OK, So we've talked about what Rifle and what Pistol to get, so let's talk " Glass"

Nightforce is one of the dominant pieces of glass on the 1000 yard .50 BMG circuit (FCSA).

The Mark IVs are big with the McMillans and Barretts in the hands of operators.

Not cheap, but not S&B or USO. But if they're good enough for those sports and missions, i'd say they're good enough baggin a buck with a lesser caliber.

Could also go with a 72mm Zeiss with a ballistic calculator if you like bright (and just won the lottery) ;-)

If you want cheap but durable, take a look at the SuperSnipers from SWFA, no, seriously, they are actually "the best little poor mans optic" in the .50 BMG world. Nothing is great about them, but they hold zero and don't break.
 
Chuck, as someone who has said DMR's, I would recommend one of the new 1-8x or 1-10x scopes. March has a 1-10, IOR has a 1-10 and a 1-8. Leup has a 1.1-8 and so does S&B. All of these are top of the line. On one of my DMR's I stuck a 1-4x and though I was hitting an 8 inch gong at 700 yards the 4x is just not enough. The one that I want to get is the swarovsky 1-6x.
 
I have a Vortex Razor on the POF I use for precision shooting, an ACOG on the one as a go-to/hunter, and Trijicon RMR on my cqb type stuff.
 
After using Leupolds for 30 years and the fact that I can vouch for their ruggedness when accidentally dropped and their lifetime warranty if needed, thats all I buy. I especially look for used ones at guns stores that were taken off of traded in rifles. I recently bought a 3x9 50 mm with adjustable objective for $139.00. This scope is probably from the 80's and I think you would spend 3 times as much for a similar quality scope today.
 
Good thread. Most of the serious hunters I know roll with Zeiss. The more military minded fellas seem to roll with NF or some of the others mentioned above due to durability in hard use. I've never looked through a Nightforce optic.

Does anyone have BOTH a Zeiss and Niteforce that could explain the difference in OPTIC quality? I am certain the nightforce is built to very rugged standards, but my question pertains purely to the optics.

Is one more clear than the other?

Does one have better light gathering ability than the other?


Thanks...

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yeah, I have used both and most of the rest luckily I didn't have to pay for them. But it may depend on models within each brand as well.

Swarovski is supposed to have the best glass. However, I think when you get to the high end scopes, they are all pretty close. I do have friends that prefer SB to NF or Leupold. As for Tactical, zeiss is ok, but no one really goes out to get zeiss, it is usually, SB, Leupold, NF, March, Elcan, IOR, and for those that can afford it Swav. As for glass comparison, I don't think there is a noticeable difference and my decision making usually ends up with who's got the best reticle. I will say this much, I have been incredibly impressed with Vortex for how cheap it is and I know a few that love the Bushnell Elite line.
 
I will put my choices into catigories.
Best bang for the buck Nikon Monarch.
Best glass Swarovski (they are a good bit more clear).
Most durable Nightforce.
Best mix of all the above Leupold!!!!
 
I've got a Premier 5-25x56 on my long range rifle. Amazing glass in it. Very crisp! S&Bhave some new models coming out that are incredible though. They have some of the best glass I've ever looked through.
 
Good stuff Cobalt... thanks. :thumbup:

My personal experience with Swarovski wasn't great. But that was with binoculars. They weren't as nearly as clear as the zeiss at distance... I sold them. Their scopes have to be better than what I owned... or maybe I just got a bad pair...? It happens.

Vortex is pretty intriguing. A lot of guys on the gun forums are pretty excited about them. I think I'll try one on my next rimfire.

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roenman said:
Mark
If you do like the FFP scope, have you looked through a FFP NightForce?
That's what NF's new BEAST is only.
Click to expand...

If I'm remembering right, I've only looked through a second FP Nightforce. Have yet to check out the BEAST though, haven't had the opportunity. I just haven't been that "wow'd" by Nightforce yet. They're nice clear glass, but...
 
US Optics for anything past 500 yards, Nightforce for anything under. If you dont have the money to buy one, don't ever look through a USO scope... You will be selling your soul to get one if you do...

I would put USO scope up against anything else on the market, even S&B. The fact each one is custom built to your specs is a nice feature too. You get what you want, nothing you don't.
 
