scope options

furandfeather

Would you go for new vortex viper or a 2nd hand nightforce?
Spec is fairly similar on both and price is same

Cass

Normally i'd suggest new as its yours from the start and you know the scopes' history, but the Nightforce is a robust scope and in a few years the NF may be worth more than the Vortex when both are second hand.

I've never owned a Vortex but from all reports they're a good scope for quality and clarity but i do remember a review of the top ten scopes a few years back and NF ranked higher than the Vortex. Now this is proper testing of light transmission, not just subjective from a shooters view point, so clarity is a measured quantity not just opinion based.

You say they're similar in spec. Are they similar or the same. IOW is the NF a 8-32 or 12-42 with the Vortex 6-24 or are they the same mag? Some Nf, while good, are more at home on a target rifle. Also the NF is a heavy scope coming in at an average of 36 ounces or 2.2 lbs. Its not huge but a nice bit of weight on the rifle so if weight saving is an issue look to the Vortex.

If it were me and they're similarly priced i'd go NF.

furandfeather

Cass wrote: »

Normally i'd suggest new as its yours from the start and you know the scopes' history, but the Nightforce is a robust scope and in a few years the NF may be worth more than the Vortex when both are second hand.

I've never owned a Vortex but from all reports they're a good scope for quality and clarity but i do remember a review of the top ten scopes a few years back and NF ranked higher than the Vortex. Now this is proper testing of light transmission, not just subjective from a shooters view point, so clarity is a measured quantity not just opinion based.

You say they're similar in spec. Are they similar or the same. IOW is the NF a 8-32 or 12-42 with the Vortex 6-24 or are they the same mag? Some Nf, while good, are more at home on a target rifle. Also the NF is a heavy scope coming in at an average of 36 ounces or 2.2 lbs. Its not huge but a nice bit of weight on the rifle so if weight saving is an issue look to the Vortex.

If it were me and they're similarly priced i'd go NF.

Never even dreamt of weight really. 2.2lbs seems really heavy? Must check out what weight the vortex is.

Richard308

Is it for targets or hunting?

furandfeather

Richard308 wrote: »

Is it for targets or hunting?

Hunting only. Going on a 204 Looking at it i think the nightforce might be overkill

Cass

What mag is the Nf and Vortex?

furandfeather

Cass wrote: »

What mag is the Nf and Vortex?

Nf 8-32
Vortex 6-24

Feisar

What sort of ranges are you realistically going to be shooting at?

Cass

furandfeather wrote: »

Nf 8-32
Vortex 6-24

One way to look at that is the NF will do everything it'll do and the Vortex. The Vortex will do only what it can do.

There is no real overkill especially if both are priced the same. IOW you're not narrowing it down to features based on price.

bud2000

furandfeather wrote: »

Would you go for new vortex viper or a 2nd hand nightforce?
Spec is fairly similar on both and price is same

Have you looked at the element line of scopes getting good reviews

furandfeather

bud2000 wrote: »

Have you looked at the element line of scopes getting good reviews

I haven't really no. I had decided on the Vortex as my local rfd stocks them and a wanted to give him the business, then the nightforce came up and it kinda turned my head

Vegeta

Completely depends on features. For example, if the Vortex is a new PST 2 and the Nightforce is an older model, then the Viper will probably be nicer to live with.

Do the turrets match the reticle on both scopes, is the reticle annotated on both, do both have zero stop, are they in Mil or MOA, which has the nicest eye relief, how much do they weigh etc. etc.

The Nightforce are brilliant scopes but the older ones lack a lot of modern features. There is also no proper dealer here, so if the Nightforce breaks then it'll be tricky to get it repaired. Vortex has a crazy good warranty.

Richard308

Just a silly question, do you need turrets for hunting? I normally know my holdovers, I think a second hand nightforce would be similar to say a Schmidt and bender 3-12x50, far better glass and last light. Just saying, I know a lot of people love turrets etc, but is it necessary.

Feisar

Richard308 wrote: »

Just a silly question, do you need turrets for hunting? I normally know my holdovers, I think a second hand nightforce would be similar to say a Schmidt and bender 3-12x50, far better glass and last light. Just saying, I know a lot of people love turrets etc, but is it necessary.

I'd sort of agree with this, a .204 is going to be point and pull out to all reasonable ranges.

Vegeta

Richard308 wrote: »

Just a silly question, do you need turrets for hunting? I normally know my holdovers, I think a second hand nightforce would be similar to say a Schmidt and bender 3-12x50, far better glass and last light. Just saying, I know a lot of people love turrets etc, but is it necessary.

Good point, with a 204 there's a good chance they'll be doing some form of varmint type shooting, relatively small targets at middling distances (rabbit at 300-400 yards for example). I'd rather have it than not personally, a good reticle might get you by though.

Richard308

204 is more or less flat from 100m-325m. I’m fairness a rabbit is very achievable at that range provided no wind.