Rifle Scopes Scope choice help

[M_kats28]

Looking for a lightweight longrange hunting scope....Having a 7 saum build on a custom pierce action 24” proof carbon barrel ag composites carbon stock. Can’t decide on a optic. Current choices are Zeiss v6 3-18x50,leupold mark5hd 3.6-18x44. Id like to stay under 2k on optic price and preferably under 25oz. FFP is a bonus and must have a exposed elevation turret for dialing.... i know The question has been asked a lot through out the years I’ve read forums for hours on end and still come up empty handed on what i should Buy... thanks for any help

 

[JohnWess]

I am having a hard time deciding on a scope for my hunting rig too. I think the Mark 5 looks like a solid option. But I also like some of the options Nightforce has. Specifically the NX8 2.5-20x50 and the 4-16 ATACR. It’s a great time to be shopping for a scope, but all the options make it tough.

 

[wyoman]

I too was looking for a long range setup on a hunting rifle. I bought a mark5HD 3.6-18x44 because i liked the size. I just compared it to my nightforce NXS on the same power setting and the glass was substantially better in the NF. I have no complaints on the turrets or anything else...just wish it was as clear as the NF.

 

[JohnWess]

Good to know. Which NXS were you comparing?

 

[M_kats28]

I’m thinking about going with the nx8 2.5-20x50. Few oz heavier than i would Like but it has all the options i want.

 

[JohnWess]

I also keep thinking about an SHV 4-14x50 F1. Will it be as good as the NX8? No. However, I know it will track and honestly I am going to put it on a 30-06, so I won’t ever run higher than 14 power and most likely 12 power to ensure I can spot all of my shots. And I would save 700 bucks.

 

[Cayenne6]

I have a buddy running the NF NX8 on his Christensen CF in a Manners CF stock. He really likes it.

 

[JohnWess]

I have a buddy running the NF NX8 on his Christensen CF in a Manners CF stock. He really likes it.

Has he said anything about distortion with the short design?

 

[Cayenne6]

Has he said anything about distortion with the short design?

No. He is running the 4-32 model.

 

[nrspence]

Mark5 is a nice scope, I would go with that over the Zeiss. I went ATACR over the Mark5.

 

[MTS308]

I also keep thinking about an SHV 4-14x50 F1. Will it be as good as the NX8? No. However, I know it will track and honestly I am going to put it on a 30-06, so I won’t ever run higher than 14 power and most likely 12 power to ensure I can spot all of my shots. And I would save 700 bucks.

I have both the nightforce shv 4-14x50 ffp. And a leupold vx5hd 3-15x44 firedot duplex. And I think I like the leupold better. Seems like the image is a lot crisper in the leupold than the NF and it has a wider field of view at full power. If I had it to do over again I would get the vx5hd. Vx6hd or a NF nxs line. Nothing against the shv line( love both that I have) but for price difference in NF shv vs leupold vx5hd I'd go leupold.

 

[Glassaholic]

The SHV has very limited FOV and not the greatest mag range and okay glass. The Mark 5 has awesome turrets but I personally do not like their reticles and FOV could be better. The NX8 2.5-20 has great FOV but considerable edge distortion and very limited DOF/Parallax. The new Burris XTR III 3.3-18x50 is turning out to be a very nice scope if you like the reticles. But honestly, if you have a $2k budget you're not going to beat the Minox ZP5 with their current 50% off deal. I have the 5-25 on both my 7 SAUM and my 6.5 Creedmoor and I use my rifles for big game hunting as well, huge FOV with the ZP5 5-25 that's good enough for Rocky Mountains, but if you feel you must have wider FOV then the 3-15 is also stellar, you can read my review of the 3-15 in my signature link for the Alpha class Ultra Shorts.

I realize the ZP5's are a little heavier than what you'd prefer, but once you see the glass, the ounces don't seem like much anymore. The best lightweight tactical is the TT315M or if you can find them the Premier LT 3-15x50, that was the scope that "ruined it" for me as it was very difficult to use scopes with lesser glass after having two of those. I used to have a criteria that I wouldn't use a scope over 30oz for my hunting/long range rigs but I bumped that up to 35oz a few years ago because there is so little to choose from, at least in the FFP market and I wouldn't go back to SFP if you paid me, the advantages of FFP far outweight the disadvantages in my opinion. The Vortex AMG is another great scope with great FOV and DOF/Parallax and while 6x seems restrictive it actually has more FOV than many competitors 5x scopes.

PS - I have had most of the scopes in the lightweight tactical (FFP) class and have done reviews on many of them in my pursuit for the ultimate lightweight long range scope.

 

[M_kats28]

The SHV has very limited FOV and not the greatest mag range and okay glass. The Mark 5 has awesome turrets but I personally do not like their reticles and FOV could be better. The NX8 2.5-20 has great FOV but considerable edge distortion and very limited DOF/Parallax. The new Burris XTR III 3.3-18x50 is turning out to be a very nice scope if you like the reticles. But honestly, if you have a $2k budget you're not going to beat the Minox ZP5 with their current 50% off deal. I have the 5-25 on both my 7 SAUM and my 6.5 Creedmoor and I use my rifles for big game hunting as well, huge FOV with the ZP5 5-25 that's good enough for Rocky Mountains, but if you feel you must have wider FOV then the 3-15 is also stellar, you can read my review of the 3-15 in my signature link for the Alpha class Ultra Shorts.

I realize the ZP5's are a little heavier than what you'd prefer, but once you see the glass, the ounces don't seem like much anymore. The best lightweight tactical is the TT315M or if you can find them the Premier LT 3-15x50, that was the scope that "ruined it" for me as it was very difficult to use scopes with lesser glass after having two of those. I used to have a criteria that I wouldn't use a scope over 30oz for my hunting/long range rigs but I bumped that up to 35oz a few years ago because there is so little to choose from, at least in the FFP market and I wouldn't go back to SFP if you paid me, the advantages of FFP far outweight the disadvantages in my opinion. The Vortex AMG is another great scope with great FOV and DOF/Parallax and while 6x seems restrictive it actually has more FOV than many competitors 5x scopes.

PS - I have had most of the scopes in the lightweight tactical (FFP) class and have done reviews on many of them in my pursuit for the ultimate lightweight long range scope.

Where is the 50% off deal ?

 

[spife7980]

Where is the 50% off deal ?

Everywhere

 

[Glassaholic]

Where is the 50% off deal ?

It is "everywhere" as spife mentions, but more specifically, you have to buy a Mauser rifle and then submit a picture of the label on the box and your invoice at this website - http://mauser-usa.com/minox-discount-code/

But hurry because time is running out, this offer ends on 12/31/2019 which means you'd have to get the rifle to your FFL dealer (they can send you the pics) by this date. Due to this deal Minox has many scopes out of stock; however, all you have to do is call Minox and put in the order over the phone with the code and they will honor it and backorder non-discontnued items.

 

[MP2Day]

I too was looking for a long range setup on a hunting rifle. I bought a mark5HD 3.6-18x44 because i liked the size. I just compared it to my nightforce NXS on the same power setting and the glass was substantially better in the NF. I have no complaints on the turrets or anything else...just wish it was as clear as the NF.

I was between the new NX8 and the Mk5HD 3.6-18 by Leupold. Went with the Mk5 illuminated TMR. Overall very pleased esp with size/weight.