Went to the range today, first time in a while where I could just get some things done I needed to do. Main task was sighting in the 3.5-15 NightForce on my AR10. That was a lotta fun! Chromeluv was there shooting his SPR with a cool US Optics, I'll see if I cant get him to comment here about that.

What I can tell you about the Nightforce is that the adjustments were very, very precise. Shot at the center of a large, clean cardboard with several sight in targets on them, 100 yards away. After one shot it was clear that I was shooting about a foot high and 18 or so inches left. The scope has 1/4 moa adjustments, and the turrets are also numerically marked every four clicks. I presume the numbers were to indicate 1moa, 2moa, 3moa etc.... Made it easy to make adjustments.

After the initial adjustment, took another shot and was very close to being on. Made one final adjustment and I was zero'd. Nice. Loosened the screw in each cap, took the knobs off without chaging my adjustments, put the knobs back on so that the "0" was at the begining and tightened the screw back down. I sorta like how the NightForce has only one such screw on each turret while the Leupolds have three. Just made it a little easier.

My NF has the NPR2 reticle. It is a very fine cross hair. I noticed that if I caught myself trying to focus on the reticle, it would blurr out on me. So much so that I could loose it. As soon as this happened, I would just focus on the target again and the reticle came back clear and crisp. The fine reticle made quartering the small dots on the target easier than most anything I have shot with. New-argirl has a 2.5-10 NightForce with the same reticle and I am confident that the scope and the fine reticle plays a part in why hers is among one of the most accurate guns we have between us. We started shooting from prone almost immediately. As soon as we left the bench and went to the ground I noticed a lot more mirage. The fact that our targets were low to the ground did not help this much. But it was not so much that it made it difficult. When we moved to 300, things cleared up a lot more, I would suspect primarily because the targets were higher off the ground. The view through the NightForce was clear as day. It was a very nice out today and we didnt stay long enough to see what it might be like at dusk, but so far I am a happy camper!!

Also sighted in a used Leupold MR/t M2 on my MRP. The MR/t M2 has 1/2" moa adjustments and is marked similarly to the NightForce. In adition to the markings to indicate how many moa you have moved from zero, the top turret is also Bullet Drop Compensated. I dont know what specific barrel length or bullet weight the knobs are callibrated to, but it worked relatively well on my 16" barrel using 77gr bullets. Granted, I only tested it to 300 yards, and the 300 yard targets were 6" Shoot-N-C targets, but it was close enough to impress me. It wasnt right 100% in the bulls eye of the target, but it was pretty dang good for a 4x scope at 300 off a bipod only.

The clarity of the Leupold was also very, very good. It was crisp and clear. The fact that it was only 4x helped combat the mirage I saw at 100 through the NightForce, but the 15x of the NF really had me wishing for more than 4x magnification. The SPR reticle in the MR/t M2 also has a small dot in the center of the cross hair. Im sure it is there for some reason, but I would have preffered a strict crossing of the verticle and horizantal lines. It was not much of a bother at 100, but the small dot in the center combined with the low power made shooting at 300 more difficult.

The Schmidt and Bender Short Dot was already zero'd on my URX Recce, but I had not yet shot it past 100 yards. The knobs on the short dot are similar than the knobs on the MR/t M2. They have the same 1/2moa adjustments, and the top knob is marked with BDC estimations as well as moa indicators. The BDC on the knob was also very, very close for me out to 300. Next time I go out I'll have to see if they are as close out to 600. But thats the max distance I have access to. The reticle in the Short Dot lacks the small dot in the center, so, for a 4x scope, it made it a little easier to sight in at longer ranges than the MR/t. The view through the Short Dot, while very crisp, has slight blue tint to it. It isnt a lot, but it is noticable. It made the image a little dimmer than when looking through the Leupold.

After shooting with the 15x Night Force most of the day, I admit the 4x Leupold and Schmidt and Bender had me wanting and wishing to dial up higher. But I should remember that if someone built a scope that did all things, all the time, for all people, they would be the only company in business. The Short Dot and MR/t are not meant to be the same scopes as the NightForce, and I know for sure the NightForce is not as fast on target or good for closer ranges as the MR/t and certainly not the Short Dot. All in all though, it was a great day at the range, with great weather, great guns, and fun people. Every day should be as good. I just wish new-argirl came with me...

Here are some highlights...

AR10 with NightForce, finally done (almost)


Blurry pic shooting under the bench!!!


Lucky group at 300 yards from the AR10/NF 3.5-10 with Hornady 168 TAP


The Recce's with the Schmidt and Bender Short Dot and the Leupold MR/t M2:


Chromeluv's SPR with USO:

NAG - sweet rifles and glass.

 I'm tossing between another S&B and that specific NF for my SPR.

and of course I have a loose 2.5-10 NF sitting on the shelf too..

While the 2.5-10 Nightforce looks small, I wouldnt feel underscoped with it on an SPR. I'm not much in the know about how the advantages of the larger objective lenses work, but I know the NF 2.5-10 has a small one. the S&B Short Dot is also my only S&B, I have no experience with any of their other optics. However, I do really like the way their turrets are exposed, yet locked in place. That way they cant get bumped, but ready to be adjusted.

Quoted: NAG - sweet rifles and glass.  I'm tossing between another S&B and that specific NF for my SPR. and of course I have a loose 2.5-10 NF sitting on the shelf too..

What a problem to have.

VERY COOL!

Mike @ CSGW

www.csgunworks.com
[email protected]

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