Rifle Scopes Nightforce or IOR???

jakhamr81

jakhamr81

Full Member
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 12, 2009
1,579
32
FT Smith, Ar
#1
I know this seems like a pretty cut and dry decision.. Of course, my first pick is always NF, but I can get a smoking deal on an IOR. The best I can find on a NF is maybe $100 off.

So I'm deciding between a:

Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x32 mil/mil and zero stop.

And a:

IOR Valdada 2.5-10x42 mil/mil FFP

The IOR is an FFP, and it has a bigger objective lens but lacks the zero stop. The IOR is only 2 oz. heavier so weight is not an issue.

I have never heard anything bad about the IORs and I can get this one for almost $500 less than the NF. I'm interested to hear any comments good or bad about the IOR.

--Thanks
 
#2
Re: Nightforce or IOR???

I have 2 of the 2.5-10 x 24 and they are great little scopes (especially for AR style rifles) - absolutley no complaints.

I am sure the x32 is as good, maybe better in low light?

I have had an IOR scope (albeit a few years ago and not the model you mention) and the internals disassembled themselves the first time I tried to zero the scope. It seemed to be based on the same mechanism you see in old 1930's/'40's Zeiss scopes, just not as well made! Not even the IOR distributor could fix it so I got a full refund and have never looked back.

Maybe they are better now, but personally I'd be in no hurry to find out.
 
#4
Re: Nightforce or IOR???

I chose NF personally.

After watching the Optics for Sale for quite a while it was pretty clear that the IOR products took longer to sell and were selling at a much greater discount vs. new compare to the NF. As I may want to upgrade further in the future, resale values were a consideration for me.

I also liked the NF reputation for mechanical reliability.

My understanding is that the IOR may have better glass, but the NF glass is so much better than anything else I have ever owned that I don't feel like I am missing much.
 
#5
Re: Nightforce or IOR???

I have a NF 2.5x10-32 LV reticle. It works great on my POF 415 shooting hand loads with 77 Sierra Match.

I purchased and just recently mounted an IOR 2.5x10-42 on my POF 308. I have not had a chance to zero it. I will say this I have only look through it once. What I have notice is under 4x it tends to have a tunnel effect to it.

I saw some where here at SH that by placing a plastic washer you can make your own zero stop. The glass is better that the NF and I like the reticle. This is the third IOR scope I have purchased and I have not had any of the problems others have had. That being said I have only started purchasing IOR scopes after the GEN 4 came out, so hopefully all of their problems are be hind them now.

(Note: my other scopes are (4)S&B PM II 5x25-56mm P4f CCW (1) IOR 3.5x18-50 MP8)
 
#7
Re: Nightforce or IOR???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jakhamr81</div><div class="ubbcode-body">McGavin, I'd like to hear how you like your latest IOR, PM me if you can after you have a chance to take to the range. </div></div>

No problem. I hope to get to the range on friday.
 
#9
Re: Nightforce or IOR???

Personally, I've never had much of a use for FFP reticles and prefer SFP reticles, so that wasn't an issue for me. When I was hunting around for a scope in that power range, I was comparing the same two scopes that you are. I opted for the Nightforce.

The main reasons were durability and physical size. I was buying that scope for an SPRish build and wanted something compact and the Nightforce 2.5-10X32 is a really small scope for what it is. It is something like 1.5" shorter than the IOR and the smaller objective bell keeps things on the slim side. I never found the 32mm objective to be a handicap either.

Since I put that rifle together to go humping around with, I opted to skip the zero stop in favor of capped turrets. Since it was my first Nightforce, my logic, with regard to the zero stops made since to me; but in hind sight, I should have gotten the zero stops. The knobs on the Nightforce are designed such that accidentally having the knobs turn on you isn't likely to happen and the zero stops are mighty handy. All of my Nightforce scopes since then have had zero stops.

I'll have to admit that the IOR may have the edge in the glass department, but the glass in the Nightforce certainly doesn't suck. I've never had a situation where I felt that the edge offered by the IOR would have gotten me anything more than I had with the Nightforce.

I know that there are a few scopes out there (for more money) that have appreciably better glass than the Nightforce, but I really don't think that anyone can say that there is a better built scope. There's a lot of meat in a Nightforce.

In any case, you happen to be in the fortunate position of having to make a decision where I doubt that there can be a wrong choice.

Good luck and have fun with whatever you get.
 
#10
Re: Nightforce or IOR???

I think I will be going with the NF. The zero stop is a big selling point for me and I utilize them on all my other scopes. I would like to keep it a bit smaller too.

Thanks for the input everyone.
 
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