Rifle Scopes Nightforce 50mm vs 56mm
- Thread starter wyosniper
- Start date
Re: Nightforce 50mm vs 56mm
Have 1 50mm, had 2 56mm, now down to 1. I cannot see any true discernible difference between the 50 and the 56, other than the size. The 50 is a more compact package. My next NF will be another 50.
Have 1 50mm, had 2 56mm, now down to 1. I cannot see any true discernible difference between the 50 and the 56, other than the size. The 50 is a more compact package. My next NF will be another 50.
Re: Nightforce 50mm vs 56mm
I could never tell much difference but frankly there's so little weight/size penalty from 50-56 it doesn't matter much unless you have a mount that won't quite clear a 56 but will a 50. I honestly don't see why NF bothers with doing a 50 and 56, I'd much rather see them do a 42-44mm low profile obj and a 50/56.
I could never tell much difference but frankly there's so little weight/size penalty from 50-56 it doesn't matter much unless you have a mount that won't quite clear a 56 but will a 50. I honestly don't see why NF bothers with doing a 50 and 56, I'd much rather see them do a 42-44mm low profile obj and a 50/56.
Re: Nightforce 50mm vs 56mm
If the OP has existing mounts and rings, that may be the limiting factor whether or not to go with the 56 or not.
Size and weight shouldn't be that much of a difference.
Rather, it would be down to marginally better low light and/or at the maximum magnification setting performance offered by the 56mm objective.
Some time ago, I recall NF created the 56mm objectives for agencies that might be funds limited (read: limited or no NV). Not to say the larger objective is a substitute for NV gear, but larger objectives do help in lower light conditions (and higher magnifications). The 50mm objectives were for their customers preferring a lower profile.
Finally, it may come down to a cost issue: while looking at optics, it seems like the price of a model series of scopes is not a linear relationship with the objective diameter.
If the OP has the funds and doesn't mind the weight or larger profile, might as well go for the 56mm objective.
If the OP has existing mounts and rings, that may be the limiting factor whether or not to go with the 56 or not.
Size and weight shouldn't be that much of a difference.
Rather, it would be down to marginally better low light and/or at the maximum magnification setting performance offered by the 56mm objective.
Some time ago, I recall NF created the 56mm objectives for agencies that might be funds limited (read: limited or no NV). Not to say the larger objective is a substitute for NV gear, but larger objectives do help in lower light conditions (and higher magnifications). The 50mm objectives were for their customers preferring a lower profile.
Finally, it may come down to a cost issue: while looking at optics, it seems like the price of a model series of scopes is not a linear relationship with the objective diameter.
If the OP has the funds and doesn't mind the weight or larger profile, might as well go for the 56mm objective.
Re: Nightforce 50mm vs 56mm
i run a 56, depending on the rifle, it can mount as low as the 50. if my math is correct, which i'm doing while chowing down by the way. 11% better exit pupil out of the 56mm than the 50mm
i run a 56, depending on the rifle, it can mount as low as the 50. if my math is correct, which i'm doing while chowing down by the way. 11% better exit pupil out of the 56mm than the 50mm
Re: Nightforce 50mm vs 56mm
The average size of a human’s eye pupil at night is 7 mm and in daylight it is about 4mm on average. If the optic give you a 7mm of exit pupil and you are using it for day use more than half the light will not reach the retina. I have also noticed if you are getting too much light and you look away you see light spots were ever you look and the targets look washedout. On a lot of my scopes I use a light reducer so I do not get the light spots and the washout is not there.
Size of bell divided by magnification = exitpupil. Hare are some examples.
Mike @ CST
56/22x=2.54mm
56/5.5x=10.18mm
50/22x=2.27mm
50/5.5x=9.09mm
The sweet spots for the 56 and the 50mm at Night and Day use.
50/7.14x = 7mm night use and for day use 50/12.5x = 4mm
56/8x = 7mm night use and for day use 56/14x = 4mm
You are really not getting much advantage over the 50mm. I feel there is a bigger disadvantage and that is you have to go with tall rings 1.00” at the low to 1.25” were the 50mm you can do 0.885”.
The average size of a human’s eye pupil at night is 7 mm and in daylight it is about 4mm on average. If the optic give you a 7mm of exit pupil and you are using it for day use more than half the light will not reach the retina. I have also noticed if you are getting too much light and you look away you see light spots were ever you look and the targets look washedout. On a lot of my scopes I use a light reducer so I do not get the light spots and the washout is not there.
Size of bell divided by magnification = exitpupil. Hare are some examples.
Mike @ CST
56/22x=2.54mm
56/5.5x=10.18mm
50/22x=2.27mm
50/5.5x=9.09mm
The sweet spots for the 56 and the 50mm at Night and Day use.
50/7.14x = 7mm night use and for day use 50/12.5x = 4mm
56/8x = 7mm night use and for day use 56/14x = 4mm
You are really not getting much advantage over the 50mm. I feel there is a bigger disadvantage and that is you have to go with tall rings 1.00” at the low to 1.25” were the 50mm you can do 0.885”.
Re: Nightforce 50mm vs 56mm
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CSTACTICAL</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The average size of a human’s eye pupil at night is 7 mm and in daylight it is about 4mm on average. If the optic give you a 7mm of exit pupil and you are using it for day use more than half the light will not reach the retina. I have also noticed if you are getting too much light and you look away you see light spots were ever you look and the targets look washedout. On a lot of my scopes I use a light reducer so I do not get the light spots and the washout is not there.
Size of bell divided by magnification = exitpupil. Hare are some examples.
Mike @ CST
56/22x=2.54mm
56/5.5x=10.18mm
50/22x=2.27mm
50/5.5x=9.09mm
The sweet spots for the 56 and the 50mm at Night and Day use.
50/7.14x = 7mm night use and for day use 50/12.5x = 4mm
56/8x = 7mm night use and for day use 56/14x = 4mm
You are really not getting much advantage over the 50mm. I feel there is a bigger disadvantage and that is you have to go with tall rings 1.00” at the low to 1.25” were the 50mm you can do 0.885”.
</div></div>
havn't seen the washout your talking about, and i've had it out at midnight shooting coyotes. what rifle are you mounting up that needed higher than .885? i've got a remington 700 p with a nightforce 20moa pic rail and .885 ul rings work just fine with the 5.5-22x56
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CSTACTICAL</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The average size of a human’s eye pupil at night is 7 mm and in daylight it is about 4mm on average. If the optic give you a 7mm of exit pupil and you are using it for day use more than half the light will not reach the retina. I have also noticed if you are getting too much light and you look away you see light spots were ever you look and the targets look washedout. On a lot of my scopes I use a light reducer so I do not get the light spots and the washout is not there.
Size of bell divided by magnification = exitpupil. Hare are some examples.
Mike @ CST
56/22x=2.54mm
56/5.5x=10.18mm
50/22x=2.27mm
50/5.5x=9.09mm
The sweet spots for the 56 and the 50mm at Night and Day use.
50/7.14x = 7mm night use and for day use 50/12.5x = 4mm
56/8x = 7mm night use and for day use 56/14x = 4mm
You are really not getting much advantage over the 50mm. I feel there is a bigger disadvantage and that is you have to go with tall rings 1.00” at the low to 1.25” were the 50mm you can do 0.885”.
</div></div>
havn't seen the washout your talking about, and i've had it out at midnight shooting coyotes. what rifle are you mounting up that needed higher than .885? i've got a remington 700 p with a nightforce 20moa pic rail and .885 ul rings work just fine with the 5.5-22x56
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