-
Having trouble using the site?
Contact support
Rifle Scopes NF F1 vs F1 Mil-Spec what is the difference...
- Thread starter peterh
- Start date
I have an Army-spec F1. They don't have any new available, but you might have some people selling theirs. The warranty is better on the standard F1, as well as more reticle options. Plus, you can't ever send the scope in for a reticle change if you buy the milspec. With that being said, I don't have any problem with mine, other than it not being the MLR 2.0 reticle!
I am with Km22 I have a Army Spec F1. From what I understand these are the differences
1. Nightforce claims the mil spec scopes use the best glass out of each shipment.
2. The glass is siliconed in the scope to make it even more robust.
3. It is put through even more testing.
CStactical usually has the milspec scopes on their site with a description. I do not think they offer the scope for sale any longer however.
1. Nightforce claims the mil spec scopes use the best glass out of each shipment.
2. The glass is siliconed in the scope to make it even more robust.
3. It is put through even more testing.
CStactical usually has the milspec scopes on their site with a description. I do not think they offer the scope for sale any longer however.
My understanding was that the mil versions were assembled with an industrial strength adhesive that made them pretty much impossible to disassemble or modify without completely destroying the optic. Helps with ruggedness I guess.
Sooooo....if I'm understanding this thread correctly, the vaunted famous NF picture, with a bullet hole in the side of the scope, as proof positive of the outstanding ruggedness of all NF scopes, is actually a NF scope line that is built with features and specifications that no one other than the military can purchase???
I still think NF scopes are very good, but I find that these "small" differences, if true, has a faint odor of "bait and switch"......IMHO
I still think NF scopes are very good, but I find that these "small" differences, if true, has a faint odor of "bait and switch"......IMHO
Last edited:
The mil-spec version is only on the F1, I am not aware of any other models which it is offered. All the rest built the same. And as stated above I believe the difference is an adhesive is used making service difficult if not impossible, possibly done to meet a specific contract requirement?
The milspec has only been offered for about 1 yr. I'm not sure if NF was making milspec F-1s or any "mil spec" scope before the last couple years.
The famous NF s scope with the bullet hole is quite a bit older than a couple years. If i had to guess, it was a regular NXS.
Best way to find out is to call NF or find out when NF contracts with the military began.
I believe only those specific ones were available to the public for a limited time. I'm sure if you go on the mil version of the site, you can get a mil spec version of whatever is offered (my guess)... If you're law enforcement/military. But those milspec ones that were offered, are now unavailable. I can't really tell much difference in the glass though...
Personally I would get the standard F1 as I like the reticle choices better and the warranty. "Mil Spec" is cool and all but if spending that much on a scope I want a more usable reticle and not just a standard mildot.
I agree. Although mine has the mlr, which is rough on lower powers. The mlr 2.0 would be much nicer..
This link will take you to the brochure posted on the website which explains a little more about the MIL-SPEC models.
http://nightforceoptics.com/pdf/MilSpecFlyerPDF.pdf
MIL-SPEC is not a different set of features and benefits. It is a construction method that differs from the commercial models. A construction method that allows us to certify the product to several of the standards of MIL-STD 810G for scratch resistance, submersion, and pressure. The semi permanent construction method allows us to exceed the standards required. The riflescope is assembled with a semi resilient two part adhesive. Once assembled, near impossible to disassemble without damage.
We hand select scopes with better optical qualities that are to be made to MIL-SPEC. That does not mean that commercial scopes do not have the same optical quality. It just means that when we select optical components, that we utilize the specs that are closer to the bottom end of our spec rather than the top end. Those same optical components still go in to the commercial product. I think you would be hard pressed to ever see a difference without expensive optical testing equipment.
The MIL-SPEC product was designed for the warfighter and select federal agencies that sometimes deploy to warzones. Designed for the guys that may be doing waterborne insertions/deployments from submarines as well as HALO inserting from high altitude aircraft. They are designed to handle the rapid descents and radical pressure changes that cause other scopes to fog internally. They are designed to withstand pressures at depths down to 100' without a dive bag. Requirements that the commercial shooter does not require or want to pay additional for. We can build about 2.5 commercial model scopes to every one MIL-SPEC model. There are increased costs associated with the MIL-SPEC model. WE choose not to sell MIL-SPEC to the individual as it is a design criteria for a discriminating customer. Any scope we sell to the Military, is MIL-SPEC.
