Rifle Scopes Questions regarding a Nightforce NXS 12-42x

[downrange914]

Hi All - apologies if the questions I'm about to ask are pretty basic, but I'm just starting out in the world of shooting so would appreciate from benefiting from your knowledge ...

I took delivery of an AX 308 today with a Nightforce 12-42x power scope with 0.125 MOA adjustments, and have a couple of questions regarding a few points on usage ...

1) Focus
I have read the manual and focused the reticle without a problem - as the manual states the whole eyepiece is meant to move as one, and this also acts to change the zoom - but how do you go about focusing the actual image of the target please ?

The issue I had was that I am based in the UK and as I've previously posted, there's a special range with a distance of approx 71ft that can be used in conjunction with a chart that's drawn to scale which will get you on paper at various distances (I know there are other ways to do this, but please bear with me) - I found that using anything above the minimum zoom power (12) of the scope made the target very blurred, and even @ 12 power the target wasn't very clear - however at 100 yards I had no problems with blurring - does the Nightforce have a minimum focal distance or is there some other reason for this ?

2) Allen key socket on magnification ring
I thought that the magnification ring (as opposed to the locking ring) might have been used to adjust the target focus but apparently not - what does this allen key socket do please ?

3) Reticle illumination
I wanted to check the reticle illumination, however the manual states that the parallax knob should just be pulled out slightly to switch it on ... didn't want to put too much pressure on it, but even after a firm pull the knob didn't click out ... should I use more force as it's new, or is something wrong ?

4) Amount of elevation travel
Reading on the website, if I am interpreting the information correctly, the 12-42x has 45MOA of travel - on my AX I have a 0 cant rail and a 20 MOA unimount - and at 900 yards I need to put 40MOA on a RWG 155g bullet to get on paper - does this mean I only have 5 MOA left to play with before I possibly need to get a 30 MOA mount (in which case I might not be able to get a zero @ 100 yards) ? Ideally I'd like to be able to shoot up to 1200 yards, but if I am correct in my analysis and I only have 5 MOA left, then this will be unlikely !

Many thanks in advance.

 

[gstaylorg]

Re: Questions regarding a Nightforce NXS 12-42x

1) Parallax knob on left side is effectively the focus. There is a minimum focal length, not sure exactly what it is, but not all that close (maybe 30 yd???).

2) Don't mess with it.

3) It takes a pretty strong pull on both of mine. I don't think you'll hurt it using a good tug, but you might want to brace the side of the scope if it's already mounted so as not to torque your rings/base.

4) Factory elevation should be set at optical center, meaning you would have 22.5 MOA up and 22.5 MOA down. Add in the 20 MOA base and you get 42.5 MOA up. However, that will depend on what it takes to zero at, let's say 100 yd. With a similar setups (20 MOA bases), my 100 yd zeroes on two different rifles with 12-42x56s required ~15.5 and ~18.5 MOA down adjustment from optical center, respectively. So you probably won't get the full 20 MOA back from your 20 MOA base.

Hope that helps.

 

[downrange914]

Re: Questions regarding a Nightforce NXS 12-42x

Hi gstaylorg - thanks for the info - much appreciated.

For elevation I actually reset my turret to 0 for 100 yard zero - is there any quick way of identifying the optical centre without going to both the lower and high extremes and dividing my 2 ?

Sorry for all the questions, but in order to get more elevation, if I bought a 30MOA base, would it still allow a zero at 100 ?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[gstaylorg]

Re: Questions regarding a Nightforce NXS 12-42x

I can only speak for the two GAP rifles I have 12-42x56s mounted on, but for me a 30 MOA base would probably not have allowed a 100 yd zero. As I mentioned, one required something just under 19 MOA down elevation to zero @ 100 with the 20 MOA base, the other just under 16 MOA. Not really sure why the difference between the two, possibly due to differing ring height and other subtle changes in placement, mount, etc.

Because the scope comes with 22.5 MOA down adjustment from the factory, had either base had 10 more MOA down angle (30 MOA total), I would have run out of adjustment trying zero them at 100 yd.

 

[mjh30]

Re: Questions regarding a Nightforce NXS 12-42x

Downrange, for adjusting the focus on the NXS, I have followed these instructions posted by another Hide member and they have worked.
If you're right handed, grab the locking ring in your left hand and the eyepiece in your right, and twist the eyepiece counterclockwise (lefty loosey, righty tighty). Twist the mortal piss out of it until the eyepiece turns. You're not going to hurt it.
Set the parallax to infinity and the magnification to max, and crank the eyepiece until the reticle focuses as sharp as possible to your shooting eye.
Then hold the eyepiece in your right hand again, and twist the locking ring back as tight as you can get it against the eyepiece with your left hand.
The focus is now set, with regards to the supplied allen key that for the elvation and windage turrets, obviously to set your zero.
Pull real hard on the parallax adjustment and the illumination will come on, getting the cover off to adjust the brightness can be a real bear, but it is doable.
With regards to elevation travel, as mentioned above it depends on the rifle, rings and base used. I use a 25moa base and rings made by Murphy Precision so I have zero at 100 plus have ample up travel for 1000 yards or more. A quality 20moa base and rings made by another manufacturer on the same rifle wouldn't get to 1000.

 

[downrange914]

Re: Questions regarding a Nightforce NXS 12-42x

Many thanks for all the info guys - much appreciated.

I called up Nightforce today and got some more information ... apparently the minimum focal distance of the 12-42x power is about 150 feet which would explain why I was unable to focus at 71ft, however this was from the same gentleman that said the allen key socket on the power zoom ring was to hold the reticle in place.

As I was curious about this, I called back and spoke to someone else who said that it actually keeps the zoom ring and the eyepiece together .. As gstaylorg mentioned - don't touch ! (oops) lol

mjh - Many thanks for the information - I got the Nightforce 20MOA Unimount ... so I feel another purchase may soon be in the air

 

[gstaylorg]

Re: Questions regarding a Nightforce NXS 12-42x

I said don't mess with it because that was the simplest thing to say. Until you know what screws/nuts/other doo-dads on a piece of equipment are specifically for, it's usually pretty good advice to leave them be.

Hope you got everything squared away!

 

[downrange914]

Re: Questions regarding a Nightforce NXS 12-42x

Very good advice gstaylorg - will run with that in the future

Yep - got it all squared away and it's a lovely little nail driver ...