Thanks again for the responses, I will go with NXS NF more than likely 2.5-10x
Thanks again for the responses, I will go with NXS NF more than likely 2.5-10x
The NXS line is unbeatable for cost and quality
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The Mark4's seem to be no more though. I wanted to pick up a 2.5-8 or 3.5-10 for a true SPR clone since the 2.5-10x24 NXS are hard to come by and more expensive.
The two Mark 4 scopes you mention seem to be correct to an SPR clone the x42 NF isn't.
I have a NF 2.5-10x32 on my SPR-ish rifle but it's not a clone. Love the scope. Rugged, repeatable and reliable. Very clear bright glass.
I am part of that power which eternally wills evil, and eternally works good.
Vortex doesn't offer something in the size and magnification range OP asked about. The 3-18x50 is what, 44 ounces? Good scopes if weight is NO consideration.
I agree: the quality is excellent, and it's hard to find a more expensive scope at a given magnification range than the NXS. Oh, there's a few options from US Optics, Swarovski and Leica, not to mention the Nightforce ATACR series, but...
Anyway, it's a premium product, the quality is there but it isn't cheap.
The Mark 4 sold-as-such is discontinued, but the "new" VX3i-LRP line has some very familiar looking scopes:
https://www.leupold.com/hunting-shoo...p-riflescopes/
OP: I think the NXS is a better scope than the Mark 4 in most ways. I would consider a Mark 4 only if I could get a great closeout deal, which I did last year on one btw. At standard prices the NXS is an OK deal, and one of the best available options for moderate size with high quality and ruggedness, while the Mark 4 was overpriced. If it were my rifle I'd look at the NXS compact 2.5-10x32 and 2.5-10x42. I don't like the pushbutton "digillum" on the x42, however. I hate single-pushbutton systems in general, and I think Nightforce's implementation is among the worst, compared to say Leupold's. The older x32 has a dial and doesn't suffer from this problem.
Another option you might consider, although heavier, is the EOTech Vudu 2.5-10x42, which has outstanding illumination and overall seems like a very strong challenger to the NXS Compact 2.5-10x42, except for weight. EOTech uses a button system but has three of them, separate ones for on/off, brighter, and dimmer, and the reticle has no bleed or fuzziness issues - I've seen uneven illumination and minor light bleeding on several NXS scopes I've had my hands on, as well as a SHV (which appears to be derived from the NXS). The EOTech Vudu has perfect, even illumination that previously I had only seen on Steiner Military scopes. The Vudu scopes are made in Japan by LOW and I would assume they are no more likely to have temperature sensitivity issues than any other premium scope made at LOW, which includes the Nightforce NXS and SHV series, and major components of all other NF scopes.
^^^ really appreciate the info, will look into the Eotech. My build is not a 100% clone (spec war muzzle device instead of ops inc, Mur-1a upper and probably optics being the differences).
About a month or two ago every optics retailer, including the big box stores, were blowing out MK4s. Like 1/2 price.
I looked hard at them, but they are long in the tooth and still saddled by Mil reticles with MOA turrets and the like.
NXS or SHV from Nightforce.
I got mine at half price and could look past the handicaps for that.
NXS no question. The SHV line is intentionally hobbled to avoid stealing sales from the NXS and ATACR: most models have no option for a mil-based reticle or mil adjustments, the MOA per turn is very limited, and the only model that does have a mil option, the F1 SHV, has rather short eye relief (although it's a good scope otherwise) and is into the lower edge of NXS price territory. The SHV 3-10x would be a nice scope if you could get the MIL-R (or even a mildot) and mil adjustments. I just don't have a use for the MOAR and MOA adjustments, and the IHR reticle is really limited to hunting type use at short ranges that don't require any holdover. Also, while the F1 model seems to have very good glass, the 4-14x56mm model I owned for a time had just-OK glass, and reticle illumination was mediocre and uneven both asymmetrically (left was slightly brighter than right) and by axis (the vertical line was much brighter than the horizontal line).
I haven't owned any of the newer top end Nightforce scopes (BEAST and ATACR) but my time with four NXS's and one SHV makes me wonder about the "Night" part of the name, because none of them had great illumination. Their well-earned reputation is for ruggedness and repeatability, possibly the two most important features of a scope, but the illumination is not great. Here's my short list of scopes I've owned with better illumination: Steiner Military; Leupold Mark 6; EOTech Vudu; Burris XTRII; Vortex Viper PST; Weaver Tactical 3-15x50 EMDR and 6-30x56 IMDR. The first three are somewhat expensive, but the PST and EMDR are not so expensive, well under $1k.
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