NX8 or Mk5? or?

U

Usaf197

Private
Minuteman
Oct 10, 2020
35
11
#1
Currently I have a vortex viper pst gen 2 5-25 and I have an Arken EP 7-35 gen 2.

Personally the glass in the 2 above optics to my eye are just fine.

I want something America. Papa trump is back and it’s time to go Mercian.

Having said that I don’t have any reps behind more “primo” glass.

I’ve held just about every optic in hand at a Scheels but looking through any optic indoors at maybe 50 yards I can’t tell a big difference.


Tons of knowledge on here so I have the option between an NX8 or a MK5 (have mil discount so that helps).

Which would you go with? And why?
 
#5
I had both and didn't like either, but apparently I'm the minority. In that range, the Steiner t6xi is made in USA as is the Burris XTR Pro, but unsure if they're still making the latter. MSR2! Or SCR2 (super fine) are both great IMHO.
 
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#6
Usaf197 said:
Currently I have a vortex viper pst gen 2 5-25 and I have an Arken EP 7-35 gen 2.

Personally the glass in the 2 above optics to my eye are just fine.

I want something America. Papa trump is back and it’s time to go Mercian.

Having said that I don’t have any reps behind more “primo” glass.

I’ve held just about every optic in hand at a Scheels but looking through any optic indoors at maybe 50 yards I can’t tell a big difference.


Tons of knowledge on here so I have the option between an NX8 or a MK5 (have mil discount so that helps).

Which would you go with? And why?
Click to expand...
You haven't given a purpose for the scope. What kind of shooting do you intend to do, what rifle is this going on, you plan on entering any competitions, is this for an AR or a crossover hunting/long range rig? The NX8 is a fairly niche scope that I wouldn't compare to Mark 5, I would compare the ATACR more to the Mark 5 line to be honest. ATACR is assembled in USA but NX8 is made/assembled in Japan if I'm remembering right, just an FYI.

If you really want to go full 'Merica! then find yourself a nice used Vortex AMG 6-24x50 these were 100% made in the USA not just assembled in the USA, later versions had the reticle etched in Germany but everything else was America strong!
 
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#7
Glassaholic said:
You haven't given a purpose for the scope. What kind of shooting do you intend to do, what rifle is this going on, you plan on entering any competitions, is this for an AR or a crossover hunting/long range rig? The NX8 is a fairly niche scope that I wouldn't compare to Mark 5, I would compare the ATACR more to the Mark 5 line to be honest. ATACR is assembled in USA but NX8 is made/assembled in Japan if I'm remembering right, just an FYI.

If you really want to go full 'Merica! then find yourself a nice used Vortex AMG 6-24x50 these were 100% made in the USA not just assembled in the USA, later versions had the reticle etched in Germany but everything else was America strong!
Click to expand...
This will be going on a bolt gun for PRS style shooting. I would enter some local competitions but nothing super formal yet. Ideally someday yes competitions. Out to 1200 maybe 1400 yards.
 
#8
S12A said:
Nightforce is Australian owned and this model made in Japan so not sure what's American about that. Not saying any of those are bad things, but the leupold is more American if that is a real factor in your choice.
Click to expand...
I guess when I say American it’s more of not China lol ideally as much American as possible
 
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#9
I wasn't a fan of several NX8. The zero stop bound on the 2.5-20 and was a PITA. Then it and several 1-8s has a bad fishbowl to my eye. The one nice thing on the 2.5-20 is you can set the zero stop to dial down for a speed factor drop or something.

I still have 2 or 3 Mk5 3.6-18 Tremor 3s that I really like on my gas guns. They are lightweight and compact. Work well with clip ons. If you want short and compact, they are a great option.
 
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#10
The MK5 5-25 with a PR-2 reticle would be the best choice of the two for your use.
NF ATACR would be a good choice if you want to go with NF.
Also take a look at the Vortex Gen 3 Razor. Very good glass for the price and you should be able to get a pretty good military discount through Vortex.
 
