What do you think Bushnell and Night Force
- Thread starter grunt19
- Start date
- Location
- Virden, MB
The 6500's that I've looked at did not have the vertical hash marks on the turrets. I find those very important for tracking. I like the 4200's in the bushy. The 4200 tactical has the 30mm tube and tactical turrets for $300 less than a 6500. Just another option.
But really, the NF scopes are a thing of beauty, but over budget for most people.
But really, the NF scopes are a thing of beauty, but over budget for most people.
Scharfschütze
Regular
- Location
- Courtenay B.C.
Most of my rifles now have Nightforce scopes....Money well spent IMHO.
If you can afford Nightforce you should buy Nightforce.
Look back in history you will see that good optics are constantly going up in price (dollar notwithstanding).
Good optics will never be cheaper than they are right now.
I could sell my original (one of the first in Canada) 5.5-22X56 scopes for more than I paid for it....I consider that good value....Especially when I consider what the scope has been through yet it still tracks perfectly and still has great optics.
Of the 6 or so Bushnell scopes I have owned all but one have been in for servicing at one point or another.
2 are are no longer functional.
If you can afford Nightforce you should buy Nightforce.
Look back in history you will see that good optics are constantly going up in price (dollar notwithstanding).
Good optics will never be cheaper than they are right now.
I could sell my original (one of the first in Canada) 5.5-22X56 scopes for more than I paid for it....I consider that good value....Especially when I consider what the scope has been through yet it still tracks perfectly and still has great optics.
Of the 6 or so Bushnell scopes I have owned all but one have been in for servicing at one point or another.
2 are are no longer functional.
Nobody ever regretted buying the best optics they could afford. Nobody ever regrets buying a Nightforce.
Bushnell are good in many regards, but they have never addressed the needs of long range precision shooters in terms of their reticles. Looking at most Bushnell reticles - to me - is like looking through an iron gate. Way too thick, dots too large. I looked through a new Sightron last night and the same criticism.
Nightforce NP2DD is the best target reticle I have ever seen. Now that we have a .4 MOA ICFRA target, fine reticles are more important than ever.
Bushnell are good in many regards, but they have never addressed the needs of long range precision shooters in terms of their reticles. Looking at most Bushnell reticles - to me - is like looking through an iron gate. Way too thick, dots too large. I looked through a new Sightron last night and the same criticism.
Nightforce NP2DD is the best target reticle I have ever seen. Now that we have a .4 MOA ICFRA target, fine reticles are more important than ever.
My rifle is close to be finished, but i will use it only next year just because i whant to buy good scope, i have a Schmidt on a 300wm, a NF on my 338LM and i whant at least NF on the 308 i'am building.
I have shoot with my friend side by side, using my NF and him using is 6500, from the lower to 18, not that much difference, at 18 power and more, there is a big difference between the NF and the 6500, past 25 up to 30, the image was bad
Don't get me wrong, i don't say the 6500 is bad choice, but to me, you better wait little bit and have better... look true both glass, you'll see by your self...
I have shoot with my friend side by side, using my NF and him using is 6500, from the lower to 18, not that much difference, at 18 power and more, there is a big difference between the NF and the 6500, past 25 up to 30, the image was bad
Don't get me wrong, i don't say the 6500 is bad choice, but to me, you better wait little bit and have better... look true both glass, you'll see by your self...
I moved from 4200 6x24x40 to 4200 6x24x50 Tactical (still have both) to NF 8x32x56 and there is a WORLD of difference to these old eyes, I'd have a couple more NF's in a heartbeat if I could afford. Hopefully my one of my sons drops out of university so I can spend the tuition on one. JUST KIDDING /cry
But are not the best in the field.
If you are going with a custom 338 edge, get a nightforce. The only choice is FFP, reticle, and objective diameter.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I agree wholeheartedly. Though I'd probably go with the NP-R1 or NP-R2. I kinda wish I had bought one in 5.5-22x for my ATRS 300 WM. Not that the Mark 4 on it was a bad choice (3.5-10x40 TMR), but I think more power might not have been a bad thing.
Don't go FFP. I know you can range at any power, but what you end up with is an unusable reticle at low power and a horrifically coarse reticle once you jack the power up. Thanks, but I'll take my reticle the same at all power levels.
As for diameter, you might as well go with the 56mm objective. For a hundred or so bucks more it's worth having.
And go 5.5-22x. You get more internal adjustment that the 8-32x and 22x is very shootable from field positions where 32x will be jitterier.
Only problem with NP-R1 or NP-R2 over mildot is that you can not cover as much distance without touching the elevation turrets. It is not often that I can get a close range zero on the top half of the reticle anyway though.
With you on that.
How much do you want for the 3.5-10x40 TMR BTW?
I would get a 12-42x56 Benchrest above all others. I own 2 now and would buy a third in a heartbeat.
If you need/want the 1/4 min adjustments then the NXS would be the one you spent money on once and you would not have regrets as to whether you should have bought the Bushnell or not.
