Thread: Heavy scope, light rifle...crazy?

Seriously eyeing up the new nx8 4-32, looks to tick all boxes...except weight. While not a monster, it’s still 820grams, 250 more than my current scope weighs. Thoughts on from guys with lightweight rigs and heavy scopes? Is this a stupid idea that my arm and pocket will regret any one got one yet?

This is exactly why I have stuck with my vx3i 4.5-14×40 CDS on my 270wsm, whilst the vx5 and 6 variants absolutely leave the vx3 for dust optically the vx3 is lighter and more compact.
My longish range hunying rifle is going through a few mods to make it lighter, why dpend all that money shedding weight only yo put more on top of the rifle.
How much zoom do you really need ? How far are you shooting ? What are you shooting at ? A few questions you nedd to seriously ask yourself.
Leave to telescopes for long range gong and paper smashing rigs, where weight isn't a problem....thats my 2 crnts anyway

This is exactly why I have stuck with my vx3i 4.5-14×40 CDS on my 270wsm, whilst the vx5 and 6 variants absolutely leave the vx3 for dust optically the vx3 is lighter and more compact.
My longish range hunting rifle (650ish yards is my limit not the rifle) is going through a few mods to make it lighter, why dpend all that money shedding weight only yo put more on top of the rifle.
How much zoom do you really need ? How far are you shooting ? What are you shooting at ? A few questions you nedd to seriously ask yourself.
Leave to telescopes for long range gong and paper smashing rigs, where weight isn't a problem....thats my 2 cents anyway

Yeh I’m the same. Currently have on top VX111 2.5-8. Small and light.
Balances a medium and a light weight rifle well.

Sorry bout the double post and stupid phone typos

To be fair when you really need a nightforce is when your down on a thar hunting trip and you trip and fall down a scree slope and get to the bottom thinking that's my week hunting buggered!
You go and check your battered scope and rifle and low and behold your good to go!
A little bit of extra weight is a small price to pay for what you get.
I have the new nx8 4x32x50 and it's a game changer.
Bite the bullet you wont regret it!

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Originally Posted by andyanimal31

To be fair when you really need a nightforce is when your down on a thar hunting trip and you trip and fall down a scree slope and get to the bottom thinking that's my week hunting buggered!
You go and check your battered scope and rifle and low and behold your good to go!
A little bit of extra weight is a small price to pay for what you get.
I have the new nx8 4x32x50 and it's a game changer.
Bite the bullet you wont regret it!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Different horses for different courses I guess, the point I was making is if your gonna go to the expense of carbon stock, carbon or fluted barrel, fluted bolt etc etc trying to keep weight down it seems kinda pointless putting a heavier than needed scope on top.
But that's a big if, personally I won't shoot past 650 yards maybe 700 yards in perfect conditions and for that to me 14x is more than enough zoom so it works for me.
Each to there own and there is no doubt about the nightforce robustness and quality that is for sure.

Both absolutely excellent points from Andy and Danny. My round about thinking was the lighter gun means I get a heavier scope without a penalty, (except to the wallet)
Also I’ve talked myself into the nx8 now damnit...

Us kiwis are the exception to the norm when we build our "backcountry rifles"
It seems everyone wants to spend a fucktonne of money on building the lightest, most lazerbeamiest, super longrange, built from mothers milk and broken down superyachts rifle, and then we go stick a massive heavy lump of a scope on it.
I reckon in a hunting situation there are three scopes out there that will do 100% of what you expect a long range HUNTING rifle to do whilst still being reasonable weight-wise , VX5, VX6, Z5, and those are the heavier end of the spectrum.
Jump on some of the American forums and those guys are all running 2-8 VX3's or similar, sticking to the mantra of having a lightweight HUNTING rifle.
It seems like you just can't swing your dick around and impress everyone with a VX3 in NZ though

Settle down mate I’m not interested in what Americans are doing or swinging my dick around to be fair. I owned a number of scopes you mentioned. had a z5, and while it was light, the eye piece cover fell off and it was the flimsiest scope I’ve owned. There’s positives and negatives to every scope and bit of gear as I’m sure you know.
It’s a fun journey trying new gear and rifles to find a setup that helps you enjoy doing something I love doing, each to their own

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Us kiwis are the exception to the norm when we build our "backcountry rifles"
It seems everyone wants to spend a fucktonne of money on building the lightest, most lazerbeamiest, super longrange, built from mothers milk and broken down superyachts rifle, and then we go stick a massive heavy lump of a scope on it.
I reckon in a hunting situation there are three scopes out there that will do 100% of what you expect a long range HUNTING rifle to do whilst still being reasonable weight-wise , VX5, VX6, Z5, and those are the heavier end of the spectrum.
Jump on some of the American forums and those guys are all running 2-8 VX3's or similar, sticking to the mantra of having a lightweight HUNTING rifle.
It seems like you just can't swing your dick around and impress everyone with a VX3 in NZ though

What's a vx3 ryan?
I must admit I do have a 8x25 vx3 varmint on the 22-250 but dont like people knowing I havnt got all night forces!

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Originally Posted by andyanimal31

What's a vx3 ryan?
I must admit I do have a 8x25 vx3 varmint on the 22-250 but dont like people knowing I havnt got all night forces!

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You should be ashamed of yourself!

Put a submarine size scope on lightweight rifle and all you have is an expensive dog. Been there. Done that. Got schooled. They carry like shit and are hopeless for hunting.
It will depend on the rifle but for general hunting 12x is all you need top end and anything over 4x is going to handicap you for minimum magnification. My 10c with. YMMV

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Put a submarine size scope on lightweight rifle and all you have is an expensive dog. Been there. Done that. Got schooled. They carry like shit and are hopeless for hunting.
It will depend on the rifle but for general hunting 12x is all you need top end and anything over 4x is going to handicap you for minimum magnification. My 10c with. YMMV

Yip I agree I had a bloody great big Nightforce to which I bolted a 5 1/2 lb 7 mm wsm, tried a VX3 felt the field of view at or near 14x was very limited and the reticle seemed a tad too thick to me now have a Schwarovvvisky (never could spell Swarrovisky) Z8i 1.7 - 13 a good compromise in my world covers all my bases as a illuminated red dot or red dot and circle at 1.7 long range 13 and a wide field of view.

I found with my VX3 I had to zoom out to find it then hold it in view when zooming in, still a great wee scope if you are happy with that.

I also have the opinion Swarrovinsky glass is better than Nightforce to my eyes.

I still have two 5-22x50 Nightforce NXS zero stop scopes which are used mostly when I run out of gas in my nail gun, and they never loose zero

I've had a PM11 3-12 on a Finnlight for years, never regretted it.