Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Any love for the new NF SHV 4-14X50 F1??

I have a contact at SHOT right now that just swung by the Nightforce booth and toyed with one a second time at my request. Says it's a typical NF and everything looks and feels solid.

Lots of features in this scope for an MSRP of $1250 I think. ZeroSet, illum, FFP and MOAR reticle.

I strongly feel I will be investing in this scope. Rumors are they're available now.

Only thing I did not like was the specs state 2.7-3.1" of eye relief. Seemed incredibly shallow or short to me? Anyone see a real life issue with this?

Money IS an object to me. I simply can't swing for a Schmidt and Bender, or a Swarovski, etc. Even the NXS is a bit of a stretch at $1950

Think I'd feel better with the above than the Burris XTR II. No 34mm tube.

A friend bought one recently and I've put some time behind it. Nothing not to like except the price. The eye relief is adequate for me, like other NF scopes it is heavy. Clarity is good and the repeatability has been spot on so far. I have no experience with the Burris.

The brand new Front Focal plane F1? I don't think they're available to purchase yet...

Yep, Whittakers has them. The eye relief has me sitting on the fence still. That and another excellent range session today with 5 different SWFA scopes has me wondering why I need to spend more than $300 again....

I believe Europtic has them as well.

My bad. So is 3" enough for 260/243 type rifles?


The other SHV scopes are 3.5" relief I think. I compared them and the SFP are more forgiving. I honestly don't know what is enough from experience. They either suck or they don't. I can't help but think NF would put out only a solid product.

How do this compare to the NXS F1 line such as the 3.5-15x50? I'm curious as to glass comparison and tracking.

3" is good enough for a 22 rimfire; nothing else.

Called NF....scope is available for purchase and they did confirm that wasn't a typo. 2.8" to 3.1". I had a contact at SHOT. He mounted the scope up and handled it for a bit. He's a very accomplished LR shooter and didn't notice an issue with it at all.

Hmmmm

If its truly 3", that is really short in my opinion. Good for an AR, but thats about it.

To pucking funny 3 inches for a 260. No problem except for the puzz
ies on the site

Just got finished shooting one on a 7mag

POS

What was the problem with the scope? Personally I’m in the market for a nsx 2-10x42 but have considered the SHV.

I too am curious as to what you don't like about it. Was thinking of one for an AR. Have only looked at pictures of them on NF website. The way they are priced I realize they're not going to be close to what my BEAST is , but for an AR, wouldn't they work?

There isn't a leupold made other than the Mark 8 that can hang with nightforce...and they are $5000, lol!

The other one in my price w my preferred features is the Vortex Razor HD 5-20.

Not in stock till July tho

I've had the SHV F1 for almost 2 months now... Solid scope that works like it should...

I called NF and asked about the differences in SHV and NXS. They were very clear that if you intend to crank knobs, you need to step up to the NXS line. They turrets are not the same.

That was before the F1 new model, but I would assume they're the same given the price point.

I should have specified that the scope I used was the 5-20 model. Maybe the 4-14 is better.

The eye box was very unforgiving. A bit difficult to find the exact spot your eye HAD to be to get a sight picture. If you move even a skosh, you lose the entire picture.

Glass basically sucked. I realize this is a bottom-of-the-line Nightforce and that may be a place where they cut some cost.

The reticle was too thick for my liking. From the Nightforce website, I'm guessing it was the MOAR reticle, but can't really decipher it on the website; the pictures of the reticles aren't the greatest. This scope may have been an earlier model with a slightly different reticle.

As far as the scope's functioning, I don't know. I was simply shooting 100 yard groups to test ammo and barrel quality.


I would spend the extra money and get an NXS.

I doubt NF would put an exposed turret on a scope and not mean for it to be used...

I've 500+ rounds under the SHV F1 and every single round I've run the turret.... It's been on 3 different rifles and on each rifle I've run a tall target test... I've purposely run the turret up to 10+ mils and back to zero to test the longevity of the turret and its ability to RTZ... Thus far not a single problem...

