Rifle Scopes Some input from Nightforce NXS owners W/IL reticles

[DMTYAGER]

I have been reading and learning hear for quite a number of years but never really had any reason to post anything as all the scopes I own are the "set it and forget it" types not meant to be adjusted in the field for drop or wind and all have standard duplex reticles. That was until I decided to finally begin my journey into becoming a medium long range hunter and shooter. I never had any need to ask any questions as all mine were answered by reading other's posts and I certainly didn't posses the knowledge about tactical scopes to assist anyone by answering anyone's request for help.

I've spent over a year researching and learning about long range or tactical scopes in trying to decide which one to buy. The number one purpose of the scope is for hunting and making shots on deer and elk from 100 and hopefully 800 yards. I have respectable but still limited funds and can only afford one scope at this time and for the considerable future. No factor in scope choice was more important to me in it must serve equally well in the capacity of long range shooting out to 1000 yards and hunting deer and elk out to 800 yards.

I also decided my top 4 criteria for the scope should be #1-absolutely rock solid consistent and repeatable adjustments #2-bomb proof durable#3-reticle must be dirt simple to use, able to range with, and obscure the view as little as possible #4-high than average quality glass. Secondary considerations of which some I was willing to compromise on somewhat were weight and price, others I wouldn't were the scope must be variable power no greater than 16x, SFP and yes I am fully aware of the limitations of a SFP scope.

After going to stores and looking through a mind numbing number of scopes and I kept coming back to the Nightforce NXS 3-15x50mm with a SFP Mil-Dot reticle. Which did not make me happy as it was about $700 more than I wanted to spend, but it was the one scope that except for the to larger than I wanted 50mm front objective and weight, it matched my criteria as close to perfect as I could find.

I have come across a very good deal on a NIB NXS 3-15x50 with a Mil-Dot reticle but the reticle is illuminated and I can not find one near my home that has an illuminated reticle to look through to judge for myself as weather I would like it or not. I have looked through many scopes with illuminated reticles and liked them just fine.

My question for NXS owners with illuminated Mil-dot reticles will the illumination interfere in any way with aiming at animals in low light or bright light conditions from 100-800 yards? I would like to know before I spend a considerable amount of money. I have read and heard reports where under certain light conditions illuminated reticles can as it was called "haze out" the target and make aiming at an animal difficult. Don't know if this is true or not that is why I am here asking those with more experience than I.

I lucked into a Tikka T3 in 300wsm for great price as they were being closed out to make way for the new T3x. I then found a LNIB HS/P aftermarket stock for it also at a very reasonable price. So that's the rifle the scope will call home.

Thanks,
Art

 

[uncle_smokey]

I have the model you are looking at, and while the illumination is certainly adequate, that particular model is very finicky. Adjusting the brightness level can only be done by removing the parallax knob completely and adjusting a small screw inside. Since I have this scope on a dedicated varmint rifle, I have not messed with the factory brightness setting. I could see where the factory setting could wash out a bit in this particular case, especially if the screw is not adjusted satisfactorily. Important to consider that adjusting the brightness will likely not be done in the field.

I also have a 2.5-10x32 with mil dot, and that has typical adjustments for illumination. I love that damn scope and will never get rid of it, but if I was in your shoes I would look at the x42 with parallax adjustment and digilum. That green is pretty sweet. Love that particular illumination, and have it on one of my hunting rifles in an ATACR platform. I have heard nothing but good things about the x42, but you are giving up 5x on the top end.

Hope this helps, and glad to see I am not the only one who likes mil dot's.

Todd

 

[isofahunter]

My NSX arrived July of 2010 NP1 and it had been riding on my 308 ever since. Thousands of rounds later and a bunch of dead stuff I have used the illumination approx.10 times most of it on steel. Low light hunting at some point you just cannot see clear enough to take the shot and you let them walk. As far as the scope itself it is bomb proof IMO and will serve you well. The compact version is nice too and for most hunting it has all the bases covered in a smaller package.

 

[DMTYAGER]

Thanks for the replies. I will take a look at the 2.5-10x42. It took me a lot of self education to understand then fully appreciate how great an application a simple mil-dot reticle is for hunting. If SWFA's 3-15x42mm were SFP with the same Mil-dot reticle as FFP I would've bought it in a second but I don't think SWFA makes the 3-15x42 in SFP any more and I didn't like the look of the Mil-dot SFP reticle they were offering it in.