Nightforce ATACR and Swarovksi X5

[odocoileus]

Looking at scopes for a new rifle. Saw that Ryan thought the X5 he used was way brighter than his NXS. Has anyone gotten to spend a bunch of time behind the X5 and ATACR? Can you compare and contrast them for me?

 

[greyghostnw]

i wanted to know the same things. ordered a x5 5-25x56 rather than the atacr due to weight mainly. i did look through the atacr 5-25x56 next to a nxs 5.5-22x56 and felt for my eyes the atacr was better glass than the nxs, seemed to be a better image by say 10 -15% for my eyes. i spent a few days throughout various light conditions looking through the x5 next to my current nxs 3.5-15x50 and for my eyes it was hard to see much difference, say maybe 10% better and i really am probly stretching to see that. i tried to trick myself into thinking the x5 was night and day better for the $ difference but it just was not there for me. so ill be sending the x5 back. others like ryan would have a better answer be it he has owned and used for some time the x5 and appears to really like it. we all see different through optics so that is my take on the few mentioned above. if i were to buy an x5 i would look at the 3.5-18x50 as it has much more elevation to dial over the 5-25x56, 116moa versus 82moa, i couldnt get past that part either, only 82 moa of adjustment in the 5-25 so really only 40ish and with a 20moa base 60ish.... just something to think about. good luck.

 

[GKPrice]

Each and every one of us will see "things" differently through a scope no matter how much it costs or who makes it - Young eyes see things remarkably differently than "old" eyes as well, mine are 65 years old with an RK surgery on them and on different days, with differing light and developing and fading light sometimes I couldn't tell the difference if I had a gun held to my head - Also, there's more to a scope than just the glass, this has been argued, debated, discussed and asked to the point of exhaustion on most forums and over more than one retail counter - I'll take Leupold scopes for more than one reason (and scoff at anyone who claims to have had a "bad experience" with any Leupold (that was not caused or exacerbated by some wanna-be expert from SWH, or other retailerand not taken care of at "Leupold") I also think it ludicrous to put a 2 1/2 lb scope on a rifle you just paid "hundreds" if not "thousands" to keep weight off of - I've read comments like "lose an extra 2 lbs at the gym and you won't notice that heavier scope", Sorry Charlie, it don't work that way - Then there's KINETIC energy to consider, Melvin Forbes normally either installs or recommends Leupold scopes on his rifles, on a kicker add an additional 8 oz to the scope and calculate the added stresses on the mounting system not to mention the internal scope mechanisms under recoil - I am admittedly as guilty as the next person at having opinions and prejudices AND of not following my own advice but sometimes just plain simplicity will win the day even while "we" are still arguing our opinions - Last year my son and son-in-law both installed Z5's on their T3 lites without telling me, after our annual elk hunt, where I looked through both at elk (didn't shoot, just looked) I just kept my mouth shut ..... maybe some will wish I'd do the same here but this IS a "forum" and not a "club" right ?

 

[greyghostnw]

Each and every one of us will see "things" differently through a scope no matter how much it costs or who makes it - Young eyes see things remarkably differently than "old" eyes as well, mine are 65 years old with an RK surgery on them and on different days, with differing light and developing and fading light sometimes I couldn't tell the difference if I had a gun held to my head - Also, there's more to a scope than just the glass, this has been argued, debated, discussed and asked to the point of exhaustion on most forums and over more than one retail counter - I'll take Leupold scopes for more than one reason (and scoff at anyone who claims to have had a "bad experience" with any Leupold (that was not caused or exacerbated by some wanna-be expert from SWH, or other retailerand not taken care of at "Leupold") I also think it ludicrous to put a 2 1/2 lb scope on a rifle you just paid "hundreds" if not "thousands" to keep weight off of - I've read comments like "lose an extra 2 lbs at the gym and you won't notice that heavier scope", Sorry Charlie, it don't work that way - Then there's KINETIC energy to consider, Melvin Forbes normally either installs or recommends Leupold scopes on his rifles, on a kicker add an additional 8 oz to the scope and calculate the added stresses on the mounting system not to mention the internal scope mechanisms under recoil - I am admittedly as guilty as the next person at having opinions and prejudices AND of not following my own advice but sometimes just plain simplicity will win the day even while "we" are still arguing our opinions - Last year my son and son-in-law both installed Z5's on their T3 lites without telling me, after our annual elk hunt, where I looked through both at elk (didn't shoot, just looked) I just kept my mouth shut ..... maybe some will wish I'd do the same here but this IS a "forum" and not a "club" right ?

^this is substantially off topic from the op's question. i think there are other posts to debate scope weights etc.....