On the 3-10x42 SHV's I've used the elevation turret extensively as well with no problems in tracking and RTZ... The 4-14x56 and the 5-20x56 SHVs I've done the same but not to the extent as the F1 and the 3-10x42s and have had no problems with them either....

The F1 appears to be a great choice for a guy who doesn't want to shell out the additional expense for a FFP NXS or to put together a PRS match rifle in the production class...

For those that are concerned with eye relief, I've not had a problem getting behind the scope and the eye box is fairly generous... A rifle should never move more than 1" during the recoil impulse and that includes the recoil pad compression... If your rifle does, then a guy needs to work on his shooting position and fundamentals verses worrying about eye relief on an optic...

YMMV....

Why the [bleep] would you add anything then? Save yourself the typing or simply say "NO I haven't...but I've shot the other SHV scopes and didn't care for it" Not the same scope. Schittt like this really pizzes me off.

"As far as the scope's functioning, I don't know. I was simply shooting 100 yard groups to test ammo and barrel quality."


Again....STFU

F.uCK yOU!!!!!

It has my interest, but I'm wondering where the additional 10oz come from. It's heavier than the NXS compacts and other SHV models my more than a little.

I was disappointed in discovering the eye relief is so short. I did some measurements of my current scopes. The worst one I own is an older Burris 4-16. I once attempted to use it on a 7 Rem mag. On anything higher than 12X the eye relief was too short and it would often kiss my eye brow. It measures 3.25” of eye relief. That Burris is currently on a Ruger 10-22.

IMO short eye relief is only useful for 20 lb rifles with less than 10 ft/lb of recoil or a rimfire.

I called Nightforce and complained that the eye relief was too short. The guy talked down to me as if I had never fired a rifle. I told him it would hurt someone with a magnum. I said I intended to use it on a unbraked 8.5 lb 300 RUM.

DennisinAz and I want to challenge those engineers to put that F1 on Dennis's 340 weatherby. We bet they wouldn’t shoot it more than once because they would be taken to an ER for stitches.

This

Thank you. It's this same ol stuff every time something gets discussed. If you don't have expierence with the subject let those talk that do and stay out of it.

So in other words you have no clue about the scope and have never used one either... I'm sure NF has called a halt to the assembly line and the engineers are frantically at the design table re-engineering the F1 because two hicks in AZ don't know how to shoot...

I will say it again... A rifle should never move more than 1" during the recoil impulse and that includes the recoil pad compression... If your rifle does, then you need to work on your shooting position, fundamentals and recoil management verses worrying about the eye relief on an optic... If its to much "gun" for you then you shouldn't be handling a weapon above your pay grade plain and simple...

I was cleaning out my closet earlier today and underneath a box of 6" red heels, which I use on special occasions, I found a couple ammo cases holding 220 rounds of 338 RUM reloads with 300 SMK's... As to not let the ammo sit and go to waste I went out to the storage shed, found the old handy dandy 338 RUM barreled action, blew the dust offa it and threw it in a junk stock I had laying around... Mounted the SHV F1, used 3 rds to zero, dialed in/fired a rnd at 5, 10 and 15 mils on a tall target to verify tracking and then verified RTZ with a 7th round... Had 213 rds left so I hit a nearby canyon to go shoot rocks...

I shot from every conceivable shooting position I could concoct (prone, sitting, kneeling, offhand, standing, tree/rock/cactus rests, uphill, downhill, extreme angle up/down from most positions, inverted, etc.)... Every shot taken I ran the turret whether it was needed or not and shot at all different powers... Furthest shot taken was a tad over 1800 yds... Not once did the eye relief enter the equation much less "kiss my brow"...

Before the ClownShoes Squadron condemns a product it'd be nice if they at least had a clue of what they spew...

EHG, that gun is a Frankenstein, but I'll bet it'll outshoot any of mine.

I may have to buy one of these demon scopes just to say I own one of them.....lol....

I may have to put it on my .22 Hornet so I don't clip my eyebrow.

