Rifle Scopes Nightforce ATACR…Major Issue!!!!

Constant_Impingement

Constant_Impingement

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 28, 2013
22
70
#1
Hey Guys,

First post here in the "Hide"…

Unfortunately it comes with mechanical issues! Back in September, I purchased a brand new Nightforce ATACR for a rifle that I did not have in my possession then. The scope was mounted in a scope ring base, leveled on another rifle and put back in the safe. I took it outside a few times to check some distances & shown off a few times for some friends…then back to the safe it went.

The night before receiving the rifle, I pulled the scope out and began to play with the knobs…I dialed my elevation all the way down, and back up. When the rifle arrived, I place the scope on the rifle and began to adjust my eye relief. I had the scope completely zoomed in on 25x…when I began to zoom out, I noticed around 8x and lower, the field of view begins to close in around the reticle. Leaving a lot of black, dead space surrounding the sight picture, even with the proper eye relief in the eye box. Almost as if I'm looking through a really cheap scope…like a tunnel. The scope didn't have this issue from the start…everything appeared normal until after dialing the elevation knob. The scope has never been dropped, mishandled or mounted on a rifle while it was being shot.

I will be contacting Nightforce tomorrow to request a RMA so they can take a look. I just wanted to check with you guys to see if anyone has any information regarding this issue or have seen anything like it. Also, does Nightforce normally repair major issues or send a completely new unit? I'd imagine it would have to determine on the severity of the issue…but I would hate to spend this kind of money on a "lemon" of a scope. This is my first NF…I'm somewhat disappointed because I expected never the have to use the warranty…none the less, before having even shooting with it.

Thanks guys...
 
#2
Constant_Impingement said:
Hey Guys,

First post here in the "Hide"…

Unfortunately it comes with mechanical issues! Back in September, I purchased a brand new Nightforce ATACR for a rifle that I did not have in my possession then. The scope was mounted in a scope ring base, leveled on another rifle and put back in the safe. I took it outside a few times to check some distances & shown off a few times for some friends…then back to the safe it went.

The night before receiving the rifle, I pulled the scope out and began to play with the knobs…I dialed my elevation all the way down, and back up. When the rifle arrived, I place the scope on the rifle and began to adjust my eye relief. I had the scope completely zoomed in on 25x…when I began to zoom out, I noticed around 8x and lower, the field of view begins to close in around the reticle. Leaving a lot of black, dead space surrounding the sight picture, even with the proper eye relief in the eye box. Almost as if I'm looking through a really cheap scope…like a tunnel. The scope didn't have this issue from the start…everything appeared normal until after dialing the elevation knob. The scope has never been dropped, mishandled or mounted on a rifle while it was being shot.

I will be contacting Nightforce tomorrow to request a RMA so they can take a look. I just wanted to check with you guys to see if anyone has any information regarding this issue or have seen anything like it. Also, does Nightforce normally repair major issues or send a completely new unit? I'd imagine it would have to determine on the severity of the issue…but I would hate to spend this kind of money on a "lemon" of a scope. This is my first NF…I'm somewhat disappointed because I expected never the have to use the warranty…none the less, before having even shooting with it.

Thanks guys...
Click to expand...

What you are seeing was originally there and is visible between 5-8x. It is an aperture and is a design characteristic of the scope. It is not a mechanical problem. It is what some refer to as tunnelling on a Schmidt & Bender.
 
#3
While using your very first post to complain about something is not viewed as good form, you have been able to obtain a quick answer to your problem.

I guess the tunneling is a "feature" of these large magnification ratio scopes. I have it on my IOR 3-18x. It starts to clamp down around 4x, down to 3x.
 
#4
00bullitt said:
What you are seeing was originally there and is visible between 5-8x. It is an aperture and is a design characteristic of the scope. It is not a mechanical problem. It is what some refer to as tunnelling on a Schmidt & Bender.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the quick response…

I will take it out and mess with it…Like I said, I haven't spent anytime behind the scope and I've never looked through a S&B. I truly felt as if there was a difference in the "sight picture' while 5x from the time that I received till now. Only because I clearly remember zooming out to 5x to show to my buddies…and don't remember noticing the aperture. Thanks again.
 
#5
It's in my Bushnell Elite Tactical 3.5-21x50 also. Annoying but nothing they don't know about. Maybe other people that have your same scope will see the thread you started and chime in.

Not a bad idea to contact the company first when issues like this pop up then maybe start a thread with this kind of title if they don't satisfy your questions or concerns. The title just comes across a little harsh especially when you don't actually know you have mechanical issues.

Edit to add:

They answered while I was typing

and

Welcome to the hide
 
Last edited:
#6
Constant_Impingement said:
Thank you for the quick response…

I will take it out and mess with it…Like I said, I haven't spent anytime behind the scope and I've never looked through a S&B. I truly felt as if there was a difference in the "sight picture' while 5x from the time that I received till now. Only because I clearly remember zooming out to 5x to show to my buddies…and don't remember noticing the aperture. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

If at anytime you feel as if something may be wrong with your new scope, by all means, please contact our Customer Service Team at (208)476-9816 ext. 201.

The aperture is there but not overly obtrusive and does not change the overall FOV relative to magnification.
 
#7
ShtrRdy said:
While using your very first post to complain about something is not viewed as good form, you have been able to obtain a quick answer to your problem.

I guess the tunneling is a "feature" of these large magnification ratio scopes. I have it on my IOR 3-18x. It starts to clamp down around 4x, down to 3x.
Click to expand...

I know…not good on my part. The quick response was great. But I wasn't complaining…just seeking information & feedback. This wouldn't deter me away from Nightforce one second. I knew the issue would be resolved given their reputation. No worries…just a bit disappointed. Which the disappointment has diminished a tad!!!
 
