I ordered a Seekins 28 nosler recently and am now looking for glass. Not 100% set on these two but they seem to be the best options for a packable LR hunting rig. I have a 3.6-18 Mark 5 on my carbon barreled 6 creed and really like it, but didn't know how it compared with the nightforce. Unfortunately getting them side by side isn't the easiest because of my remote location and I also avoid town like the plague if I can. Hope to take this on an Alaskan moose/ caribou hunt as well as my annual cow elk hunt. Does anyone have experience with both of them? Looking for low light performance, tracking, and durability. I've also read that the eyebox on the nx8 can get a bit tight, and don't want to be fighting something if my "trophy" animal presents itself. Thanks in advance.
NX8 vs Mark 5 HD
- Thread starter cmush
- Start date
I would steer you away from the NX8 2.5-20 as it has a number of optical issues (consensus seems to be the 4-32 doesn't have nearly the issues the 2.5-20 has). Mark 5 3.6-18 is not perfect but far better than the 2.5-20 with regard to edge distortion, eyebox and parallax, turrets on the Mark 5 are quite a bit better as well. Things going against the Mark 5 are fairly heavy CA and that funky 35mm tube along with not so great reticles. An even better scope IMO is the Burris XTR III 3.3-18 but not having illumination is a non-starter for a lot of shooters. Check out the NF ATACR 4-16 or even better the Minox ZP5 3-15x50 in the classifieds, both these scopes seem to hover around $2k used and are better options optically. Here's a couple reviews I did on these scopes a while back
www.snipershide.com
Rifle Scopes - Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 - Initial Thoughts
Backstory When the Nightforce NX8 long range scopes were announced I raised an eyebrow. Over the years I’ve had or used many different long-range scopes from the budget category all the way into alpha class, but in all that time I have never owned a Nightforce and the reason is because they...
www.snipershide.com
Having owned both, My personal preference Is the Nightforce if it were me based on toughness.
Both have good glass, & build quality.
I like the turrets, & reticle better on the NF.
Both have good glass, & build quality.
I like the turrets, & reticle better on the NF.
The Burris is one I will need to take a better look at. I’ve looked at them before but in my head it weighed a lot more, now I see that isn’t the case. I probably just need to jump on a used atacr next time I see one. The minox is also intriguing.
I have a MK5 HD 3.8-18 in H59 reticle. I actually picked it up in a trade deal for something MUCH more expensive, but the seller tossed it in. I thought it was maybe a $500 scope or some throw-away. I had no idea it was a $2K scope until I popped it on a cheap PSA 6.5CM I slapped together (Hey! Don’t laugh! It has an SSA-E in it!).
I went to the range on my property to site it in and was totally blown away by how good the optics were and how light the thing is! I thought there’s no way a $500 scope can be THIS good! That, and I’m a big Horus fan, so this is my lightweight DMR scope forever more.
My range is carved out of dense woods, so I don’t get enough direct sunlight to check for CA, as someone mentioned, but I’m lovin’ this little monster. It’s my secret weapon.
If you already have this scope, I see little benefit cross-grading to an NX.
I went to the range on my property to site it in and was totally blown away by how good the optics were and how light the thing is! I thought there’s no way a $500 scope can be THIS good! That, and I’m a big Horus fan, so this is my lightweight DMR scope forever more.
My range is carved out of dense woods, so I don’t get enough direct sunlight to check for CA, as someone mentioned, but I’m lovin’ this little monster. It’s my secret weapon.
If you already have this scope, I see little benefit cross-grading to an NX.
I love the MK5, personally I think it's the one of the best values in optics today. I know their reticles aren't for everyone, but I have largely standardized on the H59 so they have that covered for me at least.
I've got one 2.5-20X NX8 I bought on a whim, and as some mentioned above it isn't great IMO. It's on a lightweight mountain rifle so it will probably do but under no circumstance would I pay for another one. That thread lays everything out in much greater detail than I care to, but frankly it was so disappointing that I haven't wanted to try the 4-32 which seems to get better reviews. On paper it's perfect, and I should have known that feature set at that price would have some serious compromises. My biggest gripe is the very unforgiving eyebox and depth of field. Shooting in the prone at the range to get data I didn't have these issues but when I took it out into the field in suboptimal shooting positions and target distances constantly changing I felt like I was fighting the scope constantly. I actually went back to a rifle with a Mark 5 mid-trip and just didn't have those issues. I love the Mil-XT reticle though, that thing is legit.
I am of the school of thought that scopes with high magnification factors are a parlor trick at lower prices, and you basically compromise some really important performance characteristics to go 7x, 8x, 9x, etc. for a marketing blurb. I kind of figure if I need 20X I am unlikely to need 2X. Just because Hensoldt can pull it off for $8000 doesn't mean Nightforce can for $1900.
TL;DR: I'd rather have a high-performing 3x-5x than a marginal 7x-9x for the same cost.
I've got one 2.5-20X NX8 I bought on a whim, and as some mentioned above it isn't great IMO. It's on a lightweight mountain rifle so it will probably do but under no circumstance would I pay for another one. That thread lays everything out in much greater detail than I care to, but frankly it was so disappointing that I haven't wanted to try the 4-32 which seems to get better reviews. On paper it's perfect, and I should have known that feature set at that price would have some serious compromises. My biggest gripe is the very unforgiving eyebox and depth of field. Shooting in the prone at the range to get data I didn't have these issues but when I took it out into the field in suboptimal shooting positions and target distances constantly changing I felt like I was fighting the scope constantly. I actually went back to a rifle with a Mark 5 mid-trip and just didn't have those issues. I love the Mil-XT reticle though, that thing is legit.
I am of the school of thought that scopes with high magnification factors are a parlor trick at lower prices, and you basically compromise some really important performance characteristics to go 7x, 8x, 9x, etc. for a marketing blurb. I kind of figure if I need 20X I am unlikely to need 2X. Just because Hensoldt can pull it off for $8000 doesn't mean Nightforce can for $1900.
TL;DR: I'd rather have a high-performing 3x-5x than a marginal 7x-9x for the same cost.
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The 3.3-18 XTR3 is an excellent option. As Bill mentioned though, illuminated models have not yet hit the market. I strongly believe we will see them by the 2021 hunting season as the prototypes seem to have met with approval.
The eyebox and FOV are better then anything I have compared them to. The glass is as nice or nicer than anything in its price point. Its certainly a much nicer optic than the 20x NX8. Weight and size are decent at 13" and 28ozs I believe.
I think the non illuminated with the SCR reticle or waiting for the illuminated with the thicker SCR2 reticle is going to be an excellent crossover hunting scope.
I am mostly with Bill on this. I did not like the NX8 very much, but if you like Nightforce it is hard to go wrong with the ATACR F1 4-16x42.
Otherwise, the few Mark 5 scopes I have seen were very nice if the reticle work for you.
ILya
Otherwise, the few Mark 5 scopes I have seen were very nice if the reticle work for you.
ILya
I'm down in Southern Colorado near Westcliffe. I would love to be able to look through them side by side.
I'm down in Southern Colorado near Westcliffe. I would love to be able to look through them side by side.
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I’m up near FortCollins, if you are ever in the neighborhood you are more than welcome to come check them out.
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I’m up near FortCollins, if you are ever in the neighborhood you are more than welcome to come check them out.