If you need/want the 1/4 min adjustments then the NXS would be the one you spent money on once and you would not have regrets as to whether you should have bought the Bushnell or not.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Did a side by side comparison with a NXS 22X, Elite 4200 24X w/mildot reticle AO, and a Sightron SIII LR 24X.
Looking at a chimney at just over 1000yds.
From a clarity and resolution stand point, the Elite and NF were identical. The owner of the NF was there and prefered the colour of the Elite. I figured it was a tie for my eyes.
The Sightron SIII was tangibly better at resolving both the texture of the bricks and defining the grout lines. Colour was much brighter especially with primary colours. Side focus was quicker to adjust then on the NF.
We also viewed a clock on a porch 750yds away and the Sightron was the easiest to make out the numbers.
All scopes were compared at their highest mag.
For my eyes, the AO Elite 4200 offers the best glass vs $$$ spent and what I compete with. Mechanicals have proven reliable after several thousand rds and lots of dialing around.
As for adjustment range and reticle features, the NF wins no doubt but how many people will actually use more then 30mins of elevation?
Sightron is threatening to offer new reticles in 2010. We shall see. Their reticles are definitely large from a target shooters point of view. Mechanicals, finish, feel were excellent. There are lots in use in the US with excellent feedback for mechanicals/tracking. They are also significantly lighter then the NF.
Unfortunately, most other Bushnells like the tactical and 6500 lose some resolution at full mag. Their mechanicals are usually excellent though. They really should be doing better with their glass. I don't mind their mildot reticles as they are indexed at 12X so are 1/2 sized at 24X. The dot is right around MOA. The line is about 1/3min thick.
If/When Sightron brings in different reticles, I will certainly offer them and likely switch over to one in high mag. Hard to argue with the price vs optics quality.
Here is something most shooters don't realise. ALL, and I do mean all that I have looked through, high mag variable scopes with lots of elevation adjustment loose clarity/resolution when adjusted to the extremes of travel. This is simply a byproduct of moving the lense out of ideal optical alignment.
Give it a try and you will see why many competition shooters suggest you center your optics at the distance you want to compete. That is where the 'best' glass is.
So, you may have a scope with oodles of adjustment but how useable is it? That Elite 4200 AO that I use most often only has 30mins of travel BUT all if it is crystal clear so whether dialed down for 200yds or 1000yds, the image remains the same.
Some scopes loose so much clarity that only the middle 2/3's of travel is desireable. Others will loose the optical prowess only at one extreme IF the windage is not too far off center.
Again, this is not brand specific as it affects every variable I have had the pleasure of testing. Give it a try yourself. Might surprise you.
Jerry
Looking at a chimney at just over 1000yds.
From a clarity and resolution stand point, the Elite and NF were identical. The owner of the NF was there and prefered the colour of the Elite. I figured it was a tie for my eyes.
The Sightron SIII was tangibly better at resolving both the texture of the bricks and defining the grout lines. Colour was much brighter especially with primary colours. Side focus was quicker to adjust then on the NF.
We also viewed a clock on a porch 750yds away and the Sightron was the easiest to make out the numbers.
All scopes were compared at their highest mag.
For my eyes, the AO Elite 4200 offers the best glass vs $$$ spent and what I compete with. Mechanicals have proven reliable after several thousand rds and lots of dialing around.
As for adjustment range and reticle features, the NF wins no doubt but how many people will actually use more then 30mins of elevation?
Sightron is threatening to offer new reticles in 2010. We shall see. Their reticles are definitely large from a target shooters point of view. Mechanicals, finish, feel were excellent. There are lots in use in the US with excellent feedback for mechanicals/tracking. They are also significantly lighter then the NF.
Unfortunately, most other Bushnells like the tactical and 6500 lose some resolution at full mag. Their mechanicals are usually excellent though. They really should be doing better with their glass. I don't mind their mildot reticles as they are indexed at 12X so are 1/2 sized at 24X. The dot is right around MOA. The line is about 1/3min thick.
If/When Sightron brings in different reticles, I will certainly offer them and likely switch over to one in high mag. Hard to argue with the price vs optics quality.
Here is something most shooters don't realise. ALL, and I do mean all that I have looked through, high mag variable scopes with lots of elevation adjustment loose clarity/resolution when adjusted to the extremes of travel. This is simply a byproduct of moving the lense out of ideal optical alignment.
Give it a try and you will see why many competition shooters suggest you center your optics at the distance you want to compete. That is where the 'best' glass is.
So, you may have a scope with oodles of adjustment but how useable is it? That Elite 4200 AO that I use most often only has 30mins of travel BUT all if it is crystal clear so whether dialed down for 200yds or 1000yds, the image remains the same.
Some scopes loose so much clarity that only the middle 2/3's of travel is desireable. Others will loose the optical prowess only at one extreme IF the windage is not too far off center.
Again, this is not brand specific as it affects every variable I have had the pleasure of testing. Give it a try yourself. Might surprise you.
Jerry
Nightforce has been fine scope for me I have the benchrest model 8x 32x 56mm My friend just bought a NSX 8 to 32 he like it but he doesn't like only 4 click per minute adjustments, Benchrest model gives you 8 per min
