New Member Long Range Help

[Adicted]

Name is Travis. Been hunting in AZ all my life and I'm trying to step my game up for even longer range shooting. My kids and I have killed about 15 deer 500-900yds down here in AZ. We do put the time in, practicing, reloading, and research. I have always been on a budget so I'm trying to build 1 more rifle to get better at 800-1500. I decided on the 7prc. I bought a proof research elevation MTR 24" Barrel in 7prc. I am in process of buying a used Thunderbeast Dominus off another member here so lets see how that goes. My next purchase is the question. I'm looking at the NF Nx8 4-32x50. I also really like the Sightron 8-32x56 S3 LRP. I do everything in SFP. Will those 2 scopes be enough for what I need today. Also is the clarity after 25 power there?

Here are 2 coues my son and I doubled on last year and also the new rifle I'm building

 

[glock233]

Nightforce anything over Sighttron anything. Whatever you get it needs to hold zero in realistic hunting conditions.

I’d look at nx6 and nx8

 

[Adicted]

So Sightron is not even close???

 

[WoolyBugger]

Why no ffp?

 

[43.6N]

Of the scopes you mentioned, I only have experience with the NX8 4-32. But mines a ffp.

I personally would struggle to use 32x on live animals with any sort of wind hold. I just shot an NRL course with that scope, and it lived in the 12x range for the whole competition. No complaints as far as accuracy or durability. Ranges shot accurately on the clock between 200-1000 from lots of different positions. Lots of variable wind.

Would you have any aversion to trying the ffp version? What do you feel like you get out of these scopes in the sfp that makes it worthwhile to you?

Also, welcome to Rokslide Travis

 

[Adicted]

I guess i just have no real experience with it. When I got into shooting longer distances for hunting the few guys I trusted all told me SFP. That way you can see the crosshairs no matter what. I don't have the best eyes and am color blind, so its just what I stuck with. I will try and see if some of my other buddies have FFP and look thru them outdoors

 

[43.6N]

I guess i just have no real experience with it. When I got into shooting longer distances for hunting the few guys I trusted all told me SFP. That way you can see the crosshairs no matter what. I don't have the best eyes and am color blind, so its just what I stuck with. I will try and see if some of my other buddies have FFP and look thru them outdoors

I gotcha.

My train of thought is this:
- I’m paying for “hit probability.” My tools should increase hit probability for the application.
- between 500-1200yds my misses come from 1 Positional stability. 2 Wind calls. 3 restrictive fov limiting my ability to asses the first miss and make appropriate corrections. 4 unexpected durability failures (but have had 0 since using NF)
- SFP has benefits you cited. They are valid. But also comes with drawbacks. Biggest is that the reticle is accurate only at a fixed magnification. Generally only on max power. This means that you need to be on max magnification to make an accurate wind hold. So fov is maximally restricted when wanting/able to use reticle for wind holds. This hurts my ability to spot the impact and make correction if needed.
- ffp reticle is accurate at all mag ranges. Trade off has traditionally been less visible lines at lower mag. But you get to taylor field of view appropriately to different target distances, and make accurate wind holds at any magnification.

The reticle in the NF Nx8 4-32 is thin. But it’s useable above 8-10x for wind holds. For the distances you are planning to use this gun, I think it would be plenty of scope.

 

[43.6N]

I also looked through the new NX6 models recently.
I think the 5-30x56 F1 Mil C reticle would be absolutely perfect for what you are wanting to build.

The 4-32x50 NX8 would then be a good 2nd option.

I would have a hard time trusting the sightmark to hold up given how the brand has fared with drop testing. EDIT: I reread your original post, and saw sightron not sight mark. I don’t have any experience with that brand.