Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Deciding Between March and Nightforce

I haven't bought a new scope in 20yrs. But after months of reading and getting advice from anyone who would talk to me I have narrowed it down to the March 3 - 24 x 52mm and NightForce 5-25×56 F1. I would like anyone's opinion on the scopes to help me pull the trigger and get this search over. I will be using the this for hunting and just sign up for long range shoot classes. Thank you

Nightforce by a mile...…………..RUGGED RELIABLE REPEATABLE!!!!

Welcome to the 'fire
It would be my pleasure to discuss this with you, 516-217-1000.
Doug

Doug @ Camera Land is a good guy to work with. Prompt, thorough, professional service. Excellent prices too.

Agreed! Didn’t know they were carrying March as well. Cool.

We do not carry March

That's a lot of Xs and a big O, mind if I ask what you'll be using the scope for?

Just a Millennial

I own both and the NF is the winner by a fair bit IMO.

The problem for me is IMO march has too large of an erector ratio. on paper this looks cool, but in practice I prefer a scope that can quickly go from low to high power without that much change in the zoom. a 3, 4,5 or at most 6 erector ratio is plenty, beyond that and it would annoy me. if you need that much erector ratio you should be shooting a different gun with a specific optic for that gun. they are trying to make the power ranges on these do too many things.

How good is your eyesight ? And do you know how to compare fine optics.

Next, is you would need both optics on hand and are able to compare them in all conditions.

If you wanted a benchrest only scope I would choose a March, you stated the scope you are wanting is more on the hunting side and I would lean toward the Nightforce.

For the OP, if this is a hunting scope, are you sure you need the 25x magnification and big objective?

For me, absolutely.

NF

That may be. But for most people, absolutely not.

Most people you associate with. The opposite is true with the people I associate with.

For me, the March is much lighter and optically superior. Is it as robust? I don't know the answer to that. My hunting partner has 4 rifles with March scope and one with an NXS. The March was so much better that any comparison was a joke. Of these 4 rifles, we have never had a single issue with the March scopes. They seem to track just fine, they are stunningly clear and compact compared to most "tactical scopes".

We do a lot of long range shooting and any 'misses' were clearly attributed to bad wind doping and not to elevation. The second shot was always true.

I never saw the 10x zoom ratio to be a problem, in fact, I would love to have a 1-10X March scope!

No, most people, period.

Comes down to weight, footprint, and reticle IMO. I've owned the NF and have the March but with 42mm obj.

Do I have more confidence in the NF, yes. That's part to having more experience with their scopes. I do like the feel of NF's turrets better, but I have no knocks on the March. The package/footprint of the scope is amazing. Really surprised they aren't more popular.