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Rifle Scopes what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

R.Walters

R.Walters

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
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Nov 8, 2009
1,577
447
Clarke County, Va
#1
i am going to get a nightforce scope fairly soon for my remmy 5r 308. i know that they offer so many different reticles and i was wondering which one will be the best one for me. the reason why im going with a nightforce is because im going to be doing some long range hunting and shooting. so which reticle will be the best for the nightforce 5.5-22 nxs 56mm?? i want to have quick target aquisition at any rage. and whats the zero stop do for me?? thanks
 
#2
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

NPR1 or NPR2 (not as busy). Moa to Moa for the turrets and reticle, or mil to mil. Do yourself a favor and keep the adjustments the same so when you shoot you can measure the impact in the reticle and make the correction accordingly. You see your bullet hit 1 hashmark left, dial 1moa right and shoot again or hold 1 hashmark.

NPR1 has 1moa spacing between the hashmarks.

NPR2 has 2moa spacing between the hashmarks.

I like moa reticles for ranging. I.E. A buck's skull between the ears is 6". The formula is as follows, 6x100=600, now divide that by how many moa it takes up in the scope. 600/1 he would be at 600 yds. 600/2 he would be at 300yds. 600/.5 he would be at 1200yds and so on. Easy right?

Inches times 100 divided by moa equals distance

If his belly to back is 18" its 1800 divided by how many moa(18"x100=1800/moa=distance)

The Npr1 is a busy reticle but you get used to it. I feel it is a better reticle than the Npr2 due to the finer adjustments. I appologise for the redundancy but alot of people find this confusing at first. Hope this helps.
 
#4
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

Mildots are fine, just get the matching mil turrets if your going to go that route. Mil ranging is a little trickier though because you have to use fractions of a yard.
 
#7
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

If any target is smaller than 3ft you have to 'cut up' a yard. A 12 inch target is .333 yards. You have to know the size of the target in yards to convert. .333x1000 divided by mils is a lot harder than 12x100/moa.

Try doing mils without a calculator. Its difficult.

Now everyone can get on and tell me I'm stupid for using moa instead of mils
smile.gif
 
#8
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

Umm, to be polite, no.

The formula for ranging with a true MOA reticle is:

Range (yards) = size of target (inches) * 95.5 ÷ image size(MOA)

For a mil reticle it is:

Range(yards) = size of target (inches) * 27.77 ÷ image size(mils)

The Mildot Master is the fastest way to do either calculation.

For more ranging formulas, see:

Ranging Formulas
 
#9
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

Well if you want to get technical
smile.gif


Still Inch Per Hundred Yards is awful close. Within 27 yards of each other at 600yds. With a 308 that's only 6" of impact, still a dead buck. If you were off on the moa and it was 1.9 instead of 2moa you would be 31yds off. It would be less error if it were closer distances and even less likely to miss. Past 600yds a range finder would be a good idea anyway. Still you are correct with the math.

Not having to multiply by 27.778 saves a step. Multiplying inch x 100 can be done in your head.
 
#10
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

MOA ranging in your head is easy when people use nice whole numbers as examples on the internet but in real life it rarely comes in as whole numbers. Same with mil ranging. That's why you use a mildot master and not have to do the math although having a back up calculator and knowing the formula is also a good idea.

If you want a mil reticle from NF check out the MLR. Has 1/2 mil hash marks for more precise ranging and holds. I have one in my 5.5-22x56 and like it alot. The zero stop has nothing to do with target acquisition but just so you can get back to your zero and know where you are on the knob. Practice will allow you to get on target fast and accurately.
 
#11
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

I recently bought a 5,5-22x50 MLR of another member on the site, and I am very happy with it.I prefer MLR to the MilDot since I find it easier to measure with.

As already stated, make sure you go either MIl/MIL or MOA/MOA, anything else will make your head hurt.

-R
 
#14
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

I have two MLR's on comp guns.

I do like the MLR, and that's what I would get again in a NF.

But it's hard to parse a hash mark, so I like .2 Mil dots as well.

