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nightforce question

tenwalker
I am building a new Praire Dog gun (223) and I will be digging deep and buying a Nightforce scope. Need advice on which power to get. I will be getting the NP1-RR reticle. But which power 5.5-22x50 or the 8-32x56? And please don't tell me I should buy this scope or I should buy this other scope. I have already spent a ton of money on this gun and why stop spending money when it comes to glass. I have wanted one of these scopes eversence I looked thru one 2yrs. ago. And what the heck it's only money.


Thanks Dale
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • nononsense
    tenwalker,

    Anytime during prairie dog wars, it's nice to have the best glass and proper magnification available and Nightforce is certainly one of the best.

    If, like most folks, you shoot prairie dogs during the summer months, heat and mirage are the biggest problems. Heat from the air and the rifle barrel will often produce mirage which has a debilitating effect on accuracy and shot placement. So trying to keep the barrel cool and limiting the number shots per segment of time is important.

    Increasing the magnification of your scope will also show more of the body movement and the movement of the rifle. Little movements become bigger and more noticeable. I usually use scopes around the 4-16x range and do fine. However, the 5.5-22x would be a plus for the longer shots, although the .223 Rem. is not known for extraordinary long shots for the most part. I use the 8-32x for competitions out to 1,000 yards but I hesitate to suggest it for shooting prairie dogs as it's a little too much of a good thing.

    Best.
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  • tsr1965
    You have great tase in optics. I think the 5.5-22x is the one for you. I agree that a great gun warrants great glass. It is always wise to listen to what Nononsense has to say, re-read his post again, and think about it some more.

    That said, I have had some great conversations with Alex over at Eurooptics.com

    They sell a lot of high grade stuff like Swarovski, Ziess, NightForce, Meopota, and Schmidt & Bender. He does business on the auction side too...a lot of it. Give him a call and talk directly to him.

    Best
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  • Hawk Carse
    I would get the big one. For a varmint or target rifle you are liklier to want more power rather than less. Don't ask how often you will go above 22X, ask how often you would want to go below 8X on this rifle.
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  • Jake Sully
    I use the 5.5X22.
    Ususally winds up around 14X to 20X depending on conditions.

    JS
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  • mrbruce
    I like the idea of the 8x32, never hurts to have it if you need it, and the prices are close enough... Killed tons of groundhogs on 8X........
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  • stevecrea
    I find that even when I am walking up jacks and shooting at them running, I seldom have my scope dialed at less that 7 or 8. As Hawk points out, if you get a lower powered variable, you may have little use for the lower powers. With squirrels, my scope is usually set at 10, even with a 17 HMR. The lower powers on this 4X16 do not get used much for squirrels. So, based on this, and if money is no object, then go for the 8X32. I have a shooting friend with an 8X32 Burris Black Diamond on a Cooper 204 Varmint. If the shot is over 250 or 300 yards, he usually has it dialed up pretty high.
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  • sandwarrior
    tenwalker,

    I don't own a nightforce but I've looked through enough of them to say that is some outstanding glass. Your choice will be a good one either way. Both can really outdistance the .223 but someday you may want a longer range rifle. And you may want to switch that Nightforce onto that new rifle. Or, of course, buy another one.

    My personal preference is the 5.5-22. for the most part that is all the power you will ever be able to use when shooting prairie dogs or gophers (their little cousins). I've spent many a day laying out in Central and Eastern Montana shooting both. What I've come to find is it's rare you ever get to use the top power in your scope because mirage makes it unusable. Even with glass as good as a Nightforce. Mirage distorts the air...not the scope. The biggest thing with scopes is the quality of the glass, not the quantity of power. And, you've narrowed it down well.

    FWIW, I've bought some decent scopes over time with high magnification. It doesn't do hardly any good when mirage sets in bad. You just have to wait it out a bit. You need a lower power because even great scopes can't change how the air looks when it distorts from mirage.
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