I am almost complete with a new hunting rifle build and ready to purchase a scope, thinking of a Nightforce ATACR 4-16 or a Minox ZP5 3-15. The only thing I don't know if I would like about the Nightforce is the rotating ocular other than that seems like a great scope, have played with these but never really used one in the field. I have a Minox ZP5 5-25 and love it, I'm sure the ZP5 3-15 is also a great scope. Is the rotating ocular enough of a pain in the ass to go another direction.
Rifle Scopes Nightforce 4-16 Minox 3-15
- Thread starter TmisterE
- Start date
The only real flaw to me with the rotating eye piece is the scope cap itself having to rotate as well. Other than that, it's actually nice cause you can make adjustments quicker, just pull the cap off the eye piece when your hunting and your all good..
I keep seeing people mention the rotating ocular as a detriment. I never notice it. At all. In fact, I had to go grab my 4-16 to verify that it did do that. It does, but how it matters at all is beyond me. I use the built in power throw lever, and it works great.
I have both and throwing a plug for my Minox in the px right now. Personally, I wouldn't be deterred about the rotating eye piece on the NF. I actually like it because I have nerve damage in my left arm/hand and can grip the whole thing. The Minox's as you know is a fairly decent size and the built in tail is in a great position to not interfere with the bolt, where as if I use the one on the NF it interferes with my straight bolt handle on the lower magnifications. . The one thing I don't like about the NF's rotating eye piece is the rear cap has to be rotated when you adjust the magnification or just take it off. I just adjusted the clamp to not get in the way of the bolt when adjusting magnification and pop the cap on and off.
Of the two i'd go Minox, better reticle, from what i hear better glass, and no rotating eye piece. I'd toss the K318i in there as well seems to fit the description and weight. I personally loathe the rotating eye piece as i'm left eye dominant and use scope caps to block or obscure my left eye some so i can shoot with both eyes open.
I have used both, and clearly (no pun intended), Minox has the best glass of any scope. That said, the mid-mag Minox sells for as much as the 5-25x in the ZP5.
The quality of Nightforce goes up and up every year. In the mid-mag area, like 4-16x, Nightforce is one of the better scopes in the ATACR. @5RWill mentioned the Kahles. Great pick. The Hensoldt and the Steiner M5Xi are also amazing scopes. I tend to favor Steiner, Hensodlt and ATACR in the mid-mag, and Schmidt, Minox and a few others in the long-range.
The movement of the occular is very common in a great many high quality scopes. That would not deter me, but it is your scope.
The quality of Nightforce goes up and up every year. In the mid-mag area, like 4-16x, Nightforce is one of the better scopes in the ATACR. @5RWill mentioned the Kahles. Great pick. The Hensoldt and the Steiner M5Xi are also amazing scopes. I tend to favor Steiner, Hensodlt and ATACR in the mid-mag, and Schmidt, Minox and a few others in the long-range.
The movement of the occular is very common in a great many high quality scopes. That would not deter me, but it is your scope.
I have the 4-16 F1 ATACR, and absolutely love it for compact size and practical magnification range for field use. The rotating eyepiece doesn't bother me one little bit. It would definitely be a deal breaker if they didn't have those cool rotating lens caps.
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Love the 4-16 ATACR. The rotating ocular is a feature, not a bug. Hunting with gloves, rotating for magnification changes is simple and fast. Scope cap on the ocular gets in the way of everything I've ever tried so I never run them (on any scope).
MIL-R or C are both plenty of reticle for hunting.
12 MIL per rev is spaced nicely with tactile clicks and big white numbers that help in low light shooting. Integrated illumination keeps the parallax knob profile low. Capped windage. Locking elevation turret is one of the best on the market. Scope is small and sleek and scabbard friendly.
The minox might have better glass (no experience), but for an overall hunting package, the ATACR is tough to beat in my experience. I'd like to play with a minox to see how it compares.
MIL-R or C are both plenty of reticle for hunting.
12 MIL per rev is spaced nicely with tactile clicks and big white numbers that help in low light shooting. Integrated illumination keeps the parallax knob profile low. Capped windage. Locking elevation turret is one of the best on the market. Scope is small and sleek and scabbard friendly.
The minox might have better glass (no experience), but for an overall hunting package, the ATACR is tough to beat in my experience. I'd like to play with a minox to see how it compares.
Excellent choices mentioned here and I'd also throw in the Tangent Theta 3-15x50 as well. Which reticle do you prefer out of the mentioned scopes?
The MilC and the MR2 are my favorite reticles for what I'm going to use the scope for, I like the .2 mil hash marks on these reticles, I see you have a MR5 reticle scope in stock but really prefer the MR2, I bought my ZP5 5-25 MR4 from you several months ago, must have been the last one you had have not seen them in stock for a while.
We can get you an MR2 as they are in stock
Please call me at 916.670.1103 and I'll get one on the way soon.All these points are right on the money! I really like my 4-16, and once upon a time I had a Minox 5-25 MR4, but I sold it off. It just didn't do it for me, and for whatever reason it seemed harder to get behind than my Premiers and NF 5-25 ATACR. Nice, yes, but for me it didn't make the cut against my other 5-25's. All that said the 4-16 is super easy to get behind, and I find the glass to be very good and compares favorably to my 3-15 Premier light hunter in low light. I also have an AMG. Ultimately, xmas tree vs a cleaner reticle will be personal preference. My 4-16 has the MILR and one thing to note is that it is a little bolder which I think makes it easier to pick up in hunting scenarios. I really like the MILC in my 5-25 for steel, and have shot a number of deer with the EBR7 and AMG too.
One other option regarding the rotating ocular. Buy a neoprene scope cover for it (scope coat), and forego the caps. Scope gets full protection when not in use, and easy to slide off and put it in your pocket when on the rifle.
One other option regarding the rotating ocular. Buy a neoprene scope cover for it (scope coat), and forego the caps. Scope gets full protection when not in use, and easy to slide off and put it in your pocket when on the rifle.
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