Nightforce NXS goes out of focus

[IDHUNTER]

I have a brand new NXS 5.5-22x56 that goes out of focus as the power increases. When I have it on 5.5x everything is perfectly clear. As I increase power and look at objects around 150 yards it becomes more fuzzy but the closer objects (30 yards) stay in focus.

I set the diopter according to the owners manual...high power, infinity paralax, only looking 2-3 seconds at a time.

Scope is mounted on a pic rail with seekins rings. I also tested it off of the gun in case the mounting system was somehow torqueing it. Same results.

I contacted NF and after basic troubleshooting they said to send it back and they will take care of it which I'm going to do.

I just wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts on what could be happening and if there's a solution before I send it in and have to wait 8 weeks to get it back.

 

[MidGAHunter]

Borrowed from a different website:

"1) Set to Max Power
2) Parallax set to Infinity (this is very important)
3) Point it at a solid, light background like a white wall or blue sky. You don't want anything except a solid, light color to look at.
4) Start from the diopter all the way into the occular and rotate out.

Don't stare into the optic, open and close your eye as you adjust such that you have no more than about 1 second open, 4-5s closed.

In short order you can get the diopter very closely adjusted such that it will be crisp at all but the finest areas of the reticle.

Once you're there, small adjustments are made and you should focus your attention to the smallest details such as 1/10th mil hash marks, square corners in the reticle, etc.

Flick your eye open, then closed. Look at the reticle picture and see if it's crisp. Repeat as necessary until you have the diopter adjusted properly.

Lock down the ring on your diopter or wrap it with electrical tape and lock it down. Perhaps a sharpie with a witness mark between the occular and diopter ring. Something to reference it for the inevitability that it will get bumped."

 

[IDHUNTER]

I have a brand new NXS 5.5-22x56 that goes out of focus as the power increases. When I have it on 5.5x everything is perfectly clear. As I increase power and look at objects around 150 yards it becomes more fuzzy but the closer objects (30 yards) stay in focus.

I set the diopter according to the owners manual...high power, infinity paralax, only looking 2-3 seconds at a time.

Scope is mounted on a pic rail with seekins rings. I also tested it off of the gun in case the mounting system was somehow torqueing it. Same results.

I contacted NF and after basic troubleshooting they said to send it back and they will take care of it which I'm going to do.

I just wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts on what could be happening and if there's a solution before I send it in and have to wait 8 weeks to get it back.

I got it squared away. It just took more adjustment from the paralax knob after getting the diopter set. Everything is clear at all ranges now with the correct paralax setting.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

Yep, the NXS model I use the most is very parallax dependent on focus. As power changes, the parallax needs to change even if the distance is the same. One of the reasons there isn't a yardage marked on the parallax adjustment. Pro and con to it. Results in extremely good resolution at the target...but has a very shallow depth of focus. Just my experience, I'm not an optical expert.

 

[IDHUNTER]

Yep, the NXS model I use the most is very parallax dependent on focus. As power changes, the parallax needs to change even if the distance is the same. One of the reasons there isn't a yardage marked on the parallax adjustment. Pro and con to it. Results in extremely good resolution at the target...but has a very shallow depth of focus. Just my experience, I'm not an optical expert.

Good to know, thank you. As you can probably tell this is my first experience with high end optics. Looking forward to getting it out and playing with it.

 

[SDHNTR]

Yep, the NXS model I use the most is very parallax dependent on focus. As power changes, the parallax needs to change even if the distance is the same. One of the reasons there isn't a yardage marked on the parallax adjustment. Pro and con to it. Results in extremely good resolution at the target...but has a very shallow depth of focus. Just my experience, I'm not an optical expert.

I agree with this assessment. Takes some getting used to, but once there, you know there’s no parallax error.

 

[Oregonmuley]

I agree with this assessment. Takes some getting used to, but once there, you know there’s no parallax error.

I've noticed the same with the 3 NXS Compacts I use on my primary hunting rifles. Once I got the hang of adjusting them its been fine and focus has been spot on.