Re: what kind of scope is used
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: J--ROD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">on your NF, do you ever find yourself using less than 42x at 1,000yds? Bad mirage? Ever wish you had more power?
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The short answer is, yes. Most folks start to turn the magnification down as the mirage builds. On an average day, on an average range, I'll start at 42x in the morning, when it's cool out, and get down to ~32x in the late afternoon when the mirage is at it's worst. This is hugely dependent on range conditions though, the worst mirage I've ever seen was in Ireland a few years back (their range is carved out of an old peat bog). By 11:00, I had the scope down to 18-20x... but that is very unusual.
Would more magnification than 42x be nice? Sure, but amongst the vast majority of scopes on the line (principally Nightforce, then March), once you go over ~42-45x, the scope picture becomes *much* darker. I looked through a March and Nightforce side by side a few years back, and once the magnification got above ~45x, the image was not as usable for me. Thus the reason (especially for ~$1000 less) that most guys out there are running the Nightforce.
As regards running a fixed power scope, although some may make them work, the lack of flexibility to adapt to conditions will probably not outweigh the potentially better optical clarity that comes with a fixed power vs a variable (assuming the same quality glass used in both).
It's not just 'fashion' that has guys gravitating to the Nightforce, and other high-end, variable power, (SFP) glass.
(and yes, I won some of my first F-T/R matches with an 8.5-24x Mk-4 tactical)
Just my .02
Darrell