I've been recommended the Nightforce ATACR 4-16x scope for my LMT308 MWS with 16in barrel.
Why not go 5-25x magnification?  It's only 1x difference on the low end but you get much more magnification on the high end for identifying targets.

Thoughts?

the 4-16 has a better field of view, larger exit pupil and is a half pound lighter.

What do you want to identify and at what distances,  often times during the summer when its hot,  Higher mag optics may have to be dialed back to be effective thus negating much of the higher mag range.

No wrong choices, just what makes most sense for your aplication

Excellent info, thank you.

You’re getting a considerably bigger scope for little appreciable gain. I really doubt you spend much time at the higher end towards 25X, and if you are, you probably don’t need to be. Also consider that after a few rounds your mirage is going to start to dick up your view if you crank it up that high anyway.

If this were a slow-fire 6.5CM for shooting up around 1k, and/or something only meant to be shot from a supported position, I’d say otherwise. As is, even the 4-16 is a lot to me. My 16” .308 MWS usually has a 1-8 LPVO and I do not feel it hamstrings me in any meaningful way.

Thanks for the insight, more great info.

I'm in the market for an optic for my MWS as well. (Only have the lower so far though.)
The ones I've been considering are the Leupold mark 5 3.6-18x, Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x, and if I somehow make more money, the S&B ultra short 3-20x.
I like the wider magnification range of these over the 4-16 or 3-12 options. Personal preference though. Also have debated a 1-8 and the new Razor 1-10.

I have been running a Leupold MK6 3.5-18 on my MWS for many years now. The 3-18X is great for the MWS IMHO enough top end magnification to not handicap you in the least and the ability to quickly dial back for better field of view when needed. Even at the 1100-1300M range it is rare that I dial above 14X when behind the MWS.

I run a 3-25x on my .338 bolt gun and even when shooting at 1500-1600M I rarely dial above the 18X range for field of view reasons in addition to mirage reduction. When your field of view decreases it becomes more difficult to pick up your own trace and to rapidly get back on target. You will also save some weight with a 3-18X optic verses a 5-25X which if you have to carry the rifle makes a difference after a while regardless of how fit you are. But then again I regularly hike and shoot at over 10,000 MSL.
In low light you will never use the top magnification on any optic as it gets real dark real fast when you dial up the magnification. Even with CNVD most of the time I am shooting around 10X or less.

In the past I ran both Nightforce 2.5-10 and 5.5-22.

Loved both but if you are only shooting from the bench then go for the 5.5-22. If mobile, get the smaller NXS.

I’m looking at the NF NX8 2.5-20 for my LMT.  Trying to decide on reticle.