Nightforce scopes NX8 or ATACR

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cavedweller

cavedweller

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Dec 5, 2018
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Ok all you wizards of glass
time to share your experience with me regarding your Nightforce NX8 or ATACR
comparisons to top end Sightrons or similar product quality manufacturers would be great
apples to apples please
www.nightforceoptics.com

NX8 - 4-32x50mm F1

Explore precision optics trusted by the world's best hunters and tactical shooters. Nightforce riflescopes offer unmatched clarity, durability, and accuracy.
www.nightforceoptics.com www.nightforceoptics.com
 
I have a NX8. I like it. Have no complaints. When friends shoot my guns with an $800 ish scope then shoot one of my guns with a $2k scope on it, I’ve never heard them say wow. My dad asked me what was the biggest difference I noticed going from a $1k scope to a $2k scope. I said $1k more missing from my bank account. Now when you want to compare it to any $500ish scope, yes, it’s better. $1,500 better? That’s subjective. We are just shooting toys at nothing serious and not under adverse conditions.

On the flip side I will say this. I can find a small gripe with any scope that could cause me not to replace it with the exact same model. If my NX8 gets smashed, I’m ordering another one.
 
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Vetmx said:
I have a NX8. I like it. Have no complaints. When friends shoot my guns with an $800 ish scope then shoot one of my guns with a $2k scope on it, I’ve never heard them say wow. My dad asked me what was the biggest difference I noticed going from a $1k scope to a $2k scope. I said $1k more missing from my bank account. Now when you want to compare it to any $500ish scope, yes, it’s better. $1,500 better? That’s subjective. We are just shooting toys at nothing serious and not under adverse conditions.

On the flip side I will say this. I can find a small gripe with any scope that could cause me not to replace it with the exact same model. If my NX8 gets smashed, I’m ordering another one.
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That says a lot
 
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Tumblinginflight said:
I may be able to offer some of my observations. However, the NX8 and ATACR lines are different enough from each other, and cover such a broad range of prices and magnifications that I’m having trouble distilling down what exactly you want to compare?
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$2200 approx for NX8 - comparing at the price point FFP,

ideally scopes which focus at 10 yards to infinity although nightforce lists 11 yards parallax min - they are clear at 10

$3200 approx for ATACR - comparing at the price point for FFP - same parallax focusing ability 10- infinity

I have owned an NX8 in the past but had made a poor reticle choice for my intended use.

how well these scopes can spread out numbers on a parallax wheel is also important

since very little discussion about them on AGN I’m curious what other folks think
 
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Intended use is very key and can definitely make one guys great scope another guys ok scope. I didn’t buy my NX8 to shoot 10 yards with. I’m also a SFP guy so the only part of the reticle that’s important to me is the clarity of it because I’m a clicker. I do use the reticle for a fast follow up shot on a long range miss. There are scopes that I don’t like the reticle when I have to do that. One that comes to mind is my Athlon FFP. So I definitely understand. So I really don’t know where I would rank the reticle in my NX8 compared to my other scopes. I don’t hate it but I also can’t say it’s at the top. I have a lot of scopes.
 
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I've got three different models in the NX8 and like them all for their individual features. Like all Nightforce scopes, they are proven to be near bulletproof and the turrets are spot on accurate with my constant dialing. Size and length are good with the NX8 being fairly light, whereas the ATACR is a baseball bat atop an air rifle. Which is why I don't have one; good for the bench but not so good hunting and toting around. The NX8's low parallax is great, as is the different reticle choices; something for everyone's preference there. The 2.5-20×50 is a great all-around scope for hunting or the bench or both. For hunting, set magnification at three power and the reticle is big enough for seeing and quick target acquisition. Move to the bench and there's enough magnification for days for long range shooting or seeing slug's lob into the target.

