Rifle Scopes Nightforce NXS 1-4

[Hotshot10]

I am considering an NXS 1-4 for an AR that current has nothing but irons. When I go to the range, I shoot to 100 with it but would like to stretch to 300. I've been considering using it as a replacement for my 12 gauge for when things go bump in the night.

I have two questions:

1. Would the NXS 1-4 be suitable?

2. Does anyone have experience with the IHR reticle vs. the FC-3G?

I know these are discontinued, so I am looking to buy relatively soon.

Thanks for the feedback in advance.

 

[Austinjunks]

I'm new so grain of salt. I don't have experience with the nxs, but I have used lpvo to street h to 500+ with good results. It is very doable but requires a bit more work on your part. My experience was with the p4xi.

 

[phlegm]

I like mine though I have the FC-2. Pretty sure the FC-3G has been the most popular.

 

[longshot2000]

never anythng wrong with a Nightforce. the 1-4x was very popular. Get a good used one. Many are upgrading to 2.5-10x or the NX8 1-8x, so you should be able to find.

 

[hitman]

I have the NF 1-4 on an 11.5 gun and I love it a lot actually. A lot of people think it is not that great and out dated but I love the reticle. It is fast for me! I pick it up so easy compared to any other optic, even my Kahles, as far as speed.

 

[Hotshot10]

I am leaning toward the IHR since the FC 2 is no longer available.

 

[Gasgun]

I love mine. I have had it mounted on my 16” SR-15 for the past 5 years.
I think that it’s about the perfect size and weight for the AR platform. It is plenty of optic for 300 yards, I have used mine out to 600.
Eye relief and FOV are decent. It is fast at short range such as around the house.
The dot is not daylight bright, but it’s not nearly the drawback that one might imagine.
I think that it’s a great choice for an all round, general purpose AR.

 

[chasedeer]

I have no experience with this particular model but you can never go wrong with an NF

 

[USMC_JA]

I ran the NF 1-4x with an FC2 on a 16inch AR for nearly 10 years. Fantastic glass and very fast under 100 yards. Glass was awesome. Lack of daylight visible illum was not optimal but really not all that bad. However, for shots beyond 100 yards on anything smaller than a silhouette, I found myself wanting more magnification and a better reticle. I moved on to a Razor 1-6x and am happy. I'd have grabbed an ATACR 1-8x if the budget allowed.

It did not.

 

[j-huskey]

I have 3... two with mildot, and one with FC3G. Have used IntHunter reticle.

The glass is incredibly clear. Behind clip on night vision or thermal, I am very very happy.
Daylight, white target, mildot ok. Big dark target, cant see md, must turn on reticle.
Low light, any target, cant see md, must turn on reticle.
NV or thermal, dont have to turn on reticle.

FC3G, daylight, any target, works great. Lowlight, some days have to turn on reticle, some days dont. Stadia lines show up fine against white steel, suck in gray lowlight grass fields, hello reticle light.

International Hunter Reticle just plain works.
At 1x IHR, field of view and quick reticle pick up, incredibly fast. Works well for bump in night as does FC3G.

Have 2.5-10's with mildot. Same as above, lowlight requires illumination unless behind NV or thermal.

Their mildots and some stadia line versions are REAL HARD to see in lowlight, without illumination, although the glass is very good. Be very aware of this...

I also have Leup Mk4 CMR, Leup pig plex, and Sig 1-4. Those reticles ALL work better in low light than the NF thin ass stadia stuff, without requiring illumination.

The NF glass is incredibly good, cant say enough good about it.

Several friends have Vortex 1-6, Trijicon 1-8, and S&B short dot 1-4, and I tried those too.

Look hard at the Trijicon 1-8, b4 u buy.

 

[Hotshot10]

I'd have grabbed an ATACR 1-8x if the budget allowed.

It did not.

Ditto. It's taken me eight months to save for the NXS. Although I am patient, I'm ready for a NF.

 

[USMC_JA]

Ditto. It's taken me eight months to save for the NXS. Although I am patient, I'm ready for a NF.

Having walked in your path, do not overlook the Razor 1-6x.

I do not mean to suggest the baby NXS does not have its strengths (glass quality and weight) but the Razor is a much more flexible optic, has a surprisingly good eye box, and has every bit as good glass quality. Absent a hard cap on budget, save or spend a bit more for the Razor is my advice.

 

[Hotshot10]

International Hunter Reticle just plain works. At 1x IHR, field of view and quick reticle pick up, incredibly fast. Works well for bump in night as does FC3G.

That's good to hear.

Several friends have Vortex 1-6, Trijicon 1-8, and S&B short dot 1-4, and I tried those too.

Look hard at the Trijicon 1-8, b4 u buy.

I looked at one of the Razors a few months ago. I need to compare the NF to the Vortex. Trijicon scopes are rare around me, even though the ACOGs are everywhere.

 

[jet66]

I think there are 'better,' newer options in terms of 1-6X and 1-8X, but the size and weight is really hard to beat, if you are looking for compact and rugged. I have one with the FC3G on an SR15, it works well as a 1X even with the illumination off for close-in, even in the dark with a weapon light. The 4X works well out to the 200 yards I have access to, I am pretty happy with the scope.

 

[Hotshot10]

Well, an NXS 1-4 passed through my hands, but the fisheye was so bad on 1x that I passed. The Vortex Razor to which I compared it had some distortion, but the NXS was really noticeable. I loved the IHR reticle on the NXS, so it was a pretty bitter disappointment. Back to the ol' drawing board.

 

[hypno02]

It's an outdated optic.

But...you can't outdate a riflescope's durability.

It's a very viable optic. Not perfect by any means but people will pay for thatr NF logo. When you can buy a used [heavy] razor g2 @ $800 in my opinion that makes the NXS1-4 worth $500. (I paid 725 for the nxs 1-4 I used for a year. (2017-2018)

Now is a good time to buy a NXS 1-4!

 

[JWG]

I've owned a few.

The good:

-Reticle works well with or without lum
-Footprint is unbeatable (except by NX8)
-Eyebox is MASSIVE
-Adjustments are true and repeatable.

The "meh"

-Optical quality is just "decent" regarding resolution
-Illumination is visible only in dimmer lighting
-Chromatic Aberration is really annoying

The Reasons I sold Mine":

-Inability to set diopter to true 1x and have a clear picture on 4x at 100 yards
-Massive "dead zone" around the FOV caused by the eyepiece housing/tube causes the eyes to "divorce" the view through the optic from the rest of the world unless it's perfectly set to 1x. See the point just above this one.