Rifle Scopes New Guy Here that Wants to Get Into a NF

[ChrisAU]

Hey guys, joined here because of the wealth of info on scopes. I’m a hunter, not a competition shooter. I’m very active on Rokslide, but think this question will be better for here.

So I’ve started to travel a lot to hunt, and spending large amounts of money and a sickening amount of time planning these hunts. My nightmare is a scope failure, or losing confidence in the scope because of a small fall or impact when climbing/hiking.

I’m shooting a Cooper M92 in 280AI with a brake. It currently has a Vortex 3-15x42 Razor HD LH on it that I have had no issues with. Really a nifty little scope with good optics. I have my doubts about it tracking correctly, even though it has done fine, there’s just no way for me to trust it completely. The internet can make you believe all scopes suck and will fail all the time.

I’ve had Zeiss V6, Swarovski Z8i, Leica, etc but never a NF. I used to be Loopy fan boy but had a VX6-HD shit the bed on me and became very leery.

I’m looking for something to actually add a bit of weight to better stabilize the rifle, but more importantly be rock solid reliable and dial correctly. I like the zoom range of my 3-15 but more x on top would be fine.

I want MOA, because I’m an old turd set in my ways. At first I was convinced I’d try a 4-14x50 SHV F1, and was on here looking for reviews. Then I noticed that 4-16x42 ATACRS were going for $1750-$1900 on the PX, and once I got a used SHV and added covers and a throw lever I’d be around $1100-$1200 in the SHV. I’m thinking the ATACR is easily worth the extra? Anyone had both?

Also, an NXS 3.5-15x50 would be fine, but I’m intrigued by the ability to utilize an FFP MOA reticle in the F1’s for holdovers, and the NXS illumination and parallax adjustment are huge negatives to me when compared to the SHV and ATACR.

 

[308Gunner]

You might keep an eye on the PX if a 5-25 ATACR comes up for sale you will have a scope that will take a beating and you won’t have to worry about it. I have a buddy that is shooting an ATACR sfp and it does not hold him back

 

[WeiserBucks]

I use a 5-25x56 ATACR 2FP for all of my hunting and general shooting, zero complaints. I'm going to get a 4-16x50 at some point.

 

[ChrisAU]

How do you guys think the glass in the 42mm ATACR would compare to the 42mm Razor HD LH? What about the Razor HD LH vs the SHV?

 

[Subwrx300]

I have a 4-16 and 7-35 ATACR FFP and had a 5-25 ATACR SFP. For hunting purposes, the SHV line is awesome: solid glass and lighter weight. But I'd still give a major advantage to the 4-16 ATACR mainly due to the low profile elevation turret with locking button and the zero stop allows dialing 5MOA/1.5mils below zero in case you need it. 16x is plenty of magnification to shoot to 1000+ yds and will have great field of view. I've had NFs for last 6-7 years and zero issues after 15,000+ rounds, countless rifle swaps and zeroing back and forth.

The only other scope that has run flawlessly for same time frame is Burris XTR2. Feels and looks very similar to ATACR but glass is a step down (for $1000 or less, that's to be expected).

As far as magnification goes, I love high mag scopes but generally it's only used when zeroing or shooting groups. In matches on my 7-35x, I've yet to exceed 15x for any reason and it gets set at 10x to start every stage. For hunting, I'd want min of 3-4x for close shots and high of 16-25x to be able to identify specific features of game and confirming animal is one I want.

4-16 or 5-25 ATACR in either F1 or second focal would be perfect for most longer range hunts.

 

[B-P-UU]

4-16 ATACR is an excellent hunting optic. Keep an eye out for the new NX8 offerings in 2.5-20 and 4-32 as well.. supposed to be out this summer.

 

[ChrisAU]

4-16 ATACR is an excellent hunting optic. Keep an eye out for the new NX8 offerings in 2.5-20 and 4-32 as well.. supposed to be out this summer.

If they’d just number the parallax settings to help get me in the ballpark on a quick shot I’d be ordering up mils for dummies because I love the idea of those scopes. I suppose with enough homework, a suitable range, and some white nail polish or a fine tip paint pen I could mark 300, 500, etc. I was worried about the usability of the reticle at 2.5x with an FFP with 8x zoom but I suppose it’s actually a smaller range in observed reticle size than the 5-25x56 F1. Here I am talking myself into one...ha

 

[ChrisAU]

So now I see the new NX8 may be available in MOA/MOAR? Hmmmm

 

[Bender]

To get a into a NF scope, you’ll have to be about 25mm tall and remove a couple lenses. But it would be kinda cool..

 

[264win]

4-16 ATACR is a fantastic hunting (or just about anything) scope

 

[ChrisAU]

Wondering if I'm gonna drop the $ for such a nice piece of equipment if I should bite the bullet and learn mils. Really wouldn't take much more than reprinting some dope cards.

 

[Subwrx300]

Wondering if I'm gonna drop the $ for such a nice piece of equipment if I should bite the bullet and learn mils. Really wouldn't take much more than reprinting some dope cards.

There are three advantage of MIL scopes: if you shoot in PRS competitions, majority of competitors are also shooting MILs so data/wind calls will be easier to discuss. Second, should you ever want to sell it here, it might go faster and/or for *slightly* higher value than MOA equivalent. Third there is a cool wind drift cheat that allows you to estimate hold based on bullet BC and distance (distance /100= wind hold at XXmph); MOA scopes have a similar formula that equals 1/2 the distance divided by 100.

Beyond that, both systems do the same thing. It's your preference. I'd stick with the system that you and your shooting buddies use most often.

 

[ChrisAU]

Yeah I should probably stick to MOA. For shots on an elk I'm limiting myself to 600 yards, because its the furthest I can regularly practice at. Plinking by this boards standards haha.

 

[ChrisAU]

Welp just pulled the trigger on a demo 4-16x50 SFP ATACR from @Mile High Shooting , seems like it should b an excellent hunting scope. Wanted to dabble in FFP but I know for hunting I’ll enjoy the SFP. Looking forward to dialing with confidence for the first time ever.

 

[VegasHKShooter]

For a pure hunting scope, that’s an AWESOME choice. Can’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Remember....if you want to dial, you need to be at full power.
Otherwise you have to make fractional adjustments based on what power you are in with a SFP.

 

[ChrisAU]

For a pure hunting scope, that’s an AWESOME choice. Can’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Remember....if you want to dial, you need to be at full power.
Otherwise you have to make fractional adjustments based on what power you are in with a SFP.

Uh, for center point aim of the reticle? This April fools again?

 

[VegasHKShooter]

Nope, disregard. I’m so used to shooting NRL/PRS style matches that I usually hold elevations and wind in a FFP.
My slip. If you’re just holding center dot and dialing, you’re correct.
It’s been forever since I shot a SFP, and I mis spoke.

 

[ChrisAU]

Nope, disregard. I’m so used to shooting NRL/PRS style matches that I usually hold elevations and wind in a FFP.
My slip. If you’re just holding center dot and dialing, you’re correct.
It’s been forever since I shot a SFP, and I mis spoke.

I hear ya, I was doubting everything (not much ha) I knew for a second there

 

[patriot07]

Great scope choice for what you're looking to do - I can't imagine you'll have anything negative to say. That's probably exactly what I'd get for a pure hunting rifle.

 

[Fig]

To get a into a NF scope, you’ll have to be about 25mm tall and remove a couple lenses. But it would be kinda cool..

It might be easier to get it into you...depending...