AR Sponsor
Posted: 7/17/2009 6:29:22 PM EDT
|
so I just finished my first build 18" spr and need advice on reticles. its between the mil-dot and np-r2 anyone have any experience??
and well Im on the topic im really tore between the 2.5x10x32 and the 3.5x15x50 but I think the latter would be to heavy and cumbersome but any advice would be much appericiated!! |
| I'd really try to find a stocking dealer and check them out in person and outdoors. I was sure I wanted a 5.5-22x50mm NXS with the NP-R1 reticle until I looked through one. The reticle was much finer and a more "busy" than I thought it would be. It's not necessarily a bad thing, just not what I wanted for this particular scope. |
The standard "what is your intended use?" would seem to apply here, as with so many posts in this forum.....no wahalla. 
My brain works better in MOA than mil-rad's, so I selected the NP-R2 for both of my 2.5-10 NXS's. Either way, it seems seems sensible to get turrets that are calibrated in whichever respective scale that you prefer. As the other poster mentioned, the NP-R1 might actually be too fine of a scale for many applications. All of the NXS's are comparatively heavy, since they are built like tanks, with the 3.5-15 being nearly 2#'s without a mount. Some of the other important differences between the two models which you have mentioned are: 1) With the compact, the occular lens does not rotate along with the magnification adjustment ring; this would seem beneficial to those who run flip-up lens caps. 2) With the compact, there is no parallax adjustment. The downside is that....well, there is no parallax adjustment. What this also means is that the 9 o'clock "turret" is dedicated to reticle intensity adjustment, rather than a combined function of parallax and intensity. Do you want to remove the turret cap and battery to adjust reticle intensity using a tool as with the 3.5-15? The optical clarity and light transmission of the NXS's is very good. That said, a practical downside of the compacts in reduced ambient light applications is the comparatively small objective lens / exit pupil. Even the 32mm does not seem quite as bright as some of my other reasonable quality optics with big objectives at the same magnification. This is of course a highly subjective opinion, and I am quite possibly subconsciously biased by understanding of physics. Hope that this helps in your selection process. |
|
I've been shopping online for a Nightforce myself for a 20" 6.5 Grendel coyote/deer/antelope hunting AR I just got together. The 3 1/2x15x50 NXS was 1st on my list until I handled one earlier this morning. As much as I wanted to like it for me it’s just too heavy & bulky for the way I will use it.
The 2.5x10x32 with zero stop, target turrets and NP-R2 is what I’m going to get. Since I’m not going to be shooting at tiny targets I figure I can do without the parallax adjustment. Do you guys know if anyone actually sells NF scopes new for less than MSR? John |
|
yea i think the compact will be the way to go, I work for a dealer so i get to play with the scopes alot but he doesnt have a 32mm with target turrets and have yet to see the np-r2 reticle in person just the mil-dot
so the next question has anyone had any experience with the NP-R2 in a 2.5x10x32 nightforce?? Ive noticed the mil-dot in the larger scopes are well.. larger then the compact 32mm does this make it difficult to see/use?????? |
|
Quoted:
The standard "what is your intended use?" would seem to apply here, as with so many posts in this forum.....no wahalla.
