Thread: Talk me out of a March scope

So have a 7mm saum in Rem Model 7. Obviously a pretty capable round on deer to a ways out and will plink rock out to 1km.
Need a light relainle scope that will dial perfectly. Will take it to Fiordland so low magnification for bush is needed. Plus i like high magnification for lond shots.
The 3-24×50 March is really looking like the best option. What else have i missed looking at?

The 42 is meant to be better according to the importer. Couple of friends have them, I’d have one too but have a ZEISS V8. Seriously thinking off selling it and getting the March though

Originally Posted by robhughes-games

So have a 7mm saum in Rem Model 7. Obviously a pretty capable round on deer to a ways out and will plink rock out to 1km.
Need a light relainle scope that will dial perfectly. Will take it to Fiordland so low magnification for bush is needed. Plus i like high magnification for lond shots.
The 3-24×50 March is really looking like the best option. What else have i missed looking at?

If your going to fiordland you've missed the obvious choice I reckon.
Nightforce as sounds like you want rugged reliable repeatable.
The nx8 4x32



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Originally Posted by robhughes-games

So have a 7mm saum in Rem Model 7. Obviously a pretty capable round on deer to a ways out and will plink rock out to 1km.
Need a light relainle scope that will dial perfectly. Will take it to Fiordland so low magnification for bush is needed. Plus i like high magnification for lond shots.
The 3-24×50 March is really looking like the best option. What else have i missed looking at?

I have a March 6.5-20 on my varmint rig and I cannot fault it. (see my most recent started thread for pics in the FS section) I was after a 6-24 but the March became available (read buyer of the scope I wanted to sell could only afford it with the March as a trade....) If a 42mm is available then I wuld suggest that as a 50mm is pretty big scope physically to carry in the bush.

Ive read the 42 can be quite dark. But have nothing to back that up

Originally Posted by andyanimal31

If your going to fiordland you've missed the obvious choice I reckon.
Nightforce as sounds like you want rugged reliable repeatable.
The nx8 4x32



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I have a nxs already. They are just big scopes and weight a lot. Plus a bit over priced in NZ

NXS 5.5-22 x50: 384mm length, 879grams
NX-8 2.5-20 x50: 308mm length, 811grams
March 2.5-25 x42: 312mm length, 650grams
March 2.5-25 x52: 336mm length, 695grams

A Z3 4-12x50 Swaro with Turret would work very well for that job. 4A Reticle, only 410 grams. Very good colour differentiation so very fast on target.
I have a Z5 for the side focus, but the Z3 is faster and handier

Originally Posted by Puffin

NXS 5.5-22 x50: 384mm length, 879grams
NX-8 2.5-20 x50: 308mm length, 811grams
March 2.5-25 x42: 314mm length, 650grams
March 2.5-25 x52: 338mm length, 695grams

At the end of the day there is no free lunch.
I reckon the nx8 2.5x20 ticks all the boxes for extreme situation hunting.
I have had good mates take a tumble tahr hunting that they have paid alot of money to get there and think they wont be able to carry on as their scope will be buggered.
One mate is very fiscally prudent and had owned several lower priced scopes and finally got him into an nxs a few years ago.
A couple of days of recovery in camp and he went and checked his zero and it was still bang on even though the scope looked really knocked around.
That is why you buy nightforce.
Save as much weight as you want but I prefer the security that my optic is not going to let me down.
Just saying

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I had a March 2.5-25x42. Amazing all round scope. Dialed perfectly, great glass, light. If there was a downside, at 25x magnification the exit pupil was really small, as you would expect with a 42mm objective lens. The 52mm will make that a little easier. TBH it was not a problem, as at the ranges requiring maximum magnification, you tended to have a lot of time to get set up.
I'd still have the scope, if I did not go down the NV path with the 22lr.
Sorry, if this is not talking you out of dropping some serious coin on a scope.

Originally Posted by andyanimal31

At the end of the day there is no free lunch.
I reckon the nx8 2.5x20 ticks all the boxes for extreme situation hunting.
I have had good mates take a tumble tahr hunting that they have paid alot of money to get there and think they wont be able to carry on as their scope will be buggered.
One mate is very fiscally prudent and had owned several lower priced scopes and finally got him into an nxs a few years ago.
A couple of days of recovery in camp and he went and checked his zero and it was still bang on even though the scope looked really knocked around.
That is why you buy nightforce.
Save as much weight as you want but I prefer the security that my optic is not going to let me down.
Just saying

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Hear what your saying. Think the March should be the very similar in robustness

Mate owns 3 March scopes 2 of them the 80x models. (He also runs a Nightforce Comp)
Recently had a possible issue with one of them holding zero. Found the local agent to be not much help.
Agent used to be BRT in Queensland who was good but then he sub agented locally.

Of course all that I have said could be countered by "how good is the local NF agent"?

I've owned two, still got one - 3-24 x 42 with a FML reticle. It's reliable, accurate in clicks and reticle, light and fantastic to look through. The FML works at both ends of the scale, and I only sold my other March to standardize on the FML reticle. Of course, bills..... but I'll replace it when the loose change tin gets back into shape.

It is a little fussy at the top end, but in real terms I never noticed any problem - I like to take the long shots on deer at 12-14x, so there is plenty of FOV to find it again after the shot. 24x is awesome for long range magpies and the like though.

I'd say do it.

Have March 2.5-25x42 on my 7mmBM - absolutely brilliant scopes. As OP stated above eye box gets pretty tight at 25x, but in hunting situation I'm very rarely going to crank up mag past 20x. Nf are damn fine scopes but too big and heavy imo, and optics clarity wise I've found them not quite as good as euro glass or March for that matter. Also agree with @Moa Hunter, the Swaro z3 4-12x50 with ballistic turrets & windplex (4w?) reticle would be a great fine match for a SAUM.

Considering it is now well into November I wouldn't be looking at a March for a few months yet mate.