Rifle Scopes NF ATACR - which to get?

[CaliMR]

Hi All,

I have a 338 Lapua bolt rifle on order that should be done pretty soon, and I haven't figured out what scope to get. The builder suggested a NightForce ATACR in 5-25x56, but he said the reticle is up to my preference. I could use some help figuring that out. There is a MIL-R, MIL-C, MOAR, H59, and the Tremor3. There is also 1st and 2nd focal plane versions. I've used MIL and MOA, but only in 2nd focal pane scopes. I varmint out to 200 yards, but this will be my first long range rifle. The rifle will mostly be used off a rest or prone at 500+ yards on steel targets.

Any advice? Also, as far as resale value if I ever sell it, is any one better or worse?

 

[Covertnoob5]

I'd personally suggest the NF 7-35 ATACR. I have one with the Mil-r and I love it. I'd prefer the mil-c or maybe an h59 but those aren't available at the moment.


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[schutzprecision]

I have the 5-25 first focal plane with the moar reticle. I use it for paper targets and steel out to 1000 yards. The glass is very good. The turrets track spot on and return to zero every time.

 

[SRPowah]

I am about to list my Mil-C (shameless plug I guess), but I like it compared to the Mil-R in my 2.5-10x. The .2 mil wind holds are handy when hitting smaller targets at distance. One can easily hold with either reticle, but the smaller breakdowns give you a touch more confidence on your holds.

But being a .338 Lapua Magnum, I gotta go with Covert's suggestion and vote the 7-35x. If you are shooting close than 1k with a Lapua, you need a 2nd long range rifle.

 

[Conrad]

I'm not going to argue against the 35x because I haven't looked through one but the 5-25x has more elevation if you are able to really stretch that Lapua out. I can say that the MILC is done very well and has the most intuitive 0.2 mil hash arrangement I've seen yet. Super quick to get on the mark you need, and obviously nice for fine tuning your wind hold.

 

[Fursniper]

I've shot my 338 LM with the 5-25 Mil-C, it will take you out as far as the capability of the rifle, a very nice optic.

 

[M2CattleCo]

I have MIL_Rs and a MIL-C.

Get the MIL-C, it's a much easier to use reticle.

I was shooting my MIL-R today and I still have to count hash marks. I've had MIL-R for two years.

 

[CaliMR]

Thanks for the opinions. I'm going to have to keep thinking about it. I like that the MIL-R is less cluttered, but that's probably because most of my shooting is hunting. I am going 1st Focal though.

Is illuminated worth having? I've never tried an illuminated reticle.

As to the 25x vs 35x, that's just what was suggested. I have zero experience at this range, and I don't really have access to anything I could test. I don't really see a downside to the 35x other than cost, except it not available in the Tremor of H59 if I decide I want those. Minimum zoom only matters for walking guns imo.

 

[Fursniper]

Thanks for the opinions. I'm going to have to keep thinking about it. I like that the MIL-R is less cluttered, but that's probably because most of my shooting is hunting. I am going 1st Focal though.

Is illuminated worth having? I've never tried an illuminated reticle.

As to the 25x vs 35x, that's just what was suggested. I have zero experience at this range, and I don't really have access to anything I could test. I don't really see a downside to the 35x other than cost, except it not available in the Tremor of H59 if I decide I want those. Minimum zoom only matters for walking guns imo.

If you really like the Mil-R because it's less cluttered, you better think twice before getting a Tremor or H59!
One thing about the 7 x 35, I have only used the Mil-R in that but smallish targets at ELR ranges, the reticle seemed too large at the higher powers to me. Not sure how the Mil-C would fare.

 

[tnichols]

Have a pair of 5-25's with the C546 Mil-R reticle. Solid optic.

 

[Covertnoob5]

The 7-35 actually has more internal adjustment than what is actually listed on the website or in the spec sheet. It has about 120 moa. I run mine on a 40 moa base and have 28.5 mils of elevation available.


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[M2CattleCo]

The 5-25 tunnels from 5-7, the 7-35 doesn't, so it's really 7-25 vs 7-35.

The MIL-R isn't cluttered, but the subtensions are fucky. The center crosshair is 1/2 mil gap, past that is 1/4mil gap and hash. It looks like 1/3mil to me. I get lost and have to count hashes from the last full mil mark.

As soon as the MIL-C is ready for 4-16 I'm getting two swapped and I'll probably buy a 7-35.

I've played with the 7-35 and it's a helluva scope.

 

[stwcattle]

For sure go with a ATACR 25 or 35x scope. For hunting I think the 25x is all your going to need.

For years I have ran the 5~25 2nd focal plane MOAR reticle scopes from NF for hunting and precision rifle with no complaints.

I recently gave the TreMor 3 a try. I'm really liking the reticle a lot. For precision rifle, I will not be going back to my other NF scopes. One of my favorite features of the TreMor is the center dot. The reticle may seem cluttered but when your eyes are focused on the dot and the target, I dont notice the rest of the reticle.

I like the TreMor 3 reticle so much, I have mounted the scope to my 6 creed hunting rifle and plan to use it this October on a Wyoming antelope hunt. I got 3 tags so I'm taking along the 300 Norma and 7 SAUM that have F2 MOAR reticle scopes mounted to them. I have a real strong feeling I'm going to have a couple of 2nd focal plane MOA based scopes for sale.

 

[samnev]

5-25X56 with the MOAR reticle is my favorite.