Impossible!!!

No way a Nightforce in Talley Lightweights holds up to that. Who ya trying to fool..... You forgot to post a picture of some holes in paper to prove the scope is Uber.....

"ClownShoes Squadron".......spot on...

Elkhuntingguide,

Good for you on shooting that SHV. As for the name calling, it is laughable, insults seem to be the norm on 24 hr.

Took some time to look at other manufacturer's scopes with similar magnification to compare the eye relief. Burris , Sightron, Swarovski, and Leupold use 3.5” or more. Even Nightforce with its other SHVs use more eye relief, the shortest was the SHV 5-20 x 56 3.1"- 3.5".

Leupold does offer 3” eye relief for their rimfire scopes.

I couldn’t find ANY scope anywhere that uses 2.8” for the eye relief, which it would be when that SHV is set on 14X.

I choose not to own one.

Thanks for taking the time to actually use and post on the scope. Much appreciated.

The "norm" on the campfire seems to be people posting outta their ass on schitt they have no clue about using something they read or heard from a buddy, read in a gun rag or seen it once from afar at band camp... This thread is a perfect example of that... I can see 4 if not more posts solidifying that...

As for the name calling... If the shoe fits....

So Nightfarce makes SHV scopes that vary quality wise?

The 3-10 is different than the 4-14 and the 4-14 is different thant the 5-20??

I shot the 5-20. Sucked complete ASS!

They make different Models in the SHV line... I don't see where they differ quality wise... No different than any other scope company... For instance the scope company you choose to "champion" makes different VX-3 scopes and different Mark 4 scopes... The difference is, I have not seen a quality issue between the SHV series as you have with Leupold by your own admission...



Sad thing but true... The least expensive SHV I own (3-10x42) has out preformed every leupold I have ever been behind... Ever... Including your über VX-6...

Well it seems Leupold has shored up their Mark 4 and VX3 issues now. Their attention to servicing their product, re-engineering it making it better and R&D,seem to be head and shoulders above everything else available

The SHV sucked ASS. I've used and evaluated other offerings from Nightforce and they were excellent.

Leupold is tough to beat for price, quality, attentive customer service, light weight hunting scopes and the like. I'll put any Mark 4 M5A2, Mark 8, VX-6 ahead of anything in the class NF has to offer

LMAO...Sounds like a Leupy ad on the hunting channel... I would hope after 10-12 years of selling schitt erectors and sub standard QC that one of their 600+ employee's would have a clue... That still remains to be seen...

Ya I think you've said that before... Considering the source it means little to nothing... I have heard you are a fine connoisseur of sucking ASS...


Price wise their VX offerings tempt many... The M5A2 and Mark 8 not so much or are they anywhere near worth the money... The 8 was probably their best attempt at the Tactical market and a guy willing to spend that amount I've seen lean towards S&B or TT... VX-6 is priced so so but all it has going for it is glass... I've seen 3 of em and two had excellent glass... Third the glass was schitt... All three had problems with holding zero, tracking and RTZ or a mixture there of... Kinda negates the glass... Although once they "shore" up those little issues they maybe on to something for loyal leupy lovers... Quality wise they have a ways to go... Weight wise they are a leader but IMHO that leads to their quality, durability and tracking issues... I would gladly give up 8 ozs for peace of mind that my scope will always work... Leupold will never be a leader as far as durability, tracking or function... They have nice glass but to choose a scope because the glass is nice is more than foolish...

I have zero experience with the SHV F1, but, for those concerned with the eye relief... the 4-16 ATACR has 3.35" of relief, so very similar to the F1 SHV. I've spent some time behind that scope and it didn't feel tight at all.

If you're considering the SHV, I think the 18x Bushnell LRHS would be a good choice as well. They will be offering illumination in that line this year (If that's a deciding factor for you).

That is the other scope on my short list.

@EHG
Thx for actually shooting that scope on a big gun and posting your info. I was thinking I would like to try that scope on a 300 Weatherby and now I think I will.