NF NXS 2.5-10 Reticle choices

[3O8Junkie]

We are looking to put a NF NXS 2.5-10 on my lady friends SPR build but we are having a tough time choosing a reticle. She has shot the NPR-2 reticle and liked it a lot. She has not got the chance to look through a mil dot reticle yet and neither have I. She is leaning towards the NPR-2

To be perfectly honest I know nothing of how to use MIl/MOA correctly and neither does she so we are not set on one or the other, we are willing to learn. With that said which would you go with and why?

We do intend to get matching mil/mil or moa/moa reticle/turrets whichever direction we go.

From what I have read Mil sounds easier in theory because of the ability to simply use multiples of 10 when figuring things out, MOA sounds much more random.

My buddy with the NPR-2 is sold on the velocity reticles out now but I dislike being stuck on one load of ammo. I personally end up with multiple types of ammunition and like the ability to shoot them all without guessing.

What say the brain trust?

[Shotdown]

I chose the NP-R2 reticle because I shoot different bullet weights. I have one on my 5.56 rifle and I prefer to use holdover or dial in if I have the time. I've used it for Varmit hunting at night time and have had zero issues with the lit reticle. Some people have complained about the reticle being to thin and hard to see during the day. I've yet to have that issue.

Definitely go with matching turrets and reticle. Also, I recommend exposed turrets and zero stop.

Most people choose to go with MOA since it's easier to convert. For example, 1 MOA = 1" at 100 yds, 2 MOA = 2" at 200 yds and so on. I sighted mine in with Winchester Q3131 55gr factory ammo at 100 yds. At 200 yds I'm holding about 1 MOA, 300 yds...2 MOA, 400 yds...5 MOA, 500 yds...8 MOA, 600 yds...10 MOA. So pick a round that you will mainly use and create a holdover chart and tape it to your rifle.

My buddy has the Velocity 600 and he now has to develop a load that will match or come close to the reticle.

[ALCOAR]

The best...or most versatile:

Mildot/Mil/Z-Stop.........there is almost nothing under the sun that optic can't do.

The best...or easiest to use:

Low Velocity ret./MOA.......You can dial this reticle down to the nuts with real MV, and it's scary accurate with off the shelf MK262 all the way out to 600yds in 10mph winds. The sight in distance for MK262 is 200yds at the actual 200yd hash mark in the ret. Basically perfect.

Just my 2cents

[Biggy]

This is another option for you in the NF NXS 2.5-10 scope this year . http://nightforceoptics.com/reticles/MOAR/

[Shotdown]

The best...or most versatile:

Mildot/Mil/Z-Stop.........there is almost nothing under the sun that optic can't do.

The best...or easiest to use:

Low Velocity ret./MOA.......You can dial this reticle down to the nuts with real MV, and it's scary accurate with off the shelf MK262 all the way out to 600yds in 10mph winds. The sight in distance for MK262 is 200yds at the actual 200yd hash mark in the ret. Basically perfect.

Just my 2cents

I'm going to try that MK262 with mine to see how it does.

Looking at that MOAR reticle, I do like 1 MOA substensions over the 2 MOA on the NP-R2. I usually shoot mil/mil so the NF is the only MOA scope I have.

[ALCOAR]

Quite some time ago in another thread on the Hide, a NF rep (00bullitt) weighed in with perhaps the most detailed, yet short and sweet LV rundown around.

I will echo the summary below from my own first hand experience except I used the 600yd version or the LV versus the newer F1 1000yd LV.5.

" Currently the only velocity reticle offered in the F1 is the LV.5

It is designed around ballistic profiles similar to the 175SMK going 2600fps give or take 25fps.

The velocity reticles are not designed around any one specific cartridge, but instead, a ballistic profile. The 168SMK going 2650 and the 175SMK going 2600 works well as do others.

Visit the Nightforce Optics website and utilize the calculator to see how the reticle measures against the ammo shot out of your gun. It is very important to verify the muzzle velocity shot out of the gun you intend to use the scope on.

