A few minutes ago I had the pleasure of comparing a new Nightforece NXS 5.5-22X56 with my beloved Swarovski z5 5-25X52. The casual reader can see both have a large objective lens. Both are side focus. The Nightforce weighs 2 lb 12 oz with its heavy duty rings. The Swarovski weighs 1 lb 4.6 oz with its Talley Alloy lightweight rings. That's about half the weight for the Swarovski. That's why I have it.

I'm not much on looks so went right to the sandbags on the porch. Both are beautiful to me. This Nightforce verified the Nightforce 12-42X56 was no fluke when it needed only 12X to show me the same detail at 521 yards when my Swarovski needed 16 1/2X. But I digress.

I looked at the deer antlers 131 yards away in the woods with the Nightforce. There was no doubt about it. With the Nightforce still its lowest setting of 5 1/2X I could see the fork with no problem. Then I went to the "Can you read this?" at 127 yards. I could read the top line on 9 1/2X.

Looking at the same deer antlers from the same distance, the Swarovski z5 needed 8 1/4X. In order to read the same line with the Swarovski I needed it set on 12X.

Nothing like side by side comparisons to eliminate ignorant prejudice opinions for a basis to purchase a scope. My gunsmith is delighted with his purchase of the Nightforce for his heavy weight long range .338 RUM.

I love my Nightforce scopes.......best scope for the money in my opinion!!

Once you get into the high end scopes, they are all pretty damn good - you just have to pick the brand/model that best fits your own personal needs and wants!!

Did both NF scopes out do the Swarovski?

Ackleyfan,



Yes. Today I compared the 5.5-22X56 and last time I compared a 12-42X56. My comparisons today were at 131 yards for the antlers and 127 yards for the eye chart.

At 500 yards the 12-42X56 did not need to leave it 12X to show me the same detail the Swarovski needed 16 1/2X.

Interesting I never would have expected that, Glass just keeps getting better and better!

Haven't looked through one myself yet, but the new ED glass in the Nightforce ATACR is supposedly right up there with S&B, Swarovski, & Zeiss!!

Must be good then....

I find these comparisons really interesting, I personally only use the Swaro z6 range of scopes but to my eye the night force glass I feel is well behind Swaro, Kahlee and s&b. As long as your happy in your setup though that's the main thing, and good luck to you.

The normal NXS's lack the visual color "pop" of the top European glass, not resolution.

Hey Formid, I for one do conclude you have lots of knowledge on these tactical subjects, and generally look forward to reading what you have to say. If I may ask, I since you seem to be very well versed in this tactical shooting stuff, can you please post some information on your background, maybe a real short bio of sorts?

Last night as low light set in I put out the two scopes again. Before you continue reading guess which one did better. I guess I will define better as the one that shows the most detail and lasts the longest.

But a side observation; I noticed last evening. The Nightforce was easier to get a full "picture". I guess as "E" says, it has a better or bigger eye box.

For those who have seen a photo of my "Can you read this?" I used line #6 at 72 yards. The letters are about 1/4" high. The weather was heavy clouds when I started at 6:49PM. I fiddled with both to get the best clarity and recorded the time and magnification setting.

Nightforce.....14 3/4X - Swarovski z5.....20X

We will skip forward to 7:01:

Nightforece....15 3/4X - Swarovski........22 1/2X

Now at 7:20:

Nightforce....18X - Swarovski.........23X

At 7:34:

Nightforce....20X - Swarovski 25X

At 7:37 I had to turn up the Nightforce to 21X. The Swarovski didn't allow me to read any of the last line. A minute later I could not read anything even when i switched the Nightforce to 22X.

When I was finished I looked at the notes and realized the Nightforce lasted only three minutes longer than the Swarovski.

If it had been hunting season yesterday during the test, what time would legal shooting light have ended?

I owned a NF 5.5-22x56 and did not enjoy the weight/balance on a hunting rifle. I much prefer the trimmer Swaro Z6s.

Eric

Great info, thanks.
Do you have any insight on the VX-6 and how it would compare?
I am thinking of getting a VX-6 3-18x44mm.

JD338

Thanks Ringman for the review and info. Now I would like to hear how the NF might compare to a March scope of similar magnification and objective size.

Randy

JD338,

I was going to order a VX-6 3-18

Ringman,

Cool. Are you going to order the 44mm or the 50mm Objective?
I am going to go with the 44mm obj. Going to mount it on my 338 RUM. Its been my go to rifle the past few years for crop damage deer hunting out to 900 yds.

Thanks for all the G2.

JD338

Mr Ringman,

Thanks for the informative review. On the very very rare times I spend that much money I get a nightforce. I love em.

I don't understand squat about the technical aspects of engineering optics but I wish Nightforce would work their magic on some 30mm tubes with 40mm objectives. On the big boomers it don't matter bacause you are already toting a ton, but if Nightforce worked it out, kept the weight down a tad, OH MY, that would be the ticket for hunting rifles in my mind.

JGRaider,



Officially sunset was about 6:50. I am still staying at John Lachuk's till they sell the house. Here the sun went behind the hill at 7:17 PM. There was a bright light from the clouds from 7:12 till 7:20 when there was no change in the scope settings; except maybe 1/2X.