The commercial product is waterproof to 3 meters (10') for about 10 minutes. The MIL-SPEC can withstand 100' for 2+ hours.
Our MIL-SPEC product is also considered a "Defense Article" under the ITAR and regulated for export by the Department of State. Commercial product is considered "Dual Use" and therefore controlled for export by the Department of Commerce and Bureau of Industry and Security.
The bullet hole scope in our catalog was a MIL-SPEC 3.5-15x50 second focal plane model that was utilized on a Marine XM3 Sniper Rifle.
As for the MIL-SPEC models that were released for commercial sale, they were contract overruns for the US Army. The Army had originally ordered them for the Mk13 rifle with Mil-Dots and near the final delivery order, decided to change their reticle selection to the Horus H58. Being that they are MIL-SPEC and FFP, we were not able to change the reticles since the objective cell needs to be reset once the erector is removed for reticle replacement. The objective cell is pretty much permanently bonded in place and removal would cause damage. We made the decision to sell them commercially as a nostalgic and limited availability item.
They have since all been sold and there are a little over 200 floating around.
Any Nightforce product can be assembled to meet the MIL-SPEC requirements. It just so happens that the F1's that were available for that limited time were F1's.
MIL-SPEC scopes do carry a 10 year warranty whereas the commercial product carries a limited lifetime warranty.
Hopefully this answers the questions about differences of the MIL-SPEC compared to the commercial product.
http://nightforceoptics.com/pdf/MilSpecFlyerPDF.pdf
MIL-SPEC is not a different set of features and benefits. It is a construction method that differs from the commercial models. A construction method that allows us to certify the product to several of the standards of MIL-STD 810G for scratch resistance, submersion, and pressure. The semi permanent construction method allows us to exceed the standards required. The riflescope is assembled with a semi resilient two part adhesive. Once assembled, near impossible to disassemble without damage.
We hand select scopes with better optical qualities that are to be made to MIL-SPEC. That does not mean that commercial scopes do not have the same optical quality. It just means that when we select optical components, that we utilize the specs that are closer to the bottom end of our spec rather than the top end. Those same optical components still go in to the commercial product. I think you would be hard pressed to ever see a difference without expensive optical testing equipment.
The MIL-SPEC product was designed for the warfighter and select federal agencies that sometimes deploy to warzones. Designed for the guys that may be doing waterborne insertions/deployments from submarines as well as HALO inserting from high altitude aircraft. They are designed to handle the rapid descents and radical pressure changes that cause other scopes to fog internally. They are designed to withstand pressures at depths down to 100' without a dive bag. Requirements that the commercial shooter does not require or want to pay additional for. We can build about 2.5 commercial model scopes to every one MIL-SPEC model. There are increased costs associated with the MIL-SPEC model. WE choose not to sell MIL-SPEC to the individual as it is a design criteria for a discriminating customer. Any scope we sell to the Military, is MIL-SPEC.
The commercial product is waterproof to 3 meters (10') for about 10 minutes. The MIL-SPEC can withstand 100' for 2+ hours.
Our MIL-SPEC product is also considered a "Defense Article" under the ITAR and regulated for export by the Department of State. Commercial product is considered "Dual Use" and therefore controlled for export by the Department of Commerce and Bureau of Industry and Security.
The bullet hole scope in our catalog was a MIL-SPEC 3.5-15x50 second focal plane model that was utilized on a Marine XM3 Sniper Rifle.
As for the MIL-SPEC models that were released for commercial sale, they were contract overruns for the US Army. The Army had originally ordered them for the Mk13 rifle with Mil-Dots and near the final delivery order, decided to change their reticle selection to the Horus H58. Being that they are MIL-SPEC and FFP, we were not able to change the reticles since the objective cell needs to be reset once the erector is removed for reticle replacement. The objective cell is pretty much permanently bonded in place and removal would cause damage. We made the decision to sell them commercially as a nostalgic and limited availability item.
They have since all been sold and there are a little over 200 floating around.
Any Nightforce product can be assembled to meet the MIL-SPEC requirements. It just so happens that the F1's that were available for that limited time were F1's.
MIL-SPEC scopes do carry a 10 year warranty whereas the commercial product carries a limited lifetime warranty.
Hopefully this answers the questions about differences of the MIL-SPEC compared to the commercial product.
Last edited:
Similar threads
