Advice for hunting scope: Nightforce SHV 3-10 or older Swarovski 1.5-6?

[Scooter1942]

I recently bought a Tikka T3x Lite .308 stainless rifle that I'm having the barrel cut back to 18". I'm in the process of piecing together the various parts to make this a really nice and handy "general purpose" rifle. I'm currently looking at several scopes with the most interesting candidates being a Nightforce SHV 3-10x42. Advantages here are that it is a newer design, illuminated reticle, but probably more magnification than I need. I've read good things about the SHV models and while I'm normally a NXS guy, I think this could be a candidate. Next up is a Swarovski 1.5-6x42 Habicht. I really like the magnification range for this one and if the optical quality and light gathering ability on this is anything like my old West German S&B fixed 4x scope, then I'm leaning this way. Probably late '90's vintage Also entertaining some older Leupold VX-R scopes with the Fire Dot reticle. There's a couple of used 1.25-4 and 3x9 for fair prices out there. All have 30mm tubes. The Luepy's will cost me about $600, the Nightforce about $650 and the Swarovski about $700...all used in excellent condition. Which way would you go?

 

[Ikeman83]

If you're going to set the Swaro up with something like a 250 yd zero with no expectation of shooting past 300 yds, it's going to be tough to beat in terms of low light performance. If you think you might want the ability to shoot further than that I'd look at the other options.