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In Search Of My Ultimate Big Game Hunting Scope |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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That left side turret on the compact NXS models is not parallax adjustment; it is the illumination rheostat knob.
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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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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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Yes, sorry, I mis-stated.
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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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jonoMT
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: November/13/2008 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 4853 |
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Rancid, you know one thing I think is probably less of a problem with the compact models is that there seems to be less need to adjust the reticle focus - given the lower magnification. I know you've mentioned how annoying it is that the caps twist with the eyepiece.
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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The issue Rancid refers to with the higher powered models isn't in adjusting reticle focus, it's that the whole eyepiece rotates when changing power. The compact NXS eyepieces do not rotate with the power ring.
According to NF, the higher powered NXS models are that way because they made these scopes for a US Navy contract. The Navy requested it be that way so that power changes could be easily and positively made by simply grabbing the eyepiece end of the scope and rotating.
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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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Idaho Scot
Optics Apprentice Joined: August/16/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 125 |
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Please do give a report. I look forward to reading it. And thanks for the info on the scope.
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Idaho Scot
Optics Apprentice Joined: August/16/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 125 |
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John,
If you find out the answer to which scope is best for heavy recoil please let me know. Information like that would be very beneficial.
Thanks,
Scot E.
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timber
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/03/2007 Status: Offline Points: 354 |
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My Swaro recommendation would be this: http://www.swfa.com/pc-12648-978-new-swarovski-17-10x42-z6-30mm-riflescope.aspx It has great range, 42mm objective, no adjustment for parallax, and hunting turrets. It also has their ballistic reticle - which I like allot - and is small and has good eye relief. Is the thin section of the ballistic reticle easy to see in low light conditions? I haven't been able to find one to check. It looks very thin. According to NF, the higher powered NXS models are that way because they made these scopes for a US Navy contract. The Navy requested it be that way so that power changes could be easily and positively made by simply grabbing the eyepiece end of the scope and rotating. I asked NF about this very thing and they told me the same thing. They also said it was necessary to meet the requirements for water infiltration. |
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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It is a bit thin for low light, but the positives far outweigh that negative - in my opinion.
As ballistic reticles go, I really like this one. |
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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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Idaho Scot
Optics Apprentice Joined: August/16/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 125 |
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Are you refering to Swaro's ballistic reticle or did you mean to insert another?
Thanks,
Scot E.
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timber
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/03/2007 Status: Offline Points: 354 |
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The Swaro. |
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jonoMT
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: November/13/2008 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 4853 |
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Re Higher mag Nightforce NXS: I see. Yes, the that would be very annoying. Not having spent much time with those I just assumed they were like the Compact NXS models, with the separate focusing ring. Thanks for the clarification.
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Idaho Scot
Optics Apprentice Joined: August/16/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 125 |
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Thanks to everyone for their input and time spent helping me with my search. From the info you gave I was able to come up with a darn good short list. There were a couple good suggestions I received but they didn’t make the list mostly due to price for the features I was getting. I was able to get to a couple local stores today and put my hands on most of the scopes on my list. Not all were in the exact format I wanted but close enough to give me a good feel for what I was looking at. I am a bit frustrated to be honest because it was pretty easy to find scopes with most of the features I wanted but not everything. Everything seemed to have a short coming or two. Short list is as follows: Zeiss Conquest- 3-9x40 or 3.5-10x44 with Z600 reticle- Out of all the reticles I looked at I was most impressed with this one. Across the board I was surprised at how light/thin the reticle lines were in most of the other scopes I looked at. The Nightforce npr2 was so light I lost the reticle in the store just moving the scope up and down isles of clothes. I know the illumination would fix this but it raises the question as to whether I want to have to rely on a scope that will require illumination for all lowlight and some shadow conditions. A Dead battery or illumination malfunction could spell disaster. The NP-1 does look thicker but there wasn’t one to look at so I don’t know for sure how much more acceptable that reticle would be. The negative- the turrets were a real disappointment. There are no MOA numbers around the turret nor do the hash marks go all the way around. Really disappointed as most other aspects were a great fit. Nightforce NXS 2-10x32 with NP-R2 reticle. Before looking at the scopes in person this one topped my list for having all of what I wanted. Now the reticle causes me some concern. Maybe it would be better in natural light but inside I was very concerned about how thin the reticle lines were. Another question for anyone with Nightforce experience. Are the turrets the same size on the compact 24 and 32mm scopes as they are on the larger 50and 56mm’s? I was able to look at a 3.5-15x50 and the turrets are pretty big, making the footprint larger than I thought it was going to be. Also any experience with the NP-1 reticle? It appears darker/ thicker but is it enough so to make a difference. If I go that route I loose the luxury of the NP-R2’s range finding ability and multiple reticle luxuries!