My brain works better in MOA than mil-rad's, so I selected the NP-R2 for both of my 2.5-10 NXS's. Either way, it seems seems sensible to get turrets that are calibrated in whichever respective scale that you prefer. As the other poster mentioned, the NP-R1 might actually be too fine of a scale for many applications. All of the NXS's are comparatively heavy, since they are built like tanks, with the 3.5-15 being nearly 2#'s without a mount. Some of the other important differences between the two models which you have mentioned are: 1) With the compact, the occular lens does not rotate along with the magnification adjustment ring; this would seem beneficial to those who run flip-up lens caps. 2) With the compact, there is no parallax adjustment. The downside is that....well, there is no parallax adjustment. What this also means is that the 9 o'clock "turret" is dedicated to reticle intensity adjustment, rather than a combined function of parallax and intensity. Do you want to remove the turret cap and battery to adjust reticle intensity using a tool as with the 3.5-15? The optical clarity and light transmission of the NXS's is very good. That said, a practical downside of the compacts in reduced ambient light applications is the comparatively small objective lens / exit pupil. Even the 32mm does not seem quite as bright as some of my other reasonable quality optics with big objectives at the same magnification. This is of course a highly subjective opinion, and I am quite possibly subconsciously biased by understanding of physics. Hope that this helps in your selection process. EXCELLENT POST, COMPADRE. REALLY GOOD INFO THERE. FOLKS SHOULD READ AND HEED. HERE ARE THE RETICLES I RUN IN MY OWN NIGHTFORCE SCOPES, ALONG WITH MY PERSONAL REASONING: NF 1-4X24 NXS: NP-1 RETICLE; OFFERS A GOOD COMBO OF (1 ) PRECISION AND (2) SPEED; RETICLE GRADUATED IN MOA; 1/4 MOA ADJUSTMENTS. IF I WANTED (1) SPEED AND (2) PRECISION, I WOULD HAVE GONE WITH THE FC-2 RETICLE. 
NF 2.5-10X32 NXS: CLOSE-RANGE MIL-DOT; ALTHOUGH I'M NOT A MIL-DOT GUY, I LIKE THE WAY THE RETICLE FILLS THE FIELD OF VIEW IN THE COMPACT SCOPE; THE SLIGHTLY THICKER CROSSHAIRS WORK WELL FOR MY ANTICIPATED SHORTER RANGE PRECISION APPLICATIONS; RETICLE GRADUATED IN MILS; MIL-RAD ADJUSTMENTS, WITH ZERO-STOP. 
NF 3.5-15X50 NXS: NP-R1; ALL ABOUT PRECISION AND EASY RANGING; RETICLE GRADUATED IN MOA; 1/4 MOA ADJUSTMENTS, WITH ZERO-STOP. 
NF 5.5-22X50 NXS: NP-R1; ALL ABOUT PRECISION AND EASY RANGING; RETICLE GRADUATED IN MOA; 1/4 MOA ADJUSTMENTS, WITH ZERO-STOP. 
LIKE MURDERMAN, ABOVE, MY BRAIN WORKS FAR, FAR BETTER WITH MOA THAN MILS FOR RANGING. I WOULD NOT ATTEMPT RANGING WITH MILS WITHOUT A MIL-DOT MASTER AT HAND. EVEN THOUGH I AM A PRODUCT OF ALABAMA "PUBLIK" SCHOOLS AND THE USMC, I CAN DO "INCHES DIVIDED BY MINUTES, TIMES 100" IN MY HEAD FAIRLY EASILY. ON THE SUBJECT OF PRICING, NIGHTFORCE REQUIRES IN THEIR DEALER AGREEMENT THAT ALL ADVERTISED PRICING BE NO LESS THAN THEIR PRESCRIBED "MINIMUM ADVERTISED PRICE" (M.A.P.), WHICH IS 5% OFF RETAIL. I'D BE SURPRISED TO SEE A DEALER RISK THEIR POSITION WITH NIGHTFORCE, USA, JUST TO MOVE A FEW SCOPES. THIS M.A.P. POLICY DOES NOT PRECLUDE DEALERS FROM OFFERING FREE SHIPPING OR ATTRACTIVE SCOPE AND MOUNT "PACKAGE" PRICING. GOOD SHOOTING, WES GRANT MSTN.BIZ |
Thanks for the compliment, Wes; you have provided an awful lot of most valuable insight over the years. 
One other comment that I would like to add about the compacts with their relatively small EP's and lack of parallax adjustment. These two factors actually work well with each other. With a small EP, one must maintain a consistent cheekweld in order to achieve a "full" sight picture; as such, parallax error induced by misalignment is fundamentally minimized. |
AR Sponsor