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#11
lonestar1845 said:
The MK5 5-25 with a PR-2 reticle would be the best choice of the two for your use.
NF ATACR would be a good choice if you want to go with NF.
Also take a look at the Vortex Gen 3 Razor. Very good glass for the price and you should be able to get a pretty good military discount through Vortex.
Click to expand...
Any reason to avoid the 7-35?
 
#14
Usaf197 said:
Currently I have a vortex viper pst gen 2 5-25 and I have an Arken EP 7-35 gen 2.

Personally the glass in the 2 above optics to my eye are just fine.

I want something America. Papa trump is back and it’s time to go Mercian.

Having said that I don’t have any reps behind more “primo” glass.

I’ve held just about every optic in hand at a Scheels but looking through any optic indoors at maybe 50 yards I can’t tell a big difference.


Tons of knowledge on here so I have the option between an NX8 or a MK5 (have mil discount so that helps).

Which would you go with? And why?
Click to expand...
If the Arken glass is good for you, you should try a DNT 7-35x56, and save some coin.

If you want higher priced, the Burris XTR-III 5.5-30x56 is exceptional glass quality. If you’re willing to go up into the $2K range, Zeiss LRP S3, Razor Gen3, Kahles K624i, or NX8.

Personally, I won’t buy Leopold anything. Overhyped and overrated, and apparently tracking issues now, from what I’ve been reading.
 
#15
FuhQ said:
If the Arken glass is good for you, you should try a DNT 7-35x56, and save some coin.

If you want higher priced, the Burris XTR-III 5.5-30x56 is exceptional glass quality. If you’re willing to go up into the $2K range, Zeiss LRP S3, Razor Gen3, Kahles K624i, or NX8.

Personally, I won’t buy Leopold anything. Overhyped and overrated, and apparently tracking issues now, from what I’ve been reading.
Click to expand...
Did Arken used to own DNT or partner with them? I know there used to be an Arken Zulus now it’s the DNT zulus.
 
#16
Usaf197 said:
Did Arken used to own DNT or partner with them? I know there used to be an Arken Zulus now it’s the DNT zulus.
Click to expand...
Used to be partnered and I think partially owned by, but now they’re not affiliated at all. DNT was bought by someone else. They just still use the same OEM in China, which is why the scopes look similar.
 
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#17
Usaf197 said:
Any reason to avoid the 7-35?
Click to expand...

It's just not needed.

I have both. I rarely go over 25x on the 7-35. 5x low end for locating targets on stages that have multiple is more useful to me.
7-35 is better for static bench shooting to see paper. It's surprising how little difference 25 and 35 are at 100, but at 500 it's starting to shine.


Leupold makes everything but the glass in Oregon. They're also the only company I know of that will take in a scope from 40 years ago and refurbish it even if that means making parts.
 
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#18
Controls, eye box and DOF will be better on the mk5

Glass (especially CA) and FOV will be better on the NX8.

Reticles are subjective. I like both the PR2 from Leupy and the Mil C/Mil XT from NF. Whatever makes sense to your brain is your call.

For my crossover hunting/LR field shooting/varminting use I prefer the nx8, but for your PRS use, I would go with the Mk5. JMO
 
#19
A friend of mine has the MK5 5-25 and has used it in some local matches. He really likes it, and it has the CCH reticle. I’ve looked through it plenty of times, but the scope just didn’t agree with me. That said, I still think it’s a solid scope.
 
#20
Gunny89 said:
A friend of mine has the MK5 5-25 and has used it in some local matches. He really likes it, and it has the CCH reticle. I’ve looked through it plenty of times, but the scope just didn’t agree with me. That said, I still think it’s a solid scope.
Click to expand...
That reticle is the work of the devil lol

Hated it so bad I sold the scope. Sooo many dashes!

First decent scope I had ever bought.
 
#21
FuhQ said:
If the Arken glass is good for you, you should try a DNT 7-35x56, and save some coin.

If you want higher priced, the Burris XTR-III 5.5-30x56 is exceptional glass quality. If you’re willing to go up into the $2K range, Zeiss LRP S3, Razor Gen3, Kahles K624i, or NX8.

