anyone had seen one of the March scopes first hand and if they really do live up to or deserve the incredible reviews they are getting.
 
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