I cannot believe I'm about to spend $900 on optics

[helosailor]

What is "FFP"?

Front Focal Plane?

[03trubluGT]

Here are pics of the scope I'm looking at (previous pics are from a lower end model):

6x



24x


that looks great to me.

I can't tell if that is CA or haze, but I can't see where the scope's focus point is at. In the entire area of coverage, front to back, I can't see a single focus point.

Or, it could be the fault of the camera that was used to take the picture.

[03trubluGT]

I agree the NF is the best, it's the watermark for sure. The scope in those 3 pictures is a lower end PST, the bottom pic is the one I'm looking at, and it appears to have just about perfect clarity and I see much less CA in it. NF is worth the money, HOWEVER - at the magnification I'm buying (24x) NF run about $2,500-3,000+ and don't offer an illuminated reticle to my knowledge. Is your NF at FFP? That's 2.5-3x as much money - I can have a match grade M1a for that money - and I'd rather have the M1a. And most important, Vortex has the best warranty I've ever even heard of. You can take a hammer, smash the scope to bits, toss the pieces in a bag and ship it back to them without a receipt or anything, and they will send you a new one back, no questions asked. When they first released the scope they sent it out to reviewers and professionals - they had some issues with the turret resistance and a few other complaints - vortex stopped the production, re-engineered their scopes to fix the problems, and are just now getting them out the door, after they fixed all of the complaints - that's nice to see they listen to people. And it all originated from a thread on snipershide which vortex was reading.

What is "FFP"?

The 8-23x has an illuminated reticle:

http://nightforceoptics.com/nightforcescopes/RETICLES_OVERVIEW/reticles_overview.html

Precision laser-etching on compound optical glass, smaller than a dime ensures a clear reticle in your field of view with no distortion, ensuring repeatability. A reliable internal lighting source illuminates the reticle against your target in low light, low contrast conditions. Illumination intensity is adjustable to accommodate the individual shooter.

Just one quick search shows the 8-32x at $1755 here:

http://www.bearbasin.com/nightforce-nxs-scope.htm

[CJ]

Left to right, I would rate those scopes as 3, 2, 1 with the NF as the far and away winner.

The NF has by far the best focus, depth of field and contrast.

When you start going to the left, they loose focus and edge to egde sharpness. The VX3 is not good at all compared to the others.

Is the NF worth the extra skrilla? It depends on your use. I like my NF because I had bought it with the intention of still trying to get into SWAT and needed every advantage. My .308 + NF has about 8 deer one shot kills. In low light situations, it is by far the best scope I have ever used. I have the 56mm objective, and it's a light gathering Mo-Fo.

I agree the NF is the best, it's the watermark for sure. The scope in those 3 pictures is a lower end PST, the bottom pic is the one I'm looking at, and it appears to have just about perfect clarity and I see much less CA in it. NF is worth the money, HOWEVER - at the magnification I'm buying (24x) NF run about $2,500-3,000+ and don't offer an illuminated reticle to my knowledge. Is your NF at FFP? That's 2.5-3x as much money - I can have a match grade M1a for that money - and I'd rather have the M1a. And most important, Vortex has the best warranty I've ever even heard of. You can take a hammer, smash the scope to bits, toss the pieces in a bag and ship it back to them without a receipt or anything, and they will send you a new one back, no questions asked. When they first released the scope they sent it out to reviewers and professionals - they had some issues with the turret resistance and a few other complaints - vortex stopped the production, re-engineered their scopes to fix the problems, and are just now getting them out the door, after they fixed all of the complaints - that's nice to see they listen to people. And it all originated from a thread on snipershide which vortex was reading.

[03trubluGT]

Here the comparison.
The NF beats the viper pst, the viper beats the leupold. But, is the NF worth 2.5x more? You decide.

Left to right, I would rate those scopes as 3, 2, 1 with the NF as the far and away winner.

The NF has by far the best focus, depth of field and contrast.

When you start going to the left, they loose focus and edge to egde sharpness. The VX3 is not good at all compared to the others.

Is the NF worth the extra skrilla? It depends on your use. I like my NF because I had bought it with the intention of still trying to get into SWAT and needed every advantage. My .308 + NF has about 8 deer one shot kills. In low light situations, it is by far the best scope I have ever used. I have the 56mm objective, and it's a light gathering Mo-Fo.

[DieselSmoke]

that looks great to me.

Looks pretty damn good to me too.

[CJ]

I don't think I can justify 2.5x more but it is better than the others by a significant margin.

Here are pics of the scope I'm looking at (previous pics are from a lower end model):

6x



24x


that looks great to me.

[Jewrrick]

Here the comparison.
The NF beats the viper pst, the viper beats the leupold. But, is the NF worth 2.5x more? You decide.

I don't think I can justify 2.5x more but it is better than the others by a significant margin.

[94StangFiveO]

I got it through Prestige Law Enforcement West. They sold me the Osprey red dot at a gun show and I hated it so then gave me a deal on the EOtech. I think ManVenture outfitters has the camo version for $385 plus tax (maybe no tax) and shipping. You just have to get an email quote from their site.

Thanks for the info. I really want a black one though because a camo one would look goofy. I'll just patient until I find a good deal. I saw one on craigslist for $300 that was virtually brand new but didn't get it.

[CJ]

Here the comparison.


The NF beats the viper pst, the viper beats the leupold. But, is the NF worth 2.5x more? You decide.

[Brandon-k]

Exactly what I'm about to buy. Where'd you get yours? $400 is the lowest I've seen. I've been holding off, hoping someone will have them on sale.

I got it through Prestige Law Enforcement West. They sold me the Osprey red dot at a gun show and I hated it so then gave me a deal on the EOtech. I think ManVenture outfitters has the camo version for $385 plus tax (maybe no tax) and shipping. You just have to get an email quote from their site.

[ceyko]

Yeah, so on another forum I saw some pictures of the sight picture of higher end scopes. Not specific ones mentioned in this thread, but high end either way.

I get it now. It's like taking a real life picture, brightening it up and making it super-HD. Then add in all the other features.

[CJ]

FWIW, I have 2 Vortex Viper's that I picked up. They are beyond belief for the money.

Awesome, that's what I want to hear. It's an up and coming company, I want to get some glass before I can't afford it anymore, haha.

[ThreeFingerPete]

FWIW, I have 2 Vortex Viper's that I picked up. They are beyond belief for the money.

[ceyko]

I slowly worked my way up the optics ladder. I started with cheap ass leapers scopes, moved up to Leupold mid power scopes, and now I'm jumping the start of the high end glass. The reason for this is the quality of rifles I've been shooting.

Did not want to quote your whole post for the sake of scrolling.

I think I understand what you're saying (well I do understand, but fully realizing it is a different matter) and I may check into some of these scopes just to get a better idea. Try to look through friends who have the better scopes and so forth.

I could drone on here, but the reality is I've been given the information asked for, now I just have to go look at it for myself to appreciate it.

The only the fly adjustments and getting back to zero is a nifty option.

I don't think a huge magnification scope would benefit my current guns, but I would not mind getting a 6.8 AR or even a 308 rifle and I'd not waste rounds through those at short distances. Your post fully makes sense if you want to utilize those weapons at much longer distances. Or hell, even for plinking or taking fun shots at longer then 150-200 yards with a 5.56 rifle.

Anyway, I do appreciate the help in this thread for you folks and I apologize for plowing into your thread like that CJ. Just guns went from basic tools for me (use to simply shoot something) to more of a hobby over the last year and I can only afford to buy something once.

Plus I like the smaller gun atmosphere here as opposed to glocktalk, thehighroad...and on and on.