I have an F1 with an LV.5 on a LaRue 18" OBR. My deviation is less than 1moa throughout the range. I shoot Mk316 Mod 0 and it matches up to within a minute. My Berger 168 Hybrid load(2610fps) shoots less than .49moa to 1k. Everything to 1k is actually less than .2moa. 1k is the highest deviation at .49moa low. That is all information that can be obtained from the Velocity Reticle Calculator,

I can ring pieces of 10" steel out to 1k without ever touching the knobs almost as fast as I can index the target.

Its a reticle that does not match up to everything, but when it does it is awesome. It does need to be corrected for at DA's other than where it is designed, but thats not hard. The calculator can provide that info.

I sight in the 200 yard main crosshair at 205 yards to lower the deviation. You can also true up at longer distances for even less deviation. I sometimes true up at 400 yards for a little more precision out at distance. You do not necessarily have to set your target at 205 to sight in. The calculator provides the offset. You can simply sight in at 100 or 200 yards and apply the offset.

The only distance that I really deal with any deviation is at 1k and I know my deviation is .49moa low, so I just correct for it by holding top of the 10" plate for a nice center hit. The wind corrections have always been spot on and are welcome.

We offer many other velocity reticle choices in the second focal plane scopes.

Just the LV.5 in the F1 for now.

This is not just one BDC reticle, but a series of 8 reticles that subtend to different ballistic profiles. All 8 of them are available in the 15x scopes. Only 5 are available in the 22x due to the smaller FOV available. The drops for some cartridges go below the available FOV and are not feasible in the 22x.

Hope this helps some."


Using factory 175gr. SMK from BH or FGMM on a 16" MWS works almost as well I've found as when using factory 77gr. SMK from an 18" SPR.

It's not for every situation, but in terms of pure speed on target at significant distances, the LV ret. is perhaps unbeatable. It takes some time, but it's really a super neat, and effective reticle to use in the actual field once you really get acclimated with it.

[3O8Junkie]

Some really good info here guys thanks a lot! I will look more closely at the reticles mentioned.
The Lv does sound interesting and for her purposes it might be preferable to just point her to one type of ammo and set her loose. We happen to have about 1k of the BH 77gr OTM Red box(i know its not MK262 but its close) that might work nicely to get her in the game with the SPR. This just gives me an excuse to build her another rifle for general purposes!

This site costs me so much money...

[ALCOAR]

Easily the single most impressive display I've seen from my LV in the 2.5-10x32 wasn't too long ago after prob. owning the optic for close to two years.

I took a good friend of mine out recently who had just wanted to check out some LR shooting, and he had never fired even so much as a stock 6520 in the past, let alone a true blue LP AR at significant range.

Right before we cruised for the day, I ask him if he wanted to try out a very user friendly AR for a few shots...he smiled big and so I grabbed the SPR which had yet to even be fired that day.

I set him up prone, taught him how to send the bolt home, and lastly showed him how to make it safe.....that's it, 1min. of time. We were 635yds away from a 2/3rd torso sized steel target, and the LV/rifle were doped for Hornady SF 53gr. VMAX(IIrc 243yd sight in @ 200yd).

I backed completely off of him, told him to hold ever so slightly off the very last hash in the ret (600yd hash)....and then hold 1ft. off the target to the left. Before I could even get down for a spot, I heard the magical BANG........DING!

I called bullshit beginner's luck, and told him to send a half group or 4 more rounds. Ultimately he went 4/5 at 635yds, and registered a BANG..DING his very first trigger pull on any type of AR rifle.

Long story, perhaps pointless....but that story nonetheless perfectly captures what the LV or velocity reticles bring to the table.

[TehLlama]

If they ever turn loose the MLR-2 reticle, I'll snag an NXS-C for sure. Otherwise, the Mildot/MIL/ZS is THE package for that. Even though I have two rifles almost specifically designed for the LV reticle, I just don't like it.