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S&B vs. Nightforce |
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zigliss
Optics GrassHopper Joined: March/19/2008 Location: Northampton, UK Status: Offline Points: 17 |
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Posted: July/20/2008 at 10:05 |
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Appreciate that this is one of those 'whatever you prefer questions' but I am currently comparing the following:
- S&B PMII 5-25x56 Ill
- Nightforce NSX 8-32x56
Price difference (in the UK at least) is a good $1000 in favour of the Nightforce, and I have spoken to folks who will claim that in low-light conditions the Nightforce is better. I am tempted (of course!) by the S&B - but am more interested in performance rather than name/reputation. I am most likely to be using it for long range target and some hunting (varmint).
Anyone out there have any experience of comaparing the two, or owning either?
Thoughts?
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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Why would you pick the Nightforce 8-32x56 instead of the 5.5-22x56 which would be a similar power. I would have to say buy the Nightforce and save yourself the thousand dollars but I really think that is more scope than is really practical and I tend to prefer a 50mm and something that tops out around 14 to 16.
I thought gun ownership in the UK was severely limited what are your limitations, just curious? Edited by Urimaginaryfrnd - July/20/2008 at 11:05 |
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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zigliss
Optics GrassHopper Joined: March/19/2008 Location: Northampton, UK Status: Offline Points: 17 |
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Hmmm - thanks for your views - I am hearing a lot of that lately! There seems to be an underground Nightforce fan club here in the UK!
As for UK laws - if I ever meet you in a bar and have about 8 hours to spare I will tell you about the entire UK gun law debacle and you can sit there and laugh!
No restriction on optics (yet!) but no auto; semi-auto full bore guns and no handguns......
Sad eh?
Jason
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Gunshow75
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/23/2004 Location: Kentucky, USA Status: Offline Points: 209 |
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Zigliss,
You might want to look at the results of a test of 23 rifle scopes done in 2004, which includes a Nightforce NP 1, 3.5x15, 56 and two S&B rifle scopes, both 2.5x10, 56. Some of the headings are self-evident, as are the total scores. See:http://www.zeiss.se/4125680F002BA25A/EmbedTitelIntern/Vapentidningen/$File/Vapentidningen.pdf Tom |
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Tom |
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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I really like Nightforce (no suprise to the locals) so I would choose that route. If you need the S&B it too is a great scope.
Everything depends on need and want: if you want the S&B, get it. |
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Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
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Jon A
Optics Journeyman Joined: March/14/2008 Location: Everett, WA Status: Offline Points: 670 |
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Beyond glass quality and price
difference, the two are quite different from a features standpoint. “What you prefer” feature-wise will probably
make the decision for you. Likely the biggest one is FFP/SFP. Some prefer one or the other so much that
makes the decision right there. The
Nightforce will be SFP with a thin reticle (they will have FFP available at
some point in the future). The S&B
will be FFP with thin or thick reticles available. You mention low light conditions, I don’t know if you do
anything at night as some over there do, but there are differences in the
illumination systems (won’t touch the glass quality subject with a 10 foot
pole). The S&B will light only the
center cross and maybe a couple of dots on the reticle depending upon which you
get and brightness is easily controlled in the field. With the NF the entire reticle lights up and
brightness is not easily adjustable in the field. But, it doesn’t require an extra knob hanging
off the scope. The S&B has the typical Euro-style fast focus eyepiece
and power ring. The entire eyepiece of
the NF turns when changing power. Some
have preferences either way. I don’t know if you’ll shoot far enough for this to matter,
but the NF knobs are 5 Mils per turn, the various S&B knobs do more than
twice that amount of adjustment per turn, both with .1 Mil (“cm”) clicks. Here the Mil knobs cost extra on the NF, I
don’t know if you’re figuring that into the price or not. I can’t imaging you’re doing inches and MOA
over there.... But if you are, NF has some really good MOA reticles
available. I don’t believe S&B has
any. Anyway, there are some of the differences—not good/bad or better/worse necessarily but differences—between the two that should give you a pretty good picture of “what you’d prefer.” |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Welcome, zigliss!
I have 2 NF scopes and 1 S&B. Although my S&B is a 1.5-6X42 and my NF scopes are 3.5-15X50 and 8-32X56, IMO the S&B spanks NF at the same magnifications in terms of low light performance as well as overall image quality. Admittedly, my view is derived from a very limited sampling, but I seriously doubt a comparison with the PMII would change my opinion. NF is a very nice scope mechanically and optically with an incredible selection of reticles, but its optics isn't its strongest feature IMO.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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zigliss
Optics GrassHopper Joined: March/19/2008 Location: Northampton, UK Status: Offline Points: 17 |
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Jon A & Ted - thanks you make some helpful points.
This may be a little like comparing a Dodge Viper and A BMW M-sport! Both different things to different people and depends what you want/preferences. Whilst S&B stand out for optics and I have seen them before it was only recently that I handled a Nightforce. I was a lot more impressed than I thought I would be. An at $1000 saving versus the S&B I am wondering whether it may worth building a bit of long range experience with it and then propoerly comparing to the S&B at a later stage.
Tom's link to a German test is also helpful. Anyone with direct experience of comparable Zeiss or Swarovski?
- Swarovski PVI-2 High Grid 6 - 24 x 50
- Zeiss Victory Diavari 6-24x56 IR |
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BSA
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/26/2008 Status: Offline Points: 38 |
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I am waiting to hear some feed back on this scope.....it might be worth considering in your case.
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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http://shop.livioptik.com/osc/index.php?cPath=3_73_82
Hensoldt the Tactical Zeiss
Pick of the Litter: Hensoldt 4-16x56 Oh Yea I just wish they were available here.
well thats the one I would buy if it was available to me I really like the 4-16 range scopes better than the higher power ones but mine have to be gunfight optics.
As for Kahles why not look at the new one?
IOR should also be a consideration
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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BSA
Optics GrassHopper Joined: February/26/2008 Status: Offline Points: 38 |
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Hensoldt is $$$.........but, my guess if they were offered for sale in this country...they would sell
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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Now I've used this analogy before with some success so we will add to it:
40mm objective ="B" cup
50mm objective ="C" cup
56mm objective ="D" cup
72mm....... well you get the idea they are all good but as they get larger they may be interesting but can become a little harder to handle.
so I guess that makes
3-9 like 6 inches
4-16 like 8 inches
6-20 like 10 inches (thats just more likely to get you into trouble than not there porn star)
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
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I like it!!! |
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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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zigliss
Optics GrassHopper Joined: March/19/2008 Location: Northampton, UK Status: Offline Points: 17 |
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Wow - feeling a bit down now - guess I should be looking at a 1.25 - 4 variable then
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