Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles nikon m223 1-4x20

Anybody using these? Curious how they hold up and how the quality is on these scopes. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

gun, While I do some freelance work for Nikon, I have been using the 1-4 Point Blank Reticle since it first came out,before my opinion would be considered bias. If you are shooting inside of 200 yards this scope will do all you want it too. Zero at 100 yards and you are still in the kill zone at 200.Built for quick target acquistion and accurate shot placement. If you are just now interested in this scope, you might also be interested in knowing that it is part of the Mount 'Em Up Promotion going on right now. Buy a M-223,P-223 or P-22 Scope and get a FREE AR Mount. Pretty great deal. We did this Promo last year for the first time and literally sold out of everything! Hopefully this year we are better prepared.
Here's a pic of my M-223 1-4 on my DPMS Padus rifle. Big fun!

http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd363/bman940/KathynAR.jpg

I am aware of the free mount. Thats whats making this so interesting. I also have a coupon so I can get into this for roughly $250 total. Almost cant pass it up. Just want to make sure it will take some abuse and is not just for looks. Thanks.

bman940,

Where is the mount made?

eh76

Is it a true 1x turned all the way down? I'm getting a Burris 1-4X XTR

Mine says made in USA. I took part in the promotion last year and have been using the M-223 mount for almost a year now on my RRA coyote rifle, no problems.

eh, The mount is made by a very well known ring,base and mount manufacturer. They and Nikon spent a lot of time and effort coming up with a quality AR Mount. As of today, they are now producing 3 different AR Mounts.
M-223 XR Mount has 20 MOA built into it ( not required for M-Series scopes).
M-223 Mount is flat
P-Series Mount is a versatile 2 piece AR Mount.

I just found out about another Promotion that starts this Sat. If you are looking for a PROSTAFF Rimfire Scope you won;t want to miss this deal. Check out Nikonhunting .com Sat. 3/24.

I have a RRA PP on the way and was looking at the M223 in a 3-12 or 4-16 but my biggest decision is on the BDC or Nikoplex with Rapid Action Turrets. I like the ease of the BDC but from my understanding the zero of the circles changes depending on what power your scope is turned to. Anyone have any pros or cons on either of these reticles. The fact that you can buy turrets for other loads is a plus in the Nikoplex reticle.

What's the story on the P223 series scopes? That little 3x32 is intriguing...

-Dan

I should have been more specific...what country is it manufactured in?

The mount is made in the USA.

Clark, You are so right about the P-223 3 BDC Carbine Scope. When I first saw it at Shot Show I wasn't sure what to make of it. Then after about 2 hours of showing it to folks at Shot Show and hearing what they would use it for my eye's opened to what a great idea itreally is. So many guy's who are real shooting competitor's loved the size and the fact that they could shoot target's quickly while on the move all while keeping their other eye open. This little scope gives you an excellent field of view and outstanding light transmission. You would definitely need the P-Series AR Mount for this compact scope. I was telling a buddy who compete's in 3-gun competition's in NY about this scope and today he is trying to find one and get the FREE P-Series Mount.
Here's a pic from the Nikon website showing the scope and P-Series Mount.

http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd363/bman940/P-223DPMS3X.png

Any info on the durability of the m223's?

I have one on my M4 for about a year now. I have shot several tactical matches and its holds zero and kicks ass. I replaced my Eotech for the Nikon. I like having the variable power and ease of adjusting the point of impact. I use mine from about 15-200yds with the spot on reticle. I crank the turrets alot during the shoots with no adverse effect. I find Im able to aquire the target fast with the dot reticle and I dont have to worry about batteries going dead.

Well I ordered the 1-4x20 bdc with the free mount. Got it all shipped out for $270. Good price. Should be here next week.

Got the wife on it today. Needs some work but she is learning.

I have to wonder about these things. If a Night Force 1-4 costs $1200 and this scope costs $300 with a mount, why do people still buy the NF scopes? They must be crazy.

bman940.......what's the "fisheye" at 1x on the 1-4x?
I've recently acquired my first AR and two different scope suppliers of 1-4x24mm (30mm) have noticeable fisheye when set at 1x.
I goggled some reviews and was surprised at the lack of discussion or criticism of this phenomenon.
That 3x looks real appealing.....i may have to try a couple.

I have heard its tough to make a true 1X in a 1-4 scope.

They are not even close in quality.

b, Great pics! Chapped, I'm not sure what you mean, I've heard a few folks mention fisheye when the eye relief wasn't correct. Is this what you are referring too?
Chapped, I sent a couple of the P-223 3X scopes to some friends who are competitive shooters get their opinion. I'll post their results as they come in.

Gun, glad to hear you were able to take advantage of the free mount Promo.!

