DIY Zero Stop for Nightforce SHV 3-10x42 and 4-14X56

cliffy109

FNG
Joined
Oct 20, 2022
Messages
33
This is my first post here but based on what I've seen of this forum, I think it should be useful to this crowd. I just bought the Nightforce SHV 3-10X40 and one of the reasons I bought it is because I'm one of the poors who couldn't quite make the scratch for the NXS 2.5-10X42. Not a huge deal as most of the features of the scope are right in line with what I really need anyway. I did however, really want some sort of zero stop. After receiving the scope, I saw that this would not be hard to accomplish.

The turret on the SHV has an outer cap to cover the turret and an inner cap that raises up and down as you dial the elevation. If one could limit the downward travel of the inner cap, you'd have an effective zero stop.

I headed down to Lowe's to see if I could find something that could fill that gap. It turns out that 3/4" electrical conduit is a perfect fit. I needed less than 1/4" of it but they only sell it in 10' lengths. I had a conduit cutter, a belt sander and a Dremel tool. That's all that is needed.

Cut the conduit as short as the cutter allows. Then, start sanding down to the rough size you actually need. Once you get close, things get tedious. You'll need the Dremel to smooth out the inside edges and you'll do it often. Fit it on and attach the inner cap. See if you can turn it down. You might be resting on the new stop so run the elevation up and recheck the tightness of the attachment screw and run it back down. I'd suggest leaving yourself a few extra clicks past absolute zero so you have some flexibility if you change loads.

Next, use the Dremel to dish out a viewing port at the center. Without this, you can't see if you've set your cap correctly.

The end result doesn't permanently alter your scope. It does prevent the turret from over-running your 100 yard zero when dialing back down. I might still need to refine this a bit as I'm not totally happy with the view of the revolution counter and the sleeve I made does rotate around the turret so I might need to think about how to prevent that without any permanent alterations.

Hope this helps.
 

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cliffy109

FNG
Joined
Oct 20, 2022
Messages
33
Does the viewing window rotate around when the turret isn't tight against it at zero?
It rotates and that's one thing I need to figure out how to stop. I can guide it into position each time but that's one of the things to figure out.

I was thinking that I could cut several more viewing windows so there would be a higher chance one of them would just line up. As long as there is still enough surface area on the top to keep it from crushing down, that might work. I'm open to suggestions on this.
 
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cliffy109

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Joined
Oct 20, 2022
Messages
33
Wait.. I just re-read your question. Apparently, there is no edit feature on this forum... Oh well. No. it does not rotate when it is solid against it. Just when not fully down.
 

woods89

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Joined
Sep 3, 2014
Messages
1,835
Location
Southern MO Ozarks
This is my first post here but based on what I've seen of this forum, I think it should be useful to this crowd. I just bought the Nightforce SHV 3-10X40 and one of the reasons I bought it is because I'm one of the poors who couldn't quite make the scratch for the NXS 2.5-10X42. Not a huge deal as most of the features of the scope are right in line with what I really need anyway. I did however, really want some sort of zero stop. After receiving the scope, I saw that this would not be hard to accomplish.

The turret on the SHV has an outer cap to cover the turret and an inner cap that raises up and down as you dial the elevation. If one could limit the downward travel of the inner cap, you'd have an effective zero stop.

I headed down to Lowe's to see if I could find something that could fill that gap. It turns out that 3/4" electrical conduit is a perfect fit. I needed less than 1/4" of it but they only sell it in 10' lengths. I had a conduit cutter, a belt sander and a Dremel tool. That's all that is needed.

Cut the conduit as short as the cutter allows. Then, start sanding down to the rough size you actually need. Once you get close, things get tedious. You'll need the Dremel to smooth out the inside edges and you'll do it often. Fit it on and attach the inner cap. See if you can turn it down. You might be resting on the new stop so run the elevation up and recheck the tightness of the attachment screw and run it back down. I'd suggest leaving yourself a few extra clicks past absolute zero so you have some flexibility if you change loads.

Next, use the Dremel to dish out a viewing port at the center. Without this, you can't see if you've set your cap correctly.

The end result doesn't permanently alter your scope. It does prevent the turret from over-running your 100 yard zero when dialing back down. I might still need to refine this a bit as I'm not totally happy with the view of the revolution counter and the sleeve I made does rotate around the turret so I might need to think about how to prevent that without any permanent alterations.

Hope this helps.
I love the ingenuity! I may have to do this to mine.
 

BLJ

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Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Messages
2,439
Location
WV
Could you make multiple viewing windows all the way around and just leave some tall points to stop the turret from coming down past zero? Kinda like a kings crown?

0. 1. 2. 3.
/\__/\__/\__/\__/\

Then there would be a better chance a seeing your hash mark that indicates your turret position. Without having to worry about 1 viewing window. Maybe??
 
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cliffy109

FNG
Joined
Oct 20, 2022
Messages
33
Could you make multiple viewing windows all the way around and just leave some tall points to stop the turret from coming down past zero? Kinda like a kings crown?

