Will Nightforce Ever Offer A Hunter-Friendly Reticle Again?

[HGL]

I've got an NX8 4-32 with the SFP MIL-CF2D reticle and I like it for my hunting style. Many times I'm in thick woods with limited (300 yds or less) shot opportunities. The SFP is great for that and only the center dot illuminates which works well for the low light situations and I'm not at distances where windage is much of a problem.

If I'm hunting where I have the opportunity for longer shots, the reticle subtends at 16 power and 32 power (2 scales, top and bottom). In these situations I just leave the scope on 16 power which is plenty of zoom for extended shots and I can make wind holds with the top "larger" scale.

So it's kind of having the best of both worlds (reticle wise) without too much compromise and very well designed for its particular style of use, imo.

 

[SDHNTR]

In the niche scope world- and FFP 2.5-15x huntings files are niche; mils dominate. Hence, Maven- like most others, sell many more FFP mild scopes than they do FFP MOA scopes.

I suppose you’re right in that FFP together with MOA is probably less common. Nevertheless, why would Maven deliberately design one reticle choice to suck? Why even offer it to begin with if not willing to take the care to make it effective and usable?

 

[SDHNTR]

I've got an NX8 4-32 with the SFP MIL-CF2D reticle and I like it for my hunting style. Many times I'm in thick woods with limited (300 yds or less) shot opportunities. The SFP is great for that and only the center dot illuminates which works well for the low light situations and I'm not at distances where windage is much of a problem.

If I'm hunting where I have the opportunity for longer shots, the reticle subtends at 16 power and 32 power (2 scales, top and bottom). In these situations I just leave the scope on 16 power which is plenty of zoom for extended shots and I can make wind holds with the top "larger" scale.

So it's kind of having the best of both worlds (reticle wise) without too much compromise and very well designed for its particular style of use, imo.

View attachment 941717

I own this scope too in FFP, and I don’t disagree with your logic, except to say that the second 16x from 16-32 is needless. (16x is still a bit too much in SFP, imo, but not by a lot)

It simply would’ve been a better scope, more cost effective, easier to get behind, lighter weight, etc if it were just a NX4, 4-16x! Would be a lot easier to make the FFP reticle useable at 4x too. 8x+ erectors are gimmicks, imo.

Evidence, once again, NF either doesn’t understand, or doesn’t care about us hunters.

 

[HGL]

I own this scope too in FFP, and I don’t disagree with your logic, except to say that the second 16x from 16-32 is needless. (16x is still a bit too much in SFP, imo, but not by a lot)

It simply would’ve been a better scope, more cost effective, easier to get behind, lighter weight, etc if it were just a NX4, 4-16x! Would be a lot easier to make the FFP reticle useable at 4x too. 8x+ erectors are gimmicks, imo.

Agreed, that would be a great scope, I'm definitely down with an FFP NX4 or NX6!

 

[SDHNTR]

Agreed, that would be a great scope, I'm definitely down with an FFP NX4 or NX6!

FWIW, the SHV 4-14x50, isn’t bad. Until NF decides it wants more of my money, it’s an acceptable compromise. The reticle is mostly usable at 4X. In dark cover, turn the illumination on, and it’s quite functional. Yes, it lacks a proper zero stop and it’s not quite NX8 level glass clarity, but it works and it’s also $1000 cheaper.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I own this scope too in FFP, and I don’t disagree with your logic, except to say that the second 16x from 16-32 is needless. (16x is still a bit too much in SFP, imo, but not by a lot)

It simply would’ve been a better scope, more cost effective, easier to get behind, lighter weight, etc if it were just a NX4, 4-16x! Would be a lot easier to make the FFP reticle useable at 4x too. 8x+ erectors are gimmicks, imo.

Evidence, once again, NF either doesn’t understand, or doesn’t care about us hunters.

I don’t think it should come as any surprise that hunters are not their target market.

 

[Formidilosus]

I suppose you’re right in that FFP together with MOA is probably less common. Nevertheless, why would Maven deliberately design one reticle choice to suck? Why even offer it to begin with if not willing to take the care to make it effective and usable?

Because the people that make decisions do not understand the subject.

 

[SDHNTR]

Because the people that make decisions do not understand the subject.

Then they should be fired and/or their product should not be purchased.

 

[Formidilosus]

Then they should be fired and/or their product should not be purchased.

Unfortunately that would eliminate almost all manufactures. The people that control these companies and control decisions almost never are hunters and shooters. It’s just a business to them. That is why so many products have massive, objective and obvious flaws.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

I'm a fan of the 2.5-10 NXS. I don't care for the current reticle offerings.

I'd love to see it in FFP with a MIL-QUAD like reticle. Maybe one day.

In SFP, a reticle with their Forceplex outer bar weight/subtension, with an inner plex spacing of 2.5 mil per side, 5 mil from outer to outer on 10x. Hash/dot every .5 mil. At 10x you have 2.5 mil of windage to hold. At 5x it will be a mildot with 1 mil spacing. Only illuminate a center dot or at most the inner .5 mil plex.

