Leupold Mark 5 vs. Nightforce NXS vs. Maven RS.3 vs Steiner T5Xi

[SawtoothShooter]

Let the battle begin... I need a scope and have narrowed it down to these four options. At this point assume that the price of all three is within $250 of each other. I have two NXS's and love them, but have zero experience with the new kids on the block (Mark 5 and RS.3) and have only ever seen one Steiner in the field. So let's hear it, what should I spend my money on? Has Leupold fixed their tracking issues for the Mark 5, is the Maven truly the big dog killer that only gets beaten by the flagships (ATACR, Mark 8, S&B, etc.), what the word on the Steiner?

The rifle is a custom 700 clone chambered in 300 Win Mag +P

This is comparing the:
Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x56mm -- PR-1MOA or Impact-60
Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm -- MOA
Maven RS.3 5-30x50mm -- MOA-2
Steiner T5Xi 5-25x56mm -- SCR MOA

 

[Ryan Avery]

Let the battle begin... I need a scope and have narrowed it down to these four options. At this point assume that the price of all three is within $250 of each other. I have two NXS's and love them, but have zero experience with the new kids on the block (Mark 5 and RS.3) and have only ever seen one Steiner in the field. So let's hear it, what should I spend my money on? Has Leupold fixed their tracking issues for the Mark 5, is the Maven truly the big dog killer that only gets beaten by the flagships (ATACR, Mark 8, S&B, etc.), what the word on the Steiner?

The rifle is a custom 700 clone chambered in 300 Win Mag +P

This is comparing the:
Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x56mm -- PR-1MOA or Impact-60
Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm -- MOA
Maven RS.3 5-30x50mm -- MOA-2
Steiner T5Xi 5-25x56mm -- SCR MOA

If your talking about a LR hunting rifle the RS.3 definitely has a seat at the table. I tried hard to get that scope to come off zero and not dial. It’s legit, I just really hate the 15 minute turret. The NX8 is a another excellent LR hunting scope. But the parallax is funky! But I choose it more often than the others.

Every time I use the MK5 it just feels cheesy to me, don’t know why. Oh, and the 35mm tube...WTH Leupold. I know personal issue

The others you mentioned are just over kill for my needs.




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[SawtoothShooter]

So as far as the NX8 goes, why is the 2.5-20 tango uniform?

Thanks Ryan, and yes this is long range hunting. Mostly the panhandle and down in central ID. I'll take a look at the NX8, and I'm thinking hard on the RS.3. That is a bummer they cut it 5 min short, and is it just me or is that turret suffering from white man syndrome (smaller than a guy would want)?

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[Browninglover1]

If weight is and issue, then the rest will work. IMO, list goes as follows.

Mark 5HD
NX8 4-32. The 2.5-20 NX8 is a HUGE no go. Do not consider it.
Steiner T5Xi
NXS

Which Mark 5 are you running? I've peeked through the 18x and the 25x models and I think I honestly preferred the 18x, it was a sweet little scope.

 

[Pronghunter]

Which Mark 5 are you running? I've peeked through the 18x and the 25x models and I think I honestly preferred the 18x, it was a sweet little scope.

All 3 are the 5-25. I had the 3-18 but the glass for me was better in the 5-25.

 

[Pronghunter]

Here is a size comparison between the Mark 5HD 5-25x56 and the NX8 4-32x50.

 

[LesPayne]

I assume the VX 6 wasn't in the race because it is not FFP ?

 

[wind gypsy]

 

[wind gypsy]

I assume the VX 6 wasn't in the race because it is not FFP ?

Not in the same class. VX6 is a light weight hunting scope with elevation turret to make consumers think it was designed for frequent use. In practice they don't hold up to it. I.E. there is much more difference than FFP between these and the VX6.

 

[SawtoothShooter]

Update. I went with the NX8 for that rifle, then bought a Mk5 3.6-18 for an AR10 build. That rifle now wears a NXS... The Leupold started experiencing 1/2-1 1/4 minute POI changes, sent it back. Get the scope back and 2 months later had the same issue... This was in a Spuhr mount, which is certainly more trustworthy than Leupold. Sent the scope back, got my money back, and now I'm a Nightforce til I die guy. Still haven't played with the Steiner, but some guys I detailed with got the 1-5 at work, and have mixed reports

 

[wind gypsy]

Update. I went with the NX8 for that rifle, then bought a Mk5 3.6-18 for an AR10 build. That rifle now wears a NXS... The Leupold started experiencing 1/2-1 1/4 minute POI changes, sent it back. Get the scope back and 2 months later had the same issue... This was in a Spuhr mount, which is certainly more trustworthy than Leupold. Sent the scope back, got my money back, and now I'm a Nightforce til I die guy. Still haven't played with the Steiner, but some guys I detailed with got the 1-5 at work, and have mixed reports

Thanks for the update, i didn't look close and thought i was bumping the other similar thread when I posted to this one.

 

[madcalfe]

shoulda went with a kahles.
ive compared my kahles besides a ATACR and kahles glass blows the ATACR outta the water.

 

[Joden]

Well I’m not gonna go into depth with comparing weight, turret feel, glass and everything that goes along with that (distortion, how well they resolve, chromatic aberration, brightness) fit and finish, parallax adjustment and how low each will go, and so on.
Ill say this.
I have the following and can provide pics if need be.
4-32 NX8
NXS 5.5-22
ATACR 5-25
Mark 5HD
T5Xi
I do not have the Maven but it’s a hard pass. I love Maven products but it’s not in the same class. I wouldn’t call it a “big dog killer.” Not sure where you came up with that and not trying to sound rude.
If weight is not an issue, the ATACR is top dog on my list...but it’s not on your list. I was just adding to show what I have to compare the others too.
If weight is and issue, then the rest will work. IMO, list goes as follows.

Mark 5HD
NX8 4-32. The 2.5-20 NX8 is a HUGE no go. Do not consider it.
Steiner T5Xi
NXS

For me, all in all with weight, glass, function...the Mark 5HD is the ticket. I have 3.
The NX8 is second. Great optic but has characteristics I just don’t care for. Turrets feel like NXS. Kinda soft. Parallax is stupid sensitive. A lot of NF’s are though. Kinda tunnels a little. Tiny bit of distortion. But still excellent all in all.
Steiner is definitely a step above the NXS in every way without elaborating. The Steiner is a pretty kick ass optic, and honestly is prob a nicer optic all in all than the rest. Just a tad heavier. As far as tracking, I’ve yet to hear of a single person having any issue with Mark 5HD tracking. And I’ve personally ran all mine through the ringer and tested tracking. No issues whatsoever. It’s an excellent optic.
So that’s my .02. Could have really went into a lot of details with each but there my list.

Why is the Nightforce NX8 2.5x2 a hard pass. Looking at getting this one. A bit heavier at 28 ounces. Looking at the Maven RS. 1 vs the NX8 2.5x20...Thoughts?

 

[SawtoothShooter]

shoulda went with a kahles.
ive compared my kahles besides a ATACR and kahles glass blows the ATACR outta the water.

Yeah… but Kahles has a rough track record here on rokslide, on LRO, and in the real world. Hell work sends them back pretty regularly, our OCONUS team just threw NXSs back on because they got fed ip with Kahles and Leupold going tits up. Reliability always trumps clarity, and my ATACRs have never been “not clear enough” to get the job done perfect.