You should be able to get NF's for 95% of list any day of the week. A few years back I got one from Mike at CSGunworks and was very happy with the service. I have bought others from various dealers, and because NF is a known quantity price talks.

Zero stop is a nice feature for tactical comps, but for range work and hunting it doesn't matter much.
 
#17
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">MOA ranging in your head is easy when people use nice whole numbers as examples on the internet but in real life it rarely comes in as whole numbers. Same with mil ranging. That's why you use a mildot master and not have to do the math</div></div>

Damnit Rob now I'm gonna have to come up with a Minute Master
wink.gif
 
#20
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

I am not a fan of the MLR reticle I have found it to be slower when doing multiple target engagements under time then with the GAP reticle.
 
#21
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

The fastest reticle for doing holdovers and holdunders in my experience is the Gen II mildot, because of the ability to rapidly distinguish one mil marks from the half-mil marks. I wish it were more widely available.
 
#22
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

I wrote up an moa slide rule last night with 1/8moa ranging increments an d target sizes from 6-24". Once I get it finalized I will start a new thread for it. I'm putting it on a spreadsheet format an laminating it. Not sure how the mildot master works with moa but it sounds interesting.

Sorry for straying off topic.
 
#23
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

Look over at the right side of the mildot master that says bullet drop and use that with MOA readings and the target size to get your range which will be shown in the left column. It's how I use it with mils but just use the mil side.
 
#25
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

Everything else aside, and in addition to all the other good advice so far, remember that the NPR1 and NPR2 both have very fine reticles, not the best for hunting in all lighting conditions. But if you want a scope for both hunting and target shooting there will probably be a compromise somewhwhere. FWIW I have one of each and have used both of them for hunting as well as competition/ range work.

My advice - try and have a look through them , preferably under the conditions you will use them. And matching ret and turrets is a given .

Cheers.
 
#26
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

So, Steer clear of scopes like mine, (story of life) which has mil dot reticle, but .125 moa turrets ... made for benchrest shooters. I see now that they make a 12x42x56 NXS (instead of benchrest) that you CAN get the MLR reticle. I'm shooting targets set up on the plains and 4 wheeling to various distances, ranging and shooting... no set distances ... makes it interesting and so far quite the challenge. Anyone interested in a NF 12-42x56 benchrest scope (so I can get what I need)?!
 
#28
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

The higher powered 8-32 and 12-42 properly subtend at 22x but as with the 5.5-22 you can use them at 11x and just double your hold or range.
 
#29
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

So in your opinion, what would you go for? Nightforce, Vortex RazorHD or Premier Reticles 5-22? They all seem to be around the same price range, but only the nightforce has the reticle in 2nd focal plane. Anyone compared the optics?
 
#30
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

Figure out if you want FFP or SFP first and also your magnification range.

I have only compared the NF and Premier scopes from the three you listed. The Premier has a slight edge on glass clarity over the SFP NF but in this level it's so small it's a moot point. The NF 3.5-15 F1, which is FFP, has glass that is just as good in my eye.

Also if you wanted more FFP and magnification and didn't mind waiting you might be interested in what NF has coming out within the next year.
 
#31
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KnapstrupperUSA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i am going to get a nightforce scope fairly soon for my remmy 5r 308. i know that they offer so many different reticles and i was wondering which one will be the best one for me. the reason why im going with a nightforce is because im going to be doing some long range hunting and shooting. so which reticle will be the best for the nightforce 5.5-22 nxs 56mm?? i want to have quick target aquisition at any rage. and whats the zero stop do for me?? thanks </div></div>

I've owned both NPR1 and NPR2 scopes. I prefer the NPR1. I don't find it too busy and a little more precise. Just my .02

Keith
 
#37
Re: what is the best reticle from NIGHTFORCE

What I didn't care for with the npr2 was the 5moa wind marks. That's not real practical for me for wind holding. You get used to the npr1. When your looking at a buck through the scope your pretty focused on the object and not all the extra lines. I would get the npr1.
 
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