Good pricing on demo scopes here...
www.eurooptic.com

Nightforce Used, Demo & Blemished

The best deals & discounts on Demo, Used, and Blemished Nightforce precision tactical and hunting scopes - ATACR, NXS, SHV, BEAST, & More!
www.eurooptic.com www.eurooptic.com
 
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Airgun-hobbyist said:
I've got three different models in the NX8 and like them all for their individual features. Like all Nightforce scopes, they are proven to be near bulletproof and the turrets are spot on accurate with my constant dialing. Size and length are good with the NX8 being fairly light, whereas the ATACR is a baseball bat atop an air rifle. Which is why I don't have one; good for the bench but not so good hunting and toting around. The NX8's low parallax is great, as is the different reticle choices; something for everyone's preference there. The 2.5-20×50 is a great all-around scope for hunting or the bench or both. For hunting, set magnification at three power and the reticle is big enough for seeing and quick target acquisition. Move to the bench and there's enough magnification for days for long range shooting or seeing slug's lob into the target.

Good pricing on demo scopes here...
www.eurooptic.com

Nightforce Used, Demo & Blemished

The best deals & discounts on Demo, Used, and Blemished Nightforce precision tactical and hunting scopes - ATACR, NXS, SHV, BEAST, & More!
www.eurooptic.com www.eurooptic.com
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Did I just write this? Do I have a split personality and my other user name is Airgun-hobbyist? Even my chosen scope is the 2.5-20x50. I skipped the baseball bat when I handled one on the fake gun at a dealer.
 
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Vetmx said:
Did I just write this? Do I have a split personality and my other user name is Airgun-hobbyist? Even my chosen scope is the 2.5-20x50. I skipped the baseball bat when I handled one on the fake gun at a dealer.
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Hahaha, maybe! They are a great scope for the money that is for sure. I'd love to see Nightforce start producing a small 2-12×32 with all the NX8 features. That would be a sweet hunting scope and good for the silhouette range too.
 
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If your main priority is PRS or F-Class kinds of shooting, get the. 7-35 ATACR. If hunting is your main priorly, get the NX8. Both are vary good scopes, but they aren’t really in the same category.
ATACR is built like a tank, and has a bigger objective, which means better FOV and less finicky parallax. NX8 is smaller, lighter and easier to move around with, and its cheaper. I think the ATACR had better glass overall, but I can only see the differences at high magnification and they are not huge.

I’ve got a couple of each, and like them, but they have some significant differences.
 
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SCOPES.png
 
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Vetmx said:
I have a NX8. I like it. Have no complaints. When friends shoot my guns with an $800 ish scope then shoot one of my guns with a $2k scope on it, I’ve never heard them say wow. My dad asked me what was the biggest difference I noticed going from a $1k scope to a $2k scope. I said $1k more missing from my bank account. Now when you want to compare it to any $500ish scope, yes, it’s better. $1,500 better? That’s subjective. We are just shooting toys at nothing serious and not under adverse conditions.

On the flip side I will say this. I can find a small gripe with any scope that could cause me not to replace it with the exact same model. If my NX8 gets smashed, I’m ordering another one.
Click to expand...
Vetmx,
That last statement about repurchasing is a helpful way to frame things, as others have acknowledged. From here, one scope I would get again was the NF NX8 2.5-20. Others were good to very nice, but I may not want to purchase them again for various reasons (reticle, good but not very good glass, no illumination, turrets, lacking a 10-yard parallax, and so on). Also, the ATACR 4-20 (which I sent back for price reasons) had glass that was an observable cut above the various scopes I had at the time and compared it to, concerning which endeavor I wrote a very modest review on this platform. I did not have the NX8 then, so I could not compare the two NF's side-by-side. S7
 
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Sanctify7 said:
Greetings, All.

I do not believe anyone mentioned what reticle they were referring to? I am pretty familiar with NF reticles (and was looking at them this afternoon on my own), so I am curious.

