Just thought I would share what I thought to be an interesting observation with everyone which I experienced last night.

After being a die hard fan of S&B scopes for some years now I decided to venture outside of my comfort zone and buy a Nightforce NXS scope.

The model I went for was a 3.5 - 15 x 50 with R2 ret. Thinking that the optics would not have the light gathering capability of the S&B I deceided to carry out a like for like comparison testing them both in low light conditions.

The S&B was a 3-12 x 50 Klassik model. After looking through both at low to last light at the same object 400 yards away I honestly could not ascertain one better than the other. I had both scopes set at 12 power so I could get a close to apples to apples comparison as possible.

There were certain advantages to either scope i.e. the S&B had a slightly better field of view and the NXS ret got lost in low light however this was mitigated by the fact it has an illuminated ret and once lit it was better than the S&B ret in my opinion.

I was surprised as I did not think the NXS would rate particularly well in low light but it did impress me. I am now thinking of equiping my Sako 85 in 300WSM with one when it comes and use it for normal stalking aswell as long ranging.

Just an observation which I thought I would share and would be interested in recieving any comments from anyone who has experienced this or who has a differing opinion etc.

Many thanks

That is pretty good considering S&Bs reputation for low light hunting!

John

I have been useing the NSX series for several years and absolutely love them... and they are very rugged scopes as the one in the photo below will attest,as it has an AK-47 bullet hole completely through the tube and continued to function perfectly as the soldier taped up the holes and used the scope for 3 more days.I acctualy looked through this scope at the 06 shot show in Veqas

BBBH that is what I thought.

JWP very interesting indeed. Again I know the S&B's are very robust as i have dropped one onto a concrete floor from 6 foot and id didn't even shift zero and it looks like the NXS is robust too. Thanks for posting the pic.

I have 3 Nightforce NSX's and a 3-12x50 Zenith Flashdot reticle. I think that the S&B Zenith is a step above the NSX's optically, a little sharper, a little brighter.

I also find the Zenith's illuminated reticle far superior to the Nightforces since the S&B reticle can be adjusted for brightness with a large knob in the field, with the Nightforce you have to take off the cap and adjust a tiny Potentiometer with a tiny screwdriver - impossible to do in the dark. I actually had my NF out during an evening to see how it would work in the field. It was so bright that it made sighting on the animals in the dark impossible and I couldn't adjust it. If you buy a NF be sure and adjust the reticle brightness at night before you intend to use it. I was lucky that I was just experimenting and wasn't needing to shoot anything.

They are both very tough and about as durable as you could reasonably want in a scope.

The Nightforce probably has better "Tactical" reticles, the S&B probably has better "Hunting" reticles.

They are both big and heavy.

The biggest decision point may end up being that the S&B's are usually quite a bit more expensive. You can often find NF's in the 1300-1400 range some of the S&B's list for over 2K...........................DJ

DJ

Interesting to hear your opinion and comparison with the Zenith. I agree re the rets and with your comments re the illumination on the nightforce. I have adjusted so it is perfect for low light now and not very bright at all. It is an advantage of course to be able to adjust in the field. I have an illuminated schmidt also but it is the Klassik model and not the Zenith. I wonder if the Zenith is any brighter than the Klassik? I have never been told or looked into the difference between the two apart from the obvious aesthetics.

Regards

Jon

PS do you use any of the NXS's on any of the WSM Sako's I think I remeber you have and if so do you use it for extended distance shooting?

All of my Nightforce scopes are on Tactical style rifles, 2 Sako TRG's, a 308 and a 338 Lapua and a Blaser LRS2 in 308. So far I haven't gotten to shoot them further than 600yds but look forward to doing so.
I haven't tried one on a WSM yet but I'd like to have one for a 300 WSW HS Precision HTR that I have.

My Zenith is a pretty good improvement optically over the earlier S&B that I have. I can't remember the exact model (I'm not at home to check) but it's the one in this picture:



Here's the TRG's:





I've seen some of the older S&B's that have a slight yellow tinge to them kinda like the older Swaro SLC Bino's did. Still good resolution but not quite as good of color transmission as the newer stuff. They still are very good scopes though just not up to the optics of the newer Zenith's.
Between the Swaro PH series, the Zeiss Victory Diavari's, and the S&B Zeniths, I really can't see a big difference optically. They all are very, very good. I think that the NF's are just a small step behind them but for the difference in price I think that they are an excellent option on certain rifles...................................DJ

I was looking at a 1-4x24 NF. Excellent optics, I truelly could have both eyes open on 1 power. Seeing you gents compare them to S&B's impresses me greatly.

I looked through the latest Leup.Vx7 4.4-14x50?,Zenith1.5-6x and Nightforce2.5-10x24nxs.
Right now I would buy the nighforce,it had quick side turret adjustable Iluminated recticle brightness feature.

dollar for dollar, feature for feature, I'd opt for the NXS. Replaced 3 MK IV's with NXS's. S&B is great quality, but dollar for dollar I can't find enough to justify the extra $$$, same as USO. Just too much cash to do exactly what the NXS does.

I had a look through a 5.5-22X56 NXS NP-R2 yesterday, and compared it was a S&B, it was a 3-12X50 or similar objective anyway. the S&B looked a touch brighter when on the same power as the NXS, but the NXS looks so much better constructed and looks like it could take a bit of a pounding compared to the S&B, and the nightforce is worth a little less!

ID go with the Nightforce, as i was stupid enough to look through one in the shop i now think i just have to get one, hopefully i can control myself and save the pennies!!