Mil adjustments are a given.

It gives 2 measurable power settings for a SFP scope at 5x and 10x. It will be bold enough to use in cover/low light. Minimal illuminated area is much better in low light. It's not a complicated reticle to make.

Call it the MilForce and put it in production.

 

[gunner617]

I like leupold's pr3 reticle for hunting open and not cluttered. Used one for prs also. I'm liking NF 2.5x20 mil c.

 

[MTForester]

Not quite what you are asking for Brad, but I really like the FC-DMx reticle in the 1-8 nx8. It’s a great hunting reticle.

 

[Macintosh]

Not quite what you are asking for Brad, but I really like the FC-DMx reticle in the 1-8 nx8. It’s a great hunting reticle.

I havent used that reticle. But curious in your take. Says its designed specifically for their 1-8 scope. Not much of a stretch to a 2-10.

BUT its got 10 mils of wind in the main crosshair, 10 mils of elevation in the reticle, and 5 mils of wind holds in the tree. Who uses their reticle at 1000+ yards to need 10 mils of elevation and wind? It may be uncluttered at low magnification, but on first look it appears cluttered with no apparent benefit at high magnification, and the big illuminated circle would seem to wash out your view in any dark conditions where illumination for the fine center dot is desired. I frequently use magnification to be able to pick a hole thru twigs and brush, so an uncluttered view around the crosshair is important for my use. To me it looks just like another NF reticle that is sub-par for hunting, even if its useable….but as I mentioned Ive never looked thru it. What has your experience been with regard to those concerns?

 

[Stinky Coyote]

I havent used that reticle. But curious in your take. Says its designed specifically for their 1-8 scope. Not much of a stretch to a 2-10.

BUT its got 10 mils of wind in the main crosshair, 10 mils of elevation in the reticle, and 5 mils of wind holds in the tree. Who uses their reticle at 1000+ yards to need 10 mils of elevation and wind? It may be uncluttered at low magnification, but on first look it appears cluttered with no apparent benefit at high magnification, and the big illuminated circle would seem to wash out your view in any dark conditions where illumination for the fine center dot is desired. I frequently use magnification to be able to pick a hole thru twigs and brush, so an uncluttered view around the crosshair is important for my use. To me it looks just like another NF reticle that is sub-par for hunting, even if its useable….but as I mentioned Ive never looked thru it. What has your experience been with regard to those concerns?

I’ve been in camp all week with mine and playing with it well past legal light, last night was clearer sky and bit of moon, 55 min past sunset on 4x or 6x no issue with illumination on lowest setting, lots of view around the illum dot inside the illum segmented 4 mil donut. No halo or flare, no astigmatism and that low setting is ideal for the first and last 30 min. Crisp. Also if you don’t get head right behind scope you won’t see it so it’s like an alignment device to get your eye square before the dim red appears. Even on brightest setting it’s crisp without flare etc but lights up inside the tube and obviously not usable as it’s ridiculous bright on high but great reticle. I get astig from red dots and even fiber dots on trijicon and green being less for me but this red reticle is dynamite. Could prolly make all legal light shots in Mpbr type ranges without illum on at 4-6x. But it’s so nice on that low setting I will likely use it for that. Otherwise in day I don’t bother.

You do lose the tree at last light but didn’t gauge where that happens. As you say who’s trying to go long when you can’t see but blobs with naked eye anyway and need magnification to I.D. the blobs. I’m sure with lighter backdrops and snow etc tree will work fine till the end. Not what I have here so pretty typical fall and foothills forestry terrain.

And even in daylight at 4x where I like it you only see the tree if you focus on it, doesn’t get in way or clutter to me for when actually focused on a target. The design seems to make intuitive to center quickly on whatever.

10 mil fine for me, and likely guessing for most who like to shoot further than me would run out, as even slow stuff with Mpbr zeros and say a applied ballistics lite spitting solutions to 875 yards for range or coyote scaring fun puts you into the 7-8 mil range. I personally with my goals be fine with 5 mil and my slow fat setup and maybe 500 on a tag in right conditions and have only needed about 4.1 or 4.2 to get to 626 from a 205 zero so far but the bull of crowd will want 10 mil, don’t see how it hurts this scope at all imo. Only thing I’d change for hunting is .1 mil per click instead of .2 buts it’s not hard to work with, your zero just might not land exactly on a yardage you want. Agree this scope with .1/click in say a 2-12 where reticle becomes easily usable at 6-8 and a 42mm bell would be a good hunter for lots more than me as it is the 1-8 is ideal for what I do now and my dgaf about much past 500.

Nice to have options for going longer but almost everything it will do for me is Mpbr type stuff, hunting only, and I really like that illum low setting when it’s outside of sun times. I’m sure for right stuff I’ll like the red dot ability on low mag or trailing something. Hope that helps. Just a meat hunter mostly now. Got it mostly for ability hold zero and it’s size/weight suit Sako 90 peak in 308 the ability to go long with good reticle just a bonus, as is the illum option imo. Pretty versatile but point n shoot quick what it will do most.