Rifle Scopes Nightforce Question

1969GTOnut

Private
Minuteman
Nov 15, 2010
52
0
48
Missouri
I'm looking at buying a Nightfoce scope and am torn between two of them. NXS 5.5-22x50 and 5.5-22x56. Is the 56 any better at light gathering than the 50? And how tall of rings would I need to fit the 56 on a Rem 700 with a .7" thick barrel?

Thanks
 
Re: Nightforce Question

The 56mm is better at transmitting light than the 50mm, but unless you are shooting in really dim light, you will not notice the difference, and the 50mm is less likely to be damaged if you bump the scope.

I think, for the 56mm, you will need high or super high rings, but mine is a 50mm, and my barrel is thicker, so I don't know for sure. Sorry I could not be more helpful.
 
Re: Nightforce Question

Seekins low rinds and Ferrall 20 MOA base with a MTU contour barrel and a NF 8.5x32x56 worked just fine for me. I did have to shave the flip-up cap to get it on, but it will work. As far as light, I could not tell a differance.
 
Re: Nightforce Question

+1 on the above two statements. I use the same seekins rings on the 50 and 56 with factory REM barrel and 20MOA base. I kind of like the extra exit pupil the 56 provides at 22x.

I got 3.5-15 w/50mm but with the 5.5-22 I like the bigger bell.
 
Re: Nightforce Question

The 56mm on a 1.25" barreled rifle, 20 MOA base and Med rings has enough clearance to easily use the NF lens condoms, my buddy runs it on the rifle in the foreground.

The rifle in the background is running a 50mm in "high" rings and as you can see there's ample room under the bell, that's a light varmint contour tube that's about 0.9" under the bell.

Pics%20003.jpg
 
Re: Nightforce Question

I have a 20MOA base, NF 1.00" tall rings (med) and a 5.5-22x56

Barrel clearance is adequate, i could probably even go with the 0.885" rings but I get a good check weld on my stock with the 1.00" tall rings... any lower and I would be smashing my face into the stock to get lower.

Either way the 50mm or 56mm are mammoth scopes, so i dont think your saving out on much in the weight department.
 
Re: Nightforce Question

i hunted with a 5.5-22x56 sunday, the 56 is the way to go on low light hunts. you'll appreciate it around 5:45pm and in the morning. depending on your rifle and barrel contour, you can usually use low or medium rings on a 20moa pic rail
 
Re: Nightforce Question

I have the 5.5-22X56 with a Badger 20moa base and Nightforce ultra light med rings on a rem 700 BDL LA. I see no disadvantage to the bigger bell and will take the extra light gathering at dawn. Works for me anyway...
 
Re: Nightforce Question

I have a question...
I ordered the NF 3.5-15x50 with NF low rings. Being mounted to a talley 20 Moa base on a rem 700 sendero HB. Here is my question, I am sending in my action to GAP to have it re-barreled with a bartlein #7 GAP heavy barrel and some other work, should I move up to the medium rings or will the low rings work? I have time to swap them out