I just ordered my 1-4x NightForce last week. After much debate and comparison I actually chose the Mil-Dot.
I've been playing with 1-4x optics for a while now and my reality is that most of the reticles in scopes of this magnification are just too damn small to be instinctively fast in a CQB environment.
The worst scenarios I've found are trying to see these small reticles in dark, shadow-laden hallways, or when used to scan along tree lines. The small rings and/or thin lines simply disappear in the dark contrasting images. The worst offenders in my opinion are the Burris XTR 5.56mm reticle and Meopta K-dot.
What I want are large Plex lines that run from the edge to the center FOV. I want a reticle that screams, "here I am!" The very best one I've come across thus far is the Circle-Dot on the 1-6x Swarovski, but I think any Heavy Plex reticle is better than some of the smaller, centrally located reticles I've reviewed.
Now I know many of you are laughing because you believe the answer is simply to flip on the illumination. I disagree. A 1-4x scope is not an Aimpoint, and the 60-80 hour battery life is proof of that. I simply refuse to rely on short-term, battery-powered reticle illumination to do the job when a properly sized reticle can do the same thing longer. Your mileage may vary.
I chose the Mil-Dot for my Nightforce simply because it is the largest reticle pattern they offer in the 1-4x models. The NP-1 would be my second choice, but I don't think the six and twelve o'clock lines are long and heavy enough.
Meopta K-Dot (gimmie a break!)
Burris 5.56mm (don't be fooled, it is much, much smaller in real life)
Swarovski Circle-Dot (love it!)
Nightforce 1-4x Mil-Dot (the best of NF's offerings IMHO)
Nightforce NP-1 (not bad)