Personally, I won’t buy Leopold anything. Overhyped and overrated, and apparently tracking issues now, from what I’ve been reading.
Click to expand...

The tracking issue - I've also 'read' about this issue on the interwebs. Do you think there is meat to it? I know quite a few people with MK5s, no issues. I have a couple, no issues.
 
#24
chevy_man said:
It's just not needed.

I have both. I rarely go over 25x on the 7-35. 5x low end for locating targets on stages that have multiple is more useful to me.
7-35 is better for static bench shooting to see paper. It's surprising how little difference 25 and 35 are at 100, but at 500 it's starting to shine.


Leupold makes everything but the glass in Oregon. They're also the only company I know of that will take in a scope from 40 years ago and refurbish it even if that means making parts.
Click to expand...
Some of the better PRS guys are running the 735. There are benefits to more mag for shooting groups.
 
#26
FuhQ said:
There’s posts about it on here. And most recently, lots of tracking issues with the new MK4HD.
Click to expand...

Lots of people that don't understand the reticle and turret can be aligned to each other while not being perfectly aligned with a flat spot in a tube.

My favorite is the idiots using levels, and blaming a scope because their $5 bubble isn't even remotely close.
 
#27
Usaf197 said:
Did Arken used to own DNT or partner with them? I know there used to be an Arken Zulus now it’s the DNT zulus.
Click to expand...
Its my understanding that dnt spun off from arken so the night vision stuff would be it's own thing. Then dnt put out the 7-35 scope so.....🤷‍♂️
 
#28
I was prepared to snag a mk5 5-25 but held a mk4 6-24 today and was impressed.

Sadly it was just indoors and not behind a rifle though. I keep hoping I run into someone at my range that would allow me to peak through it so I can get a better appreciation for it at 600 and 1000 etc vs just 50 yards indoors
 
#29
chevy_man said:
Lots of people that don't understand the reticle and turret can be aligned to each other while not being perfectly aligned with a flat spot in a tube.

My favorite is the idiots using levels, and blaming a scope because their $5 bubble isn't even remotely close.
Click to expand...
Forgive my ignorance, but what 'tracking' is the issue- ie, 1 click on the turret is consistently .1 mil across the entire elevation; or running the elevation up 20 or so mil then back down consistently returns to zero?
 
#30
widefat77 said:
Forgive my ignorance, but what 'tracking' is the issue- ie, 1 click on the turret is consistently .1 mil across the entire elevation; or running the elevation up 20 or so mil then back down consistently returns to zero?
Click to expand...

Every complaint I've seen so far wasn't necessarily tracking, but the reticle being canted so as you dialed you would be adding windage.

Every one of those guys used a level or wedge tool, instead of a simple plumb bob.

Rarely will any scope dial exactly. But it shouldn't be off much. I think 3% or less was normal when Frank used to publish all their class tests.

Any decent ballistic calculator will have a correction factor. You should always do a tracking test on any new scope. If it only tracks 98% or if it's 101%, the calculator can factor that into your drop charts.
 
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#31
Usaf197 said:
I was prepared to snag a mk5 5-25 but held a mk4 6-24 today and was impressed.

Sadly it was just indoors and not behind a rifle though. I keep hoping I run into someone at my range that would allow me to peak through it so I can get a better appreciation for it at 600 and 1000 etc vs just 50 yards indoors
Click to expand...
I think it's a better optic for the money. Lighter..same glass...same turrets and can be had with the PR3 which is a better reticle. Oh and it's half the price so you can buy twice as many.
 
#32
chevy_man said:
Every complaint I've seen so far wasn't necessarily tracking, but the reticle being canted so as you dialed you would be adding windage.

Every one of those guys used a level or wedge tool, instead of a simple plumb bob.

Rarely will any scope dial exactly. But it shouldn't be off much. I think 3% or less was normal when Frank used to publish all their class tests.

Any decent ballistic calculator will have a correction factor. You should always do a tracking test on any new scope. If it only tracks 98% or if it's 101%, the calculator can factor that into your drop charts.
Click to expand...
So tall target test?
 
