Thread: Nightforce NX8 2.5-20 for allrounder rifle?

Hey everyone,

I hope you're doing well. I've recently been considering upgrading my scope for my Tikka 308 and came across this model. Has anyone used it before? What are your thoughts on it?

Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 F1 (https://www.nightforceoptics.com/rif...8-25-20x50-f1/)

I'll mainly be doing a mix of bush stalking and open tops, hence the need for larger magnification.

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Recent discussion about this here https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....-50-f2-105004/

I'm not sure the F1 would be that good with a low mag of 2.5.
I had the 4-32 in F1/ffp and it was hard to use in alot of situations at 4 power.
I far prefer the 2.5 -20 F2. It's a great scope

Originally Posted by Gkp

I'm not sure the F1 would be that good with a low mag of 2.5.
I had the 4-32 in F1/ffp and it was hard to use in alot of situations at 4 power.
I far prefer the 2.5 -20 F2. It's a great scope

I'm not sure I understand what you wrote there - why would a F2 2.5-20 be better than a F1 2.5-20 due to the low magnification when they are both the same?

It is amazing though, years ago we thought a 3x magnification factor was huge and it wasn't that long ago that 5x mag factor was cutting edge - now you have these with 8x mag factor and that's mind blowing really. The NXS series were mostly 4x mag factor for reference, and most people raved over those when they came out. If they can make them resilient enough to go on a rifle and not have distortion and the other downsides of high optical magnification specs what's not to like? Weight maybe.

My main hunting scope is a 2-10 and it's awesome in the bush on 2 power, huge light gathering and really forgiving eye box with good magnification if you need it - and for most game animal hunting 10 power is ample. Hanging onto a scoped rifle at 20x can be a bit of a head game, as every little heartbeat and twitch shows in the scope on anything other than a rock-solid rest and you start going all over the place trying to prevent the movement if you aren't careful...

F1 > first focal plane
F2 > second focal plane

F1 the reticle changes size through the magnification range. On low mag they are hard to see as very small

F2 Stays the same throughout the range.

Plenty on the world wide web on this subject if that doesn't make sense

Ya ha roger got that now. Wasn't up with the play on the F1/F2... That makes sense, low light FFP with a fineish reticle can be a bit of a bear. Illuminated reticle helps though. SFP/F2 is most useful with a BDC reticle when you don't dial for drop - mine is accurate on 6x I think.

20x is pretty massive magnification for a hunting scope although you haven't mentioned what range you intend to shoot to. Something like a 2-12 or 3-15 should cover everything. I don't do long range though so I have been using the same old VX1 3-9x40 for the last 20 years. Hasn't been off the rifle from the day it was fitted.

I looked at them but decided on a leupold purely because i like the alumina caps

I'm not going to say don't get the NX8, but don't feel like you need 20x for tops hunting.
12x is more than enough magnification for longer range shooting, 400-500m isn't out of reach for a lower magnification scopes.

Especially if you are looking at FFP scopes, I feel as though FFP reticles (typically) are thinner than SFP ones, which helps obscure the target less at distance.
Usually the issue with FFP reticles these days is finding one that isn't too thin on minimum magnification.

I can't comment on the 2.5-20 NX8 as I haven't used one.
But you can considering other scopes in the 2.5-15, 3-15, 3-18 range if you are need/looking for more options.

Would go for the NXS 2.5-10X42 much sooner than the NX8 2.5-20

Looked through the latter, not impressed as the 8x erector does the image quality and depth of field no favours.

Also seen 2x broken ones (one would dial elevation, one broken side focus) so they are not as reliable.

However, the NXS is an over-priced optic with a 10+ year old design and crappy reticles.

Look at element. Less that half the price of NF and just as much scope!

Another one to look at would be the Leupold Mk5 2-10 or Mk4HD 2.5-10

Plus 1 on the Element. I have the Helix HDLR 2-16 X 50. Great mag range if you're looking for an all rounder.

My 2 cents

Def don't go "First focal" for an alround huntin scope, yes they have their place & fans but are such a cunt in the real world if using it for an everything ( the reticle is either to small to see or so big it covers ya targets good bits ) I did look at a NF 1 -8 NX8 in ffp as an alround 1 - 400y hunting scope, the idea was on low power to have the illumination on full so it was basically a "red dot scope' but on full eight power reticle was so fat would of been a proper pain n de arse.

As for the "Second focal" 2.5 - 20 NX8, yeah it's a nice scope, great useable zoom range, illuminated multi dot reticle ( so also useable ), glass is very good - can have a bit of a central sweet spot - but fuk it's still a top notch unit ( as with everything - glass quality is very subjective ) & they're tough n work well.

Down side for me is they are heavy ( probs not an issue if ya a mussel man like Big Ben who I sold my last one too ) short n stubby to mount & we are getting ripped on price in NZ, but then everything is expensive when ya live on the bum of the world, remember when Leupy VX6's were under 1500 hahahaha


There's probably better options but still think it's a cool alround scope & fuk ( yes this is my life ) if the NX8 gets ya juiced up & that's what ya want go for it bro. Fuk everyone else, you're the one that's paying & using it, just dont go ffp & at the end of the day if you decide it's not for you, a NF will always have a buyer n resale value

Originally Posted by Philipo

My 2 cents

Def don't go "First focal" for an alround huntin scope, yes they have their place & fans but are such a cunt in the real world if using it for an everything ( the reticle is either to small to see or so big it covers ya targets good bits ) I did look at a NF 1 -8 NX8 in ffp as an alround 1 - 400y hunting scope, the idea was on low power to have the illumination on full so it was basically a "red dot scope' but on full eight power reticle was so fat would of been a proper pain n de arse.

There are FFP scopes that have reticles that are sized correctly for use at low and high power but unfortunately they are fairly rare.
It seems like most manufactures have been influenced by the target shooting crowd that only want super fine ones.

I'm not sure any of the NF reticle options in the 2.5-20 NX8 would be any good though, I've only used a 4-32 F1 with the Mil-C and that was very very fine on 4x.
That being said I don't particularly like the the Mil-C or Mil-R reticle in SFP either as it's still too fine.

Originally Posted by caberslash

Would go for the NXS 2.5-10X42 much sooner than the NX8 2.5-20

Looked through the latter, not impressed as the 8x erector does the image quality and depth of field no favours.

Also seen 2x broken ones (one would dial elevation, one broken side focus) so they are not as reliable.

However, the NXS is an over-priced optic with a 10+ year old design and crappy reticles.

Look at element. Less that half the price of NF and just as much scope!

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