 

[CaliMR]

If you really like the Mil-R because it's less cluttered, you better think twice before getting a Tremor or H59!
One thing about the 7 x 35, I have only used the Mil-R in that but smallish targets at ELR ranges, the reticle seemed too large at the higher powers to me. Not sure how the Mil-C would fare.

I like uncluttered for a hunting scope, but for targets it can just get used to the clutter if there is a real benefit. I usually only go to a range to sight the guns, 99% of my shooting is in the woods, so this will be my first bench gun. It also looks like the H59 and Tremor aren't offered in illuminated, but I don't know if that is a big deal either. I have never used one.


After all the advice here, I have concluded that I am going to have to think about it more. I have a 4-30x Bushnell Elite on my squirrel gun, I'll swap that over and give it a try at long range to see if I want the higher magnification. There is no comparison in glass between the two, but it should give me an idea. It's a mil-dot reticle (though MOA clicks iirc, it was cheapest version because it was on sale) so it is sort of similar to the MIL-R and I can see if I want the grids. That also gives them time to come out with more reticles for the 7-35 if I go that way.


I gotta say though, this is the friendliest forum I've ever been on. No "search, noob" posts. I'll come back and let you guys know what I decided, and post up details on the rig and its performance. I'm also having a Proof barreled featherweight 22-250 built but the stock is probably still months out. That one I'm thinking a fixed 10x for weight, as it will be my walking gun when I'm after smaller game, instead of my 45-70 guide gun. I hope it will replace my squirrel gun too, but that depends how well it shoots.

 

[CSTactical]

If someone is looking for the 7-35 with the Tremor3, I know where one is
Call for hide pricing at 916.670.1103

 

[WaltHer]

7-35 is excellent. As covertnoob stated it has >+120moa despite what the website says. Being FFP, the MOAR reticle is a little heavy. The 2nd FP ATACR is available with the MOAR-T reticle which is very fine. I run that on the 375CT for very long range engagements. The real benefit of The 7-35 is it's optical quality not the extra 10x. I rarely shoot on full power due to mirage conditions but it is a winner for shooting into shadows and in darker conditions.

 

[parshal]

I have two F1 4-16's and one F1 5-25. All three have the Mil-R. I'd much rather have the Mil-C for all the reasons stated above. My range only goes to 600 yards and when I go from the 16x to the 25x the difference is substantial so I'd suspect the 35x would be like a telescope. The 25x scope is extremely popular and I'd think resale would be simple. I'd pick the 25x simply for the Mil-C reticle.

 

[Conrad]

I think MILC is worth having now, and you can always move it pretty easy once MILC is available in the 7-35 if you really want the 35x.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I have the 5-25 1st FP MOAR-T ,works great for me at the range and just fine for hunting.

 

[blbennett1288]

I have the MIL-R in an NXS and it is very difficult to remember the initial sub-tensions from the center and I do not find them very helpful until you get past 1MIL. I have a Burris/Steiner SCR reticle and I love it for its horizontal sub-tensions, but it leaves a lot to be desired vertically with the 0.5mil marks. The MIL-C is the perfect combination for someone who does not like christmas tree reticle.

I currently am running the T5Xi 5-25x56 and am looking for a replacement; anyone in the sport knows you are always wanting to try the latest and greatest, as I am inherently tough on equipment my search has lead me to the ATACR 5-25 and 7-35. I have not read a single negative comment about the 7-35, but do not know if i can pull the trigger on it with the MIL-R. I might wait until they release it in the MIL-C as it looks like a reticle swap is $400.

 

[CSTactical]

Another win for our sponsored shooter Jacob Denny this weekend with the Nightforce 7-35 Mil-R

 

[maggitas]

I would suggest either a B.E.A.S.T or 7-35 Nighforce. The beast for the obvious reason of having more elevation on a single turn and the 7-35 for more magnification. whichever is more important to you.

 

[CaliMR]

Hi All,

As promised, I'm back to show what I decided on. Vortex HD II in 4.5-27x with the EBR2C milrad reticle. And this is the beast it is attached to. Built by Spartan Precision with Deviant Tactical action, 26" Bartlein MTU barrel, AI mags, A5 stock, Fatboy brake. I got a screaming deal on the Vortex, I think it was a typo on a random website but they honored it, and for the difference in performance with the NF and my lack of skill I didn't think it was worth the extra $1k+ to go NF, though the purple/bronze color made it hard to pick a color scheme. I like the final result, it looks a lot better in person because of the texturing within the colors in the stock. Now to learn how to shoot it...

 

[southerngolfer]

Hi All,

As promised, I'm back to show what I decided on. Vortex HD II in 4.5-27x with the EBR2C milrad reticle. And this is the beast it is attached to. Built by Spartan Precision with Deviant Tactical action, 26" Bartlein MTU barrel, AI mags, A5 stock, Fatboy brake. I got a screaming deal on the Vortex, I think it was a typo on a random website but they honored it, and for the difference in performance with the NF and my lack of skill I didn't think it was worth the extra $1k+ to go NF, though the purple/bronze color made it hard to pick a color scheme. I like the final result, it looks a lot better in person because of the texturing within the colors in the stock. Now to learn how to shoot it...

good choice. I don't think you could of gone wrong either way. I primarily shoot NF but my teammates shoot Vortex. have fun banging steel or knocking down large game (if theres anything left) haha