Rifle Scopes Better Eye Box/Relief Near Top of Magnification Range

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WB300

Cranky Yankee
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 15, 2011
877
338
GA
#1
Looking to purchase a new (or used) scope, but it's impossible to find a single place where i can compare some side by side. So I've come to the Hide for opinions from those who have time behind the following scopes....

After considering glass, turrets, illumination, reticles...etc, the next priority for me is a forgiving/generous eye box/eye relief in the 20x-25x range, and forgiving parallax. I know eye box and eye relief get tighter as you near max magnification, but some get tighter sooner throughout the range than others. And some scopes need adjusting of the parallax about every 50 yards. The only scope below I've been able to finger-bang is the NF. Impressive for sure, but 7x is getting up there for the low end while hunting.

NF ATACR 7-35x56
Leica PRS 5-30x56
Steiner M7Xi 4-28x56
Steiner T6Xi 5-30x56
ZCO 5-27x56 (Only added to the list for future consideration)

Use will be range (1400 yds max), intro into PRS, and hunting. Budget is $3K max.

Any other scopes I should be considering? Please no Vortex or Leupold.

Thanks in advance.

Will
 
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#4
carbonbased said:
What are you hunting?
Click to expand...
Magnification used for hunting will be on the lower end of the magnification range. Deer, hogs...etc from danger close on out. Hogs in GA swamps at 40 yards while moving is tough to get quick shots on higher magnification which is why the 7x on the NF is probably more than I want.

The reason for the thread is more about positional shooting on higher magnification while hunting steel. I figure most of my shooting will be under 20x, but i don't want a tight eye box and have to creep closer to the scope to shoot on 20x-25x if I needed to.

And the less I have to adjust the parallax to get a clear image on targets, the better.
 
#7
WB300 said:
I would love one of those, but it doesn't really fit what I want at this moment.... especially the budget requirement.
Click to expand...
I think you'd be surprised, you're not far off if you're willing to go used. May be some Schmidts used in that range as well. I have the 3-20 PMII US for similar uses and love it.
 
#10
WB300 said:
Magnification used for hunting will be on the lower end of the magnification range. Deer, hogs...etc from danger close on out. Hogs in GA swamps at 40 yards while moving is tough to get quick shots on higher magnification which is why the 7x on the NF is probably more than I want.
Click to expand...
I dunno man…seems like you need two scopes. The only scope I know of that goes to 3x and past 20x is the S&B 3-27, but it gets so-so reviews around here.

The two scopes option would be like a 1-6x, 1-8x, 1-10x, or 2-10x etc for hunting and a higher mag scope for comps or steel. Close range stuff is not going to work with 5x, and 4x is marginal with a hog running at you (although maybe the ZCO 4-20 has enough FOV?).

March makes a 2.5x-25x52mm but it's only SFP. NF makes a 2.5-20x50mm NX8 that might work but is it high enough mag for you? Older versions were panned but new models seem to work well.

I'm sort of out of ideas.
 
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#11
carbonbased said:
I dunno man…seems like you need two scopes. The only scope I know of that goes to 3x and past 20x is the S&B 3-27, but it gets so-so reviews around here.

The two scopes option would be like a 1-6x, 1-8x, 1-10x, or 2-10x etc for hunting and a higher mag scope for comps or steel. Close range stuff is not going to work with 5x, and 4x is marginal with a hog running at you (although maybe the ZCO 4-20 has enough FOV?).

March makes a 2.5x-25x52mm but it's only SFP. NF makes a 2.5-20x50mm NX8 that might work but is it high enough mag for you? Older versions were panned but new models seem to work well.

I'm sort of out of ideas.
Click to expand...
Eyebox and FOV on NX8 line is tight. I found it tough to work with.
 
#14
What I'm getting at is what the OP seems to want is (almost) not in the marketplace. I wouldn't want to hunt anything close-up, let alone close and dangerous, with a 4x.

The 3-27 S&B is sorta the only one that meets the lower zoom range that I might be comfortable with for hunting…but I'd rather have a 2x for the sort of hunting the OP is talking about. And for for shooting pdogs I like having at least 25x on tap. That 3-27 is absurdly priced too.
 
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#15
Yea, I have other rigs for when I hunt swamps specifically for hogs. 3x-5x on the low end is preferred, but I wouldn't want to go above 7x like on the NF. The times I would be engaging hogs and deer this close would be a rare exception, not the norm.

My main focus is the higher mag range.
 
#17
WB300 said:
Yea, I have other rigs for when I hunt swamps specifically for hogs. 3x-5x on the low end is preferred, but I wouldn't want to go above 7x like on the NF. The times I would be engaging hogs and deer this close would be a rare exception, not the norm.

My main focus is the higher mag range.
Click to expand...
Oh, well shit, if 6x will do buy a Razor 6-36 Gen III. Koskin/ILya/Dark Lord of Optics has said it bats with the big boys like ZCO/TT. Look up Liberty Optics. You're not going to find anything else with that price to performance ratio.

Me? For a one-scope close hunting and longer range setup (more than 15x) it's gonna be a compromise but the 3-18x56 Steiner sounds interesting, or maybe a 2.5-20x50mm NX8 or 3-20 PM II (obscene price again).
 
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#22
WB300 said:
..... which is why I listed the scopes I'm considering and was looking for input from folks who have some time behind them.

I apologize if I wasn't clear in my original post.

Thank you for the responses.
Click to expand...

Me and the peanut gallery been answering your last question (but some of us, ahem, missed some of your early qualifications, sorry):
WB300 said:
Any other scopes I should be considering? Please no Vortex or Leupold.
Click to expand...
I think your initial selections have pretty much wrapped it up. I assume you have a line on a good deal on the NF 7-35 as it’s $3600 (yeah people I know you can get deals).