JD338,



Since I have a brake on all my rifles and discovered a higher scope mount appears to flatten trajectory* I go with high mounts. So I would get the 50mm objective. The Ezekiel 3-30X I ordered comes with a 56mm objective. Since the .375-.416 has a brake and a 1/2" travel hydraulic shock absorber in the stock I hold it like a BB gun. If I hold it tight the absorber doesn't get to do its job.

Robert_White,

I agree about the weight!


*PM me if you would like to read the test results. It took more than four hours to complete the test.

Ok thanks. My question is intended to find out if the scopes would have gotten you to, or past legal shooting light, no matter the magnification.

Weight is the main reason why I am interested in the 44mm instead of the 50mm, not to mention the high ring and cheek weld.
My rifle is a 700 LSS 338 RUM.

Ringman, thanks again for all you r time and effort, it is truly appreciated.

JD338

Unless I missed it somewhere in this topic, it has been strictly about the glass and weight issues. If you mix in the mechanical issues the Nightforce is the slam dunk winner over Swarovski.

boatanchor,



I agree. This z5 already went back for service. It has the BT but when I returned it to "zero" it would go a couple minutes below where it did when I set the zero stop. Also the little hawk came off under recoil. There customer service was excellent.

Never the less, I will keep my Swarovski and not covet the gunsmith's Nightforce.

The question was asked about Nightforce verses March.
I did not want to highjack the post but it has been a while since anyone has said anything.

I purchased a March 8 X 80 scope. When I received it I took it the my favorite gun shop to show it to the now manager (he was just a salesman at the time). They had a variable ? to 25 power Nightforce in the store for the exact price I paid for my March with the exception of the sales tax I would have paid if I was to buy the Nightforce from them. The March being cheaper than the Nightforce. That being said.

About 5 salesman , 4 to 6 customers and my self all took turns looking threw both scopes set at the same power to get some what of an even comparison. All of us with the exception of one salesman said that the March was a bit better than the Nightforce.

That was when they were set at the same power 25. My March can be cranked up to 80.

I had a hard time getting it back from one of the salesman because he was trying to look down the blows of a girl across the intersection threw the store windows and the gas stations windows about 150 yards away. I have to say she was pretty hot.

I got kind of frustrated when I went to sight my rifle in for the first time. Even though I had my M21 in a gun mount I kept loosing the target set at 80 until I realized that I was looking at the grain structure of the paper target at 100 yards.

I have never looked threw another March or Nightforce but both of them had very good glass.

The Nightforce scope was larger and heavier than the March that I have on top of it all.

For me I would and want to get another March.

Sure would not need a spotting scope with the 80 power march.

For me that is about all I can use the 80 power for. My hart beat and breathing get in the way of being able to stabilize the retical. 60 is the highest I can go and still see a calm enough cross hair not to drive me crazy even in a mount.

I will add that I love the scope and would not trade it for anything. It makes a fantastic spotting scope.

funshooter,

You are a man after my own heart! What did the March set you back?

Right around $3500 after the shipping.
I wish I could get a hunting scope from them. May be some day

x52 and x56 are not exactly the same very close but not the same considering the light process.

funshooter,

Wait till you see my comparison of the Swarovski z5 5-25X52 with the new Sight Mark Ezekiel 3-30X56. It comes in at a weight of 1 lb 14.4 oz on the postal scale. It comes with flip up covers like Butlers and also rings the one would use Weaver bases, I guess. What a surprise.

I will put it on my .375-.416 Rem Mag to see if it can handle recoil.

Nice

I have a Swaro on an AR50 and one of the reasons I bought the March was the fact of it will take the recoil of the AR50
The point of impact is not suppose to change from the low setting threw the high setting with the March. Other scopes talked about on the Fire can not take that credit.

The March will far outshine the Nightforce- even more dramatically than the test that Ringman just did. My buddy has a March and it is the real deal- just huge and heavy.

Am i correct to understand the march is 3500 and the nightforce is about 2000?

The March 8 X 80 56 lists for $3100 right now

When I bought my scope it was about $3500 for the scope ,covers and detachable rings

I think it was listed for about $2900 + some shipping but not much.
That was about a year before Japan lost there nuclear power plant.

It has been a while.

Their hunting scopes are not as expensive.

Google Kelblys and it will take you to their site.
Their customer service is great or at least was great.

I had to weight about 6 months after I ordered the scope before I received it and I was on the phone with them several times with questions. Great guys over there.

Depends on the model. I think the one I have used was about $3200. This is not an issue of cost vs performance, this is a question of how good the optics are when cost is NOT factored in!

Thankfully I don't lay awake at night thinking about $3500 riflescopes.

Ain't that the truth. Throw in another $1500 and you can go kill stuff in Africa.

At the time I ordered it I did not have to think or worry about money.

Times are different now.

Now I am just glad that I spent the money then so I can enjoy the scope now.

I don't own $3500 riflescopes for the same reason I don't own 16 thousand dollar mod 70's assembled by an elite class gunsmiths.

+1

Many who own a 3500 scope also go to africa.