Bushnell 4200- 2.5-10x40- I wasn’t able to look at this scope but it won’t have a BDC reticle and am unsure if the turrets are numbered. Bushnell 6500- 2.5-16x42- Nice scope, a little long but definitely doable. No BDC reticle but nice turrets. I have yet to have an elite scope fail on me so I have a soft side for these guys! Sightron Big Sky 3-12x42- HHR reticle- I couldn’t find this scope locally so I am unsure of the turrets. The HHR reticle is a BDC style but only at its very basic form. Leupold VXIII-3.5-10x40- pretty nice scope. Actually surprised me. The standard turrets had pull up resettable low profile turrets with numbered MOA lines and hashes. The B&C reticle was a bit of a disappointment. It was actually pretty hard to see also and smaller than I thought it would be. Again natural light might help with this. Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Any further thoughts would be appreciated. Scot E. |
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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The turrets on the Nightforce compact are smaller than on the 50mm versions.
There is quite a price range on your potential choices. If you have the money, the Nightforce would be my pick of the listed scopes. WHy did you take the Swaro off the list? |
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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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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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Also, be advised, if the Conquest does not have target turrets, Zeiss will put one on for $50.
And Kenton Industries will make a BDC turret for another $75. I too dislike the Conquest capped turret, but the target turret upgrade is easy and the Kenton BDC is a great option. |
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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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Idaho Scot
Optics Apprentice Joined: August/16/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 125 |
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That is great news. I didn't realize that addition was an option. Would you suggest the zeiss option or kenton? Do you have to send the scope in or do they just send the new knobs?
My list does have a wide range in price but at the lower end (Elites and Sightron)I have a real comfort level as far as durability, turret repeatablity, and performance goes based on past use. I guess I have a comfort level there and know that they will perform when needed even if they aren't the cream of the crop per say.
I took the swaro off mainly due to price. I know I would love the scope and I agree that it fits my list very well. But the Nightforce was more than I thought I was going to have to spend and the Swaro is another $600+. If money were only no object! To be honest I have too many irons in the fire right now as far as projects, spreading me too thin!
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Idaho Scot
Optics Apprentice Joined: August/16/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 125 |
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Also, how much larger are the Zeiss and kenton turrets?
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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First and foremost: a clarification:
If the scope does not have target turrets, you must send the scope back to Zeiss for adding target turrets. Kenton cannot put target turrets on your Conquest. Once you have target turrets, Kenton makes a BDC that replaces the standard drum (or turret top) with one having your ballistic data printed on the drum. This is not an "either/or" option, you MUST have target turrets (which Zeiss will do for $50/turret) AND you must buy a BDC from kenton. it is a good solution - providing you have accurte ballistic data for your round. I had a 4.5-14 Conquest on a 300WM and the data was spot-on. The new Conquest target turrets are probably 25% larger than the capped, hunting turrets, but well worth the slight addition in space. Attached is a pic of the Cnoquest that Zeiss put a target turret on. I added the Kenton drum which is the same size as the standard turret Zeiss provides (just marked differently.) Hope it helps. |
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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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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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The NP-1 plex reticle is indeed more visible due to the thicker outer posts, but the reticle of theirs I like best for general hunting would be the FC-2. The posts appear bolder on the outside than NP-1, yet taper towards the center so they don't obscure too much of the target, and the circle dot in the center is pretty visible. The thing I like about this reticle for a hunting scope is the fact that only the center circle & dot are illuminated, not the posts. Therefore, you're less likely of having the problem of over-illumination flare overpowering your target in low light.
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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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Idaho Scot
Optics Apprentice Joined: August/16/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 125 |
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I do like that one. I just wish it had additional reticles below the main dot for varying yardages. One to consider though. thank you!
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308WIN
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/28/2009 Status: Offline Points: 120 |
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JB DID YOU EVER GET AN ANSWER FROM ZEISS ON THIS? |
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