0. 1. 2. 3.
/\__/\__/\__/\__/\

Then there would be a better chance a seeing your hash mark that indicates your turret position. Without having to worry about 1 viewing window. Maybe??
I was thinking about this exact thing. I'm sure this would work and I'll give it a try.
 

BLJ

WKR
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Messages
2,439
Location
WV
You could drill holes in the conduit and cut through the holes at half the diameter. Maybe easier and more uniform than the Dremel. Just a suggestion.
 

JCMCUBIC

WKR
Joined
Nov 22, 2020
Messages
470
Below is a 3d printed version I use. A friend printed them for me. Same idea, sand to fit, then notch a zero window.

164199.jpg
 
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cliffy109

FNG
Joined
Oct 20, 2022
Messages
33
Below is a 3d printed version I use. A friend printed them for me. Same idea, sand to fit, then notch a zero window.

164199.jpg
That’s awesome! I knew I couldn’t be the first to figure this out but I couldn’t find any references to it anywhere. I was just lucky to discover that the conduit fit so nicely.
 

fwafwow

WKR
Joined
Apr 8, 2018
Messages
5,569
I’m working on an DIY ZS for my new SWFA 3-15 (progress is in another thread). Do you think the same could be done starting with a nylon or other non-metal washer - if the right diameter is found?

Based on another DIY fix for some Swaro binos, you might be able to first put on a rubber o ring (if you can find the right diameter) that could provide enough grip so that the ZS doesn’t spin.
 
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cliffy109

FNG
Joined
Oct 20, 2022
Messages
33
I’m working on an DIY ZS for my new SWFA 3-15 (progress is in another thread). Do you think the same could be done starting with a nylon or other non-metal washer - if the right diameter is found?

Based on another DIY fix for some Swaro binos, you might be able to first put on a rubber o ring (if you can find the right diameter) that could provide enough grip so that the ZS doesn’t spin.
Non-metallic would be fine, as long as the inside and outside diameter is the same. I was just lucky that the conduit happened to be the perfect size for this project.
 

sram9102

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Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
1,036
Location
IN
I'm suprised the zero set feature from the 4-14 shv f1 isn't more prevalent. That system works great.
 
Joined
Dec 29, 2015
Messages
375
Cool work around to fix something that should come with the scope.
I fail to understand why any company offers a scope without a stop for anything over $500.
 
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Messages
5,395
Location
oregon coast
This is my first post here but based on what I've seen of this forum, I think it should be useful to this crowd. I just bought the Nightforce SHV 3-10X40 and one of the reasons I bought it is because I'm one of the poors who couldn't quite make the scratch for the NXS 2.5-10X42. Not a huge deal as most of the features of the scope are right in line with what I really need anyway. I did however, really want some sort of zero stop. After receiving the scope, I saw that this would not be hard to accomplish.

The turret on the SHV has an outer cap to cover the turret and an inner cap that raises up and down as you dial the elevation. If one could limit the downward travel of the inner cap, you'd have an effective zero stop.

I headed down to Lowe's to see if I could find something that could fill that gap. It turns out that 3/4" electrical conduit is a perfect fit. I needed less than 1/4" of it but they only sell it in 10' lengths. I had a conduit cutter, a belt sander and a Dremel tool. That's all that is needed.

Cut the conduit as short as the cutter allows. Then, start sanding down to the rough size you actually need. Once you get close, things get tedious. You'll need the Dremel to smooth out the inside edges and you'll do it often. Fit it on and attach the inner cap. See if you can turn it down. You might be resting on the new stop so run the elevation up and recheck the tightness of the attachment screw and run it back down. I'd suggest leaving yourself a few extra clicks past absolute zero so you have some flexibility if you change loads.

Next, use the Dremel to dish out a viewing port at the center. Without this, you can't see if you've set your cap correctly.

The end result doesn't permanently alter your scope. It does prevent the turret from over-running your 100 yard zero when dialing back down. I might still need to refine this a bit as I'm not totally happy with the view of the revolution counter and the sleeve I made does rotate around the turret so I might need to think about how to prevent that without any permanent alterations.

Hope this helps.
Good stuff, I appreciate the ingenuity. If my next scope isn’t another little NXS, it will likely be the same scope you have, and I even prefer the illumination on the shv over my nxs, I wish just the center was illuminated like the shv… obviously a petty complaint, but the shv has a lot going for it for my needs.

Thanks for taking the time!
 

SDHNTR

WKR
Joined
Aug 30, 2012
Messages
7,124
Good stuff, I appreciate the ingenuity. If my next scope isn’t another little NXS, it will likely be the same scope you have, and I even prefer the illumination on the shv over my nxs, I wish just the center was illuminated like the shv… obviously a petty complaint, but the shv has a lot going for it for my needs.

Thanks for taking the time!
Not a petty complaint. The illum on the NXS sux ballz!
 
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Messages
5,395
Location
oregon coast
Well I will remove my foot from my mouth, good sir. A capped Turret makes more sense with no stop.
In the title it states the 2-10 and 4-14, and I only noticed the 2-10, and I agree on the 4-14, I didn’t even know that was in the conversation, but it makes your reply I quoted make more sense 👍
 
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