Well the New NF ATACR came in today, it has the new "HD" glass in it.
Compared the the NXS scope that it is upgraded from, it weighs 6 oz. more.
It is said it's heavier because of the improved glass in the ATACR..I don't have and older NF so I can't put them side by side.
I do see that it's an upgrade to my Osprey tho..;)

The controls are very smooth, the clicks are positive and I think I could use it like a hammer to drive nails with this thing and it would still be usable.
As it became dark tonight I could still see through it with ease, it will be easier to check it out after I get my Larue and can mount it on a rifle.
I'll try to get my Premier out this weekend and check the NF against it and the Leupold on my Winchester Custom Classic Sharpshooter.

Never been a Swarovski guy, the FFP just covers up to much target when zoomed up. This ATACR when zoomed up to 25x only covers 4" of the target at 1000 yards.
I am a Zeiss guy, love my 10x50 Night Owls..also a big fan of Leica

I thought about a USO but never handling one I didn't want to take a chance.
S&B is said to be having quality control issues as of late so I passed on them.
Had a S&Bender and still miss it, I think it made light :)

Keep your thoughts coming, lots to be learned with the new scopes coming out now days...
 
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Never has there been a time such as today where they have been so many choices in optics. So many varied features and what not at so many price points.

Rifle scopes like so many other things for me are an easy choice. I want the toughest scope available. Features don't matter if the scope doesn't work or hold its settings. I have hauled scopes all over the world for more than thirty years.

Every rifle I own has a Leupold scope on it unless it wears irons only. As I mentioned features are getter to be greater and greater and unfortunately to me more common. All I want in a scope is good glass, it must have repeatable settings, and for my money it almost always my choice for it to be a fixed power.

Variable scopes make many compromises that a man doesn't need to make it he puts in the hours on the range to learn his ammo and his rifle.

Fixed power scopes are getting harder and harder to come by. People like to buy great big heavy variables more often then not if they have the money available. If I am traveling overseas where taking multiple rifles can be more hassle than helpful I like to fit my rifle with a fixed 2.5x or 4x scope. They have good field of views at the ranges we are likely to be shooting, they don't stick up so much to catch on everything. The less they get caught or banged on things the longer they are likely to last. Most of the time we find out we have a scope problem when we really need the scope to work as planned.

In my rucksack I'll carry a back up scope. It could be an identical model to the one mounted on my rifle but generally it will be a higher power fixed scope. My two favorites are probably the Leupold 6x42 or a Leupold fixed 10x. I don't believe they still make the fixed 10x but I do see a 12x in their catalog which might be a good replacement but seems in my mind to be little high powered for a large bore rifle, even at long range.

I say I like the fixed 6x42 and I do. It is very versatile and fully capable of being the only sighting system a medium bore rifle will ever need. It is however a touch bigger than I like and it takes a higher ring than I like to use. I own more of these scope than any other model though.

The old 6x36 is quite a bit cheaper and much more streamlined. I am a fan of it but it is a noticeable step down from the 6x42.

There is much to be said for a high quality 4x for big game. You don't see them very often anymore but for most people in most situations it is as good a choice and there is.

For fast handling rifles, my favorite kind, a 4x works well but 2.5x works even better. Over the last ten years or so I've grown very fond of the IER models commonly known as scout scopes. They have some disadvantages though and if a man isn't willing to spent the time to learn to use them he might be better served using a normal eye relief model in 2.5x or 4x.

Other than power my advice would stay the same for small game or varmints. Or I say it would be but since so many of the lower powered fixed are no longer available I might tend to use a lower power scope than I would have twenty years ago. A fixed 16x scope on a small bore rifle might be a joy on the range but I don't think one would enjoy one very much in the field.

A good scope is worth spending hard earned money on. A bad scope can be very frustrating and harmful to developing your rifle skills.

Since we are talking glass. We should also talk binocs or spotting scopes. Depends on where you are going and what you are doing but you will surely have need for one or both of the above. Tf you frequently spend time on the bench at your range a good scope is a necessity. The same could be said of a man who mostly hunts from a stand and his targets are at longer ranges i.e. 200+ yards.


In almost all other situations a quality set of binocs will be a better choice. Remember you will spend hours looking through your binoculars or spotting scope for every minute you use your rifle scope. It will pay you to buy the best optics you can here. Your success ratio is bound to be better if you don't have a headache everyday from looking thru optics you can't properly focus.

Once you get your glass remember to always pickup a box or two of ammo every time you can (these days might not be often enough!). Because your skill will come from doing, you can buy a good rifle but you will only get to be a good rifleman from shooting it.
 
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