Bart

Bart.....i believe the correct term (old style) is parallax......but "fisheye" seems to be the term nowadays......must be a zombie thing.
What i have observed in two 30mm 1-4x24 from 2 diff scope suppliers (both priced under $500) at the 1x setting is movement of the reticle or background depending if the unmounted scope is moved or if the shooter's head is moved. At 4x the movement is just slightly noticeable around the outer edge of image viewing. More precise eyepiece adjusting appears to lessen the problem but it is still very noticeable.
That is what prompted me to ask the question......maybe the competitive shooters you referred to will give some feedback.
This may be a price range "thing"......maybe $800 to $1200 scopes of this power range do not exhibit this problem. I live in a small community now and don't have access to major stores to compare other models.

I attempted to order the 3x32 from SWFA but they have not received any from Nikon yet.....(when did this promotion start?)......but SWFA is accepting backorders.
So i have a "ticket".
Thanx for any input.

FYI parallax and fisheye are two different things:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallax

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisheye_lens

I got to shoot one of my friends 20" RRA M4 AR-15's sporting a Nikon 3-12x Model 8489 AR-15 scope and matching mount, and I was SOLD. I'm saving up for one, but I'm not sure if I want the 2-8x or 3-12x. -TomT

Thanx,TomT,for the info.

Have you compared them side by side? Just curious.

I dont need to. The Nightforce is on a whole different level than the Nikon. They are just not comparable.

Your welcome chapped lips (great name btw).

I didnt know about Nightforce scopes, but now that I checked out their web site, I'm interested, but I think like Zeiss & Leica optics, they are unfortunately above my pay grade (especially with 2 of my 3 kids in college). IF I was using a AR in a situation where my life depended on it, the cost would be secondary, the BEST would be primary.
Btw, a BIG thank you to all our Military people that put their lives on the line so we can live like Americans!!!!!! -TomT

what model NF scope do you have? I am interested!

I dont own any Nightforce scope right now. I also dont own a Accuracy International. But I can tell you its a much better built rifle than any Remington, Ruger, or Savage. Not that they arent good though.
The Difference between the nikon m223 and Nightforce is not just price. With the Nightforce you get:
more reticle choices
30mm tube
mil/mil option
zero stop
much better glass
much better build quality
Nightforces track record for some of the toughest optics ever.

Many people would never notice these diffences but some do and are willing to pay for the better quality scope. Just like I would never buy a high end sports car, but I wont say a mustang is the same thing for less money. Im not knocking the Nikon, but it is what it is.

Nightforce is bullet proof. They are very different scopes not a fair comparison. Its like comparing a race car to a stock street car. You get what you pay for. I have several Nightforce and they are worth every penny. At the same time you don't always need top shelf.

The NF compacts have their own fault's. Good glass but far from ideal.

Terry

so you read it on the internet somewhere but don't personally really don't know anything about it at all! Just FYI I have a NF 1-4NXS scope and am buying a Nikon scope this Friday. I will report back with some actual facts. Like Terry said the NF compacts are not perfect. It usually best to ask questions more than post comments if you have "read it on the internet" but actually don't own it or have not personally reviewed it. Just sayin....

Meh, nevermind. Not worth it.

I am sorry if I offended you.

I doubt you offended anybody.

Sometimes you have to call BS.

It should happen more often.

I dont get offended. I just dont care enough to enlighten you.

Wow, just wow...

I am un-enlightenable.

I got a Nikon 223 2-8 x 32 on loan from a bud and will check it out.

jimmyp, interested in your results. A buddy has me talked into a Nightforce with Velocity reticles but my pocketbook is screaming!! I am a Leupold fan right now but like the idea of all the Nightforce options.

Thanks

Hi my single nightforce is the little 1-4 NXS, I could not compare one of of the bigger NF scopes. My general impression is that in this scope resolution is extremely good in the center of the optic, a fisheye effect or soft edges are seen at 1X unless the scope is moved a bit forward and you put your nose on the charging handle to index the distance to the eye, in general optical performance seems to be very closely related to your eyes distance from the ocular. Its heavy, and it holds zero very well, it tracks fine, it seems to be pretty tough but I have not really beat it that hard. Its in a LaRue LT104 mount, you can take it off and put it back on and the zero remains the same.

The very first thing I noticed with the Nikon 2-8 Matte BDC was that the eyebox was tiny at 8X, it has a fast focus on it and at 8X I seemed to get the reticle in focus but the background was not, more on this latter, it seems to be a pretty clear scope however.

I compared the Nikon 223 against an old simmons, 6-18x40 that came off a 22LR I traded for back 15 or more years ago. I like the simmons better, that's all I am going to say.

Something new from Nikon that is worth checking out. The BLACK FORCE 1000. 1-4x24. Just a few features on this scope, Illuminated Reticle,30mm tube, true 1-4 and backed by Nikon's No Fault Warranty. I have been using this scope for about 6 weeks now and it is huge fun. I have let a few guys at my range try it out and they really liked it as well. This scope came about from features you guys asked for from a scope of this size and best of all, under $400! You can even dial it in using Nikon's Spot On Ballistic Program.

http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd363/bman940/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-02%20at%201.18.33%20PM.png