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#33
I had at least one new MK4HD 8-32x56 that 100% had tracking issues and that Leupold replaced under warranty (with a brand new unit that came with a canted reticle right out of the box 😣), it was the second one I owned after buying and selling a first unit that was afflicted with a turret cap that didn’t align correctly with the indicator line on the erector housing (which drove me crazy, because I’d have to dial everything 2-3 times and count clicks to be semi-sure I’d dialed what I was trying to dial). All of my scopes get mounted with the reticles aligned to a plumb line and/or laser level and then verified IRL at the range with tracking targets and shooting out to 1250 yards.

That said, the MK4HD is a new line and hopefully Leupold was just working out early production bugs and have gotten their shit together by now as far as building them correctly. So I wouldn’t necessarily dissuade someone new to the game from taking a chance on one because the glass is great (especially for the money) and in many ways the MK4HDs are just better designed, leaner and meaner, cheaper MK5HDs. Plus, as mentioned, the PR3 MIL reticle kicks ass and is as good or better than anything else out there.

If I were the OP, I’d either get a MK4HD or stretch the budget to a Razor G3 (which IMO should be nearly everyone’s “first fancy scope” once they’re willing to spend $2K+ so they can get a baseline of what a top quality scope should look and feel like).

But if you get a MK4HD, just know that it might have to go back to the mothership unless you’re lucky enough to get a good one.
 
#34
chevy_man said:
Every complaint I've seen so far wasn't necessarily tracking, but the reticle being canted so as you dialed you would be adding windage.

Every one of those guys used a level or wedge tool, instead of a simple plumb bob.

Rarely will any scope dial exactly. But it shouldn't be off much. I think 3% or less was normal when Frank used to publish all their class tests.

Any decent ballistic calculator will have a correction factor. You should always do a tracking test on any new scope. If it only tracks 98% or if it's 101%, the calculator can factor that into your drop charts.
Click to expand...
100%. Remember when the majority of us shot non adjustable stocks? We’d mount the optic purposely canted for our different shoulder pockets. Now with the chassis systems we have these days, we can fit the rifle to us, mount optics with a wedge but verify with a plumb bob.

I was in one of the first classes Marc and Frank had with the first version of the scope tool. You’d get however your scope tracked and plug it in to your calculator. There was a guy that didn’t like that his optic was off, forget how much but it was something like 95 or 97%. After the class, he sent it back to the factory citing tracking issues. It was sent back as being in spec. I won’t say who the company was but it rhymes with Leupold.
 
#38
The only issue with the NX8 is non locking elevation turret. If that doesn't bother you, buy it, but buy the 4-32 model. No reason in my opinion not to give up the extra 1.5x on the low end to get a much more usable optic in your mid to upper range. It's light, it tracks, its durable. You can rest easy.
I like the MK5 5-25 and I like the PR reticles in practice and on paper. But IRL they are a bit too thin for any crossover application IN MY OPINION. Although there are a couple NRL Hunter dudes who obviously have proved otherwise time and time again and they are worlds better than I am.
The good news is, you really can't go wrong with either option, so just pick the feature set that favors you and let it roll.
 
#39
IMG_8077.jpeg

Ended up snagging a razor instead
 
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#40
Burdy said:
The only issue with the NX8 is non locking elevation turret. If that doesn't bother you, buy it, but buy the 4-32 model. No reason in my opinion not to give up the extra 1.5x on the low end to get a much more usable optic in your mid to upper range. It's light, it tracks, its durable. You can rest easy.
I like the MK5 5-25 and I like the PR reticles in practice and on paper. But IRL they are a bit too thin for any crossover application IN MY OPINION. Although there are a couple NRL Hunter dudes who obviously have proved otherwise time and time again and they are worlds better than I am.
The good news is, you really can't go wrong with either option, so just pick the feature set that favors you and let it roll.
Click to expand...
True. I hunt with a VX-5, duplex firedot, sfp. My lr scopes are pr2 or NF mil-xt ffp.
 
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