#10
Just curious, but do you feel the four exclamation marks you used in the title worked better for you than just one? Forgive me for my ignorance, I'm just trying to get a better understanding of the mind set that leads to "!!!!!!!" and "??????" in all the thread titles.
 
#16
trevor300wsm said:
Just curious, but do you feel the four exclamation marks you used in the title worked better for you than just one? Forgive me for my ignorance, I'm just trying to get a better understanding of the mind set that leads to "!!!!!!!" and "??????" in all the thread titles.
Click to expand...

Being that it's an expression of emotion when writing or in this case, typing…Yes. If I were somewhat excited, I would use 1-2. If I were very excited, I would then us 3-4…Pissed off would be all caps followed by, at lease, 5 exclamations. Confused would have a couple question marks in there somewhere.

Joking…honestly, it's just an old habit.
 
#19
00bullitt said:
Just goes to show that its not an issue until it is brought up.
Click to expand...

In my opinion tunneling is an issue in any scope that exhibits it, except for a variable that bottoms out a 1x (since the 1x magnification has its own benefit).

I reduce the magnification in a variable power scope to increase the FOV (or to reduce the effects of mirage, but that's at the top end of the magnification), not to decrease magnification. When I owned an S&B PMII 5-25, I called it a 7-25 because the FOV was constant from 7x-5x, and there was no benefit from adjusting it below 7x. Same with the Bushnell DMR that tunnels from 3.5x-4x.

It's purely a marketing trick, since the Bushnell's advertised magnification ratio of 6x is more impressive than its actual usefulness which is 5x. The S&B suffers even more, going from a 5x to a 4x erector.

It's easy enough to figure out. Divide the FOV at minimum magnification by the FOV at max magnification, and if the result does not equal the claimed erector ration, the scope tunnels. I thing the FOV ratio is a more useful specification than magnification ratio in a rifle scope.

Joe
 
#20
scudzuki said:
In my opinion tunneling is an issue in any scope that exhibits it, except for a variable that bottoms out a 1x (since the 1x magnification has its own benefit).

I reduce the magnification in a variable power scope to increase the FOV (or to reduce the effects of mirage, but that's at the top end of the magnification), not to decrease magnification. When I owned an S&B PMII 5-25, I called it a 7-25 because the FOV was constant from 7x-5x, and there was no benefit from adjusting it below 7x. Same with the Bushnell DMR that tunnels from 3.5x-4x.

It's purely a marketing trick, since the Bushnell's advertised magnification ratio of 6x is more impressive than its actual usefulness which is 5x. The S&B suffers even more, going from a 5x to a 4x erector.

It's easy enough to figure out. Divide the FOV at minimum magnification by the FOV at max magnification, and if the result does not equal the claimed erector ration, the scope tunnels. I thing the FOV ratio is a more useful specification than magnification ratio in a rifle scope.

Joe
Click to expand...

I agree with you. I have a USO 1.8 -10 that starts tunneling at 2.25 power. It is rather dramatic going from 2.25 down to 1.8. I can't understand why they just didn't put the mechanical stop at 2.25. It's irritating to me.
I have a Beast on order. Hopefully the tunneling isn't to bad on it. It probably won't matter too much on it though as I plan on running it at high magnification the majority of the time.
 
#21
First off, I would like to offer my apologies to Nightforce for the overly dramatic Thread Title and jumping to conclusions. In no way, shape or form was I trying to bash the reputation or the quality of your products....I was just truly concerned. Now that I look back I feel somewhat like an idiot, as my intentions were completely harmless. I know that forums play an integral role in product marketing on the web, and that is the reason I feel I need to clarify my actions and offer an apology.

I am completely satisfied with the ATACR...it is an amazing piece of equipment and the attention to detail is outstanding. The clarity is simply amazing...when comparing side by side with my Leupold Mark 6 1x6; the clarity, of which I felt couldn't get any better than the Mark 6, was noticeably better.

I was simply just caught off guard when I noticed the sight picture physically close in when zooming out the magnification. I really didn't hear of any such detail mentioned in any of the previous reviews that I have read & watched of this product. After further examination, the tunneling is not so bad; now that I know it’s part of the design & function of the scope. I didn't purchase the scope for 5-7x anyway...

I surely hope that the individuals that are drawn into this thread because of the dramatized title read the thread in its entirety and read this post.
Nightforce, Thanks again for the prompt reply.
 
#22
Constant_Impingement said:
First off, I would like to offer my apologies to Nightforce for the overly dramatic Thread Title and jumping to conclusions. In no way, shape or form was I trying to bash the reputation or the quality of your products....I was just truly concerned. Now that I look back I feel somewhat like an idiot, as my intentions were completely harmless. I know that forums play an integral role in product marketing on the web, and that is the reason I feel I need to clarify my actions and offer an apology.

I am completely satisfied with the ATACR...it is an amazing piece of equipment and the attention to detail is outstanding. The clarity is simply amazing...when comparing side by side with my Leupold Mark 6 1x6; the clarity, of which I felt couldn't get any better than the Mark 6, was noticeably better.

I was simply just caught off guard when I noticed the sight picture physically close in when zooming out the magnification. I really didn't hear of any such detail mentioned in any of the previous reviews that I have read & watched of this product. After further examination, the tunneling is not so bad; now that I know it’s part of the design & function of the scope. I didn't purchase the scope for 5-7x anyway...

I surely hope that the individuals that are drawn into this thread because of the dramatized title read the thread in its entirety and read this post.
Nightforce, Thanks again for the prompt reply.
Click to expand...

Hey don't worry about it, you had an issue you thought was important to bring up and I'm sure someone else will have the same issue and come across this thread. Welcome to the forum!
 
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