The only other scope I’ve heard good things about that fits inside your box is the Element Theos 6-36×56 (ILya said it was promising). Oh, the 4x20 ATACR as well.

You could join ILya/koshkin’s patreon-type site and ask him directly:
darklordofoptics.locals.com

DarkLordOfOptics

Connect with ILya and other members of DarkLordOfOptics community
darklordofoptics.locals.com darklordofoptics.locals.com

He also runs opticsthoughts. Here’s his recommendation’s broken down by price: https://opticsthoughts.com/?page_id=623

Search Dark Lord of Optics on YT.

You probably already know all this. Maybe it’ll help the next guy.

Just trying to help. Good luck.
 
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#23
carbonbased said:
I dunno man…seems like you need two scopes. The only scope I know of that goes to 3x and past 20x is the S&B 3-27, but it gets so-so reviews around here.

The two scopes option would be like a 1-6x, 1-8x, 1-10x, or 2-10x etc for hunting and a higher mag scope for comps or steel. Close range stuff is not going to work with 5x, and 4x is marginal with a hog running at you (although maybe the ZCO 4-20 has enough FOV?).

March makes a 2.5x-25x52mm but it's only SFP. NF makes a 2.5-20x50mm NX8 that might work but is it high enough mag for you? Older versions were panned but new models seem to work well.

I'm sort of out of ideas.
Click to expand...
March also make a 3-24X42 and a 3-24X52 and those are FFP. They have ED glass, of course, and I think they are under $3k.
 
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#24
Leica PRS scope is worth a look.
The issue, frequently, is the dual use idea.
Sounds great on paper, the execution is typically a different story.
To be honest, 18X is really sufficient for most PRS endeavors, most competitors are shooting between 18x and 20x anyway.
A really nice 3-18x or 4-20x would likely fit your stated goals
This would work, the only issue is the limited adjustment range.
tractoptics.com

TORIC UHD 30mm 4-20X50 FFP MRAD PRS Long Range Rifle Scope

The TORIC 30mm FFP 4-20X50 MRAD Long Range Rifle Scope is specifically designed for the shooter looking to maximize the performance of his cartridge.
tractoptics.com tractoptics.com
 
#25
Bringin back an old post.
I’m tired of going through scopes with finicky eyebox and parallax.
The last one I attempted was a Leup MK5HD. The parallax was horrendous.

Wanting to get the next attempt right.
Theos, Zeiss S3, T6Xi or March 4-28

Let me know your thoughts. They all have great glass and turrets. This is all about eye relief and parallax.
Thanks
 
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#27
Kickin45 said:
Bringin back an old post.
I’m tired of going through scopes with finicky eyebox and parallax.
The last one I attempted was a Leup MK5HD. The parallax was horrendous.

Wanting to get the next attempt right.
Theos 6-36, ATACR 7-35 or March 4-28

Let me know your thoughts. They all have great glass and turrets. This is all about eye relief and parallax.
Thanks
Click to expand...
If the Theos is on the list you might as well add in the Zeiss LRP S3
 
#28
As an update since this was revived.... I wound up getting a ZCO 5-27x56. It's amazing. More usable at the top end of the magnification range than the others i listed. I eventually want a ZCO 4-20x50 for a lighter rig.

I have not looked through any of the Kahles, S&B, Zeiss S3 6-36 mentioned above, or a newer March.

As an aside... The most forgiving eyebox scope at max magnification I ever looked through (besides the Henny 4-16) is the Steiner Nighthunter Extreme 2-10x50 that has been discontinued. At 10x, the eyebox is as forgiving at 2x... nearly 4" of eye relief and I can move my head around and still have a full picture. Now granted, it is 2nd focal plane, but if someone could get that in a higher magnification range and in a FFP scope... I'd be all over it.

Will
 
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#29
WB300 said:
Looking to purchase a new (or used) scope, but it's impossible to find a single place where i can compare some side by side. So I've come to the Hide for opinions from those who have time behind the following scopes....

After considering glass, turrets, illumination, reticles...etc, the next priority for me is a forgiving/generous eye box/eye relief in the 20x-25x range, and forgiving parallax. I know eye box and eye relief get tighter as you near max magnification, but some get tighter sooner throughout the range than others. And some scopes need adjusting of the parallax about every 50 yards. The only scope below I've been able to finger-bang is the NF. Impressive for sure, but 7x is getting up there for the low end while hunting.

NF ATACR 7-35x56
Leica PRS 5-30x56
Steiner M7Xi 4-28x56
Steiner T6Xi 5-30x56
ZCO 5-27x56 (Only added to the list for future consideration)

Use will be range (1400 yds max), intro into PRS, and hunting. Budget is $3K max.

Any other scopes I should be considering? Please no Vortex or Leupold.

Thanks in advance.

Will
Click to expand...


Feel free to call me at 916-628-3490 and I can help you pick the best option for your location - Richard
 
#30
WB300 said:
As an update since this was revived.... I wound up getting a ZCO 5-27x56. It's amazing. More usable at the top end of the magnification range than the others i listed. I eventually want a ZCO 4-20x50 for a lighter rig.

I have not looked through any of the Kahles, S&B, Zeiss S3 6-36 mentioned above, or a newer March.

As an aside... The most forgiving eyebox scope at max magnification I ever looked through (besides the Henny 4-16) is the Steiner Nighthunter Extreme 2-10x50 that has been discontinued. At 10x, the eyebox is as forgiving at 2x... nearly 4" of eye relief and I can move my head around and still have a full picture. Now granted, it is 2nd focal plane, but if someone could get that in a higher magnification range and in a FFP scope... I'd be all over it.

Will
Click to expand...
I'd argue that the new Kahles scopes are able to offer that with their jumbo-sized ocular housings.
 
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