Thanks.
S7
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im looking at these two on two different NF models the CF2 on the 2.5 is definitely thicker or easier to my eyes at 16X.
i also like the NF Mil-XT
IMG_9313.jpeg
IMG_9314.jpeg
 
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cavedweller said:
im looking at these two on two different NF models the CF2 on the 2.5 is definitely thicker or easier to my eyes at 16X.
i also like the NF Mil-XT
View attachment 551116View attachment 551117
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Thanks. I would (personally) like more illumination points on the CF2 and more space around the dot; otherwise, I like the reticle's layout. I also slightly prefer the less-cluttered center dot on the Mil-C. Yes, the Mil-XT is nice if you want the tree. I go back and forth too. S7
 
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I have owned both plus many other scopes in a wide range of prices. These are two very different scopes! We are all different and you will get different answers… Also, I like nice glass and very happy paying for quality…

NX8 - I owned the 4-32. I have read on the forums that the 4-32 is better optically than the 2.5-20, but I can’t speak to that. I think that the NX8 really only has its size/weight/parallax combination going for it. I would consider it a hunting scope more than a bench scope. That being said, I would happily spend way less money and be happy with something much cheaper as a hunting scope. This is a scope I don’t feel was anywhere near worth the money I paid, approximately $1800. The size does require optical compromises, and I think it shows.

ATACR - I owned the 7-35, so it may be different than the model you may want. I think it is one of the best scopes I have ever owned. The optical quality was top notch. It agrees with my eyes so well. I was able to dial the diopter in better with this scope than any other, so I like that it is not fast focus. The low light was one place where it really really shined for me. I paid $2700 for mine. While I think it was amazing, I don’t think it was worth that either. I was happy to buy two Athlon Cronus scopes for less, while giving up some, but not enough not to be a problem. ATACR was still better.

In that price range and sticking to FFP comparables… The Vortex G3 is amazing and as good or better than the ATACR, but I paid $2000 for it. I wish I had been able to compare them at the same time. I want to try the Theos and the Zeiss S3 6-36 as well, as they are both a touch cheaper and consensus is they are as good as well. I have not used either of those two though. I have owned a Schmidt and Bender as well for over $3k, and I thought it was not worth the money at all.

All these scopes I like, are much bigger in size than the NX8, so they are very different uses for me.
 
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Smok3y said:
I have owned both plus many other scopes in a wide range of prices. These are two very different scopes! We are all different and you will get different answers… Also, I like nice glass and very happy paying for quality…

NX8 - I owned the 4-32. I have read on the forums that the 4-32 is better optically than the 2.5-20, but I can’t speak to that. I think that the NX8 really only has its size/weight/parallax combination going for it. I would consider it a hunting scope more than a bench scope. That being said, I would happily spend way less money and be happy with something much cheaper as a hunting scope. This is a scope I don’t feel was anywhere near worth the money I paid, approximately $1800. The size does require optical compromises, and I think it shows.

ATACR - I owned the 7-35, so it may be different than the model you may want. I think it is one of the best scopes I have ever owned. The optical quality was top notch. It agrees with my eyes so well. I was able to dial the diopter in better with this scope than any other, so I like that it is not fast focus. The low light was one place where it really really shined for me. I paid $2700 for mine. While I think it was amazing, I don’t think it was worth that either. I was happy to buy two Athlon Cronus scopes for less, while giving up some, but not enough not to be a problem. ATACR was still better.

In that price range and sticking to FFP comparables… The Vortex G3 is amazing and as good or better than the ATACR, but I paid $2000 for it. I wish I had been able to compare them at the same time. I want to try the Theos and the Zeiss S3 6-36 as well, as they are both a touch cheaper and consensus is they are as good as well. I have not used either of those two though. I have owned a Schmidt and Bender as well for over $3k, and I thought it was not worth the money at all.

All these scopes I like, are much bigger in size than the NX8, so they are very different uses for me.
Click to expand...
Helpful, Smok3y.
I have heard similar comments about the 7-35x ATACR. And virtually no one has anything much bad to say about the Razor Gen 3, especially for the price. $2,000 is a good price for it if in top or near-top condition. S7
 
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Sanctify7 said:
Helpful, Smok3y.
I have heard similar comments about the 7-35x ATACR. And virtually no one has anything much bad to say about the Razor Gen 3, especially for the price. $2,000 is a good price for it if in top or near-top condition. S7
Click to expand...
There was a vendor that sold them new for $2000, but he ran into some issues and is no longer around.
 
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