Newbie Needs Help!!

[mcimma]

Here's what I have: Remington 700 308 with factory HS Precision stock, Leupold 1 pc base, Badger Max-50 rings and Nikon Monarch 4-16sf scope. It just came back from the gunsmith and had the trigger tuned to 3.5 lbs, an oversized bolt knob installed, barrel cut to 20" and recrowned and finally the stock/action was glass bed. The smith crono'd it at 2600 fps with Federal match ammo and shot about 3/4"at 100 yds.

Im trying to make a decision on a scope...My two choices are a NF 3.5-15x50 nxs and a Leupold Mark 4 4.5-14x50 lr/t m1....The thing that im trying to get around is the $550.00 difference in price...With that $550, I can complete my kit and buy some ammo where with the NF the accessories will have to wait....

What are your thoughts??

 

[swd]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

You'll never regret the Night Force!

 

[dpreston]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

get the nightforce. buy once, cry once.

 

[mcimma]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dpreston</div><div class="ubbcode-body">get the nightforce. buy once, cry once. </div></div>

Well put....

 

[Overflow10]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: swd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You'll never regret the Night Force! </div></div>

+1 on that. I went through the same exact decision. Got the NXS in 5.5x22 and will not look back - it was $$$ more but worth it.

 

[desertHK]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

No question, I would go with the Nightforce.

 

[psinclair]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

Nightforce

 

[okiefired]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

Well, I'm certainly not going to put down NF, thier excellent optics. But this Friday a pard and I shot .5 moa grps at my (new to me) 1K range on our first attempt at that distance. To say we were pleased is an understatement. I was useing my tried and true MK4 on a factory barreled LTR. I know Leupy gets trashed consistantly on this site but I've got no plans of replacing mine in the near future. Its always performed and I have NOT been easy on it, period. If you need better peformance than this, go with NF, USO or S&B. But try to get one of those for $725 LN, which is what I gave. Try them out, you wont go wrong with either.

okie

 

[psinclair]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

Good point....good buy too!

 

[mcimma]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

The other thing that I have been researching is reticle patterns...I am new to precision shooting and will be going to a basic LE sniper school in July...So far I am liking the moa marked reticle from NF (thats all Ive been exposed to so far...MOA) and it seems that Leupold doesnt offer anything but mil based reticles...Please correct me if im wrong...

 

[chris223]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

ive got the same setup as you have im the other half of the equation i have the mark4 4.5x14 w/ tmr i went with what i could afford and still got it used because of there warranty
ive probably put close to 700 rnds down range w/ that scope and have had zero problems with it at a lot of diffrent ranges and alot of diffrent weather also. now im not putting n.f. down in any way but for what i paid and the performance ive gotten so far im happy w/ the luepy is the night force better i would assume it is for the money they ask but i think a more important question is what application will you be using the rifle will this be a two or three time a year thing or is this two or three times a month if its the last of the two go with the night force because at the end of the year you will have exceeded a whole lot more in ammo than the cost of glass .

 

[Outback]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

night force, optics is 3/4 of the battle

 

[pwc001]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

What is wrong with the Nikon? Why go from a Nikon to a leupold. At least the NF has matching parts.

 

[okiefired]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pwc001</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is wrong with the Nikon? Why go from a Nikon to a leupold. At least the NF has matching parts. </div></div>

pwc, I was gonna ask the OP the same. What do you not like about the Nikon? Even my lowly Buckmaster has performed admirably on a .223 VSSF. The pard I was talking about was useing one of Nikons tacticals on his 40X, its excellent. Only Nikons tactical scopes could be compared to a MK4 though, at least IMO. Anyway, the Monarch's a very good optic. JMO.

okie

 

[JamieD]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

Leupold! I've owned them for years and beat them up all over the country and I only ever had one with an issue. It was repaired and overnighted back to me. I did have a 4.5-14 mark4 but sold it to go with the 6.5-20. Gives a little more magnification for precision work yet low enough on the bottom end for hunting.

I like the TMR reticle a lot.

Good luck,
JamieD
Wolf Precision

 

[mcimma]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pwc001</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is wrong with the Nikon? Why go from a Nikon to a leupold. At least the NF has matching parts. </div></div>

In reality, nothing is wrong with the Nikon...It is the standard Monarch, not the X...I have a problem when I see a kickass setup...I want one!!! I definitely have the disease...I am basically thinning out my herd a little bit and pimping out the remaining weapons...Besides, I have an AR that I can put the Nikon on...

But...I may end up on a regional sniper unit at some point and am gearing my rifle towards that....I want to do it once!!

 

[mcimma]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

Well I ended up with the NF 3.5-15x50 nxs with np-r2 reticle. This scope rocks. Absolutely no regrets whatsoever. Best 3 rd group at 100 is 5/16"...Now if i can only do that consistently...

Thanks for the info guys...

 

[BoredEngineer]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

+1 on the Nightforce. I have a MK4 3.5x-10x 40mm with mildot and 1/4 moa adjustment and I regret not getting a NF or USO the first time around. Get something with matching turrets and you'll be glad you did. As DPreston said buy once cry once.

 

[mcimma]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

Yah, definitely buy once, cry once...Only problem now is that it cut into my stock fund quite a bit....Thought about adding a Manners but with remaining funds I can get a B&C with DBM and have it bedded...Still debating that one though...

 

[slowr1der]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

Nice, congrats on the new scope.

 

[lovain1932]

Re: Newbie Needs Help!!

Glad to see you made the right choice IMHO there is a huge difference in the quality of the glass in NF AND LEUPOLD