S&B 3-12X50 Zenith -v- Nightforce NXS 5.5-22X56 Opinions please.

belowaverageiq

Well-Known Member
Hi All and many thanks in advance.
I am looking for a new scope for my 30-06 and have had an offer of either the
S&B 3-12X50 Zenith or a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22X56 npr2 rect., both new and coming at very similar money.
I am swaying towards the NXS because I also have a NXS8-32 on my Ftr and its something I know and am used to.
Yes I know you will say the S&B has better light transmission (marginal, id say) but it is not illuminated and the No.7 rect, Im more used to dialing in that using holdover.
Would really apreciate your opinions, cant decide!

Mark
 
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What is the application?

If it is for a general purpose hunting rifle, the Schmidt every time. I would expect it to be significantly better in low light, and generally more user friendly for normal deer stalking purposes.

I would only entertain the Nightforce for a specialist long range rig to be used in daylight.
 
Hi Brian,
Thanks for the reply.
It is for Deer and general stalking on my Sako75, Its a fear of the unknown im guessing with spending that much on another scope. Ive had a few nightforces and love them.
Most of the shots shall be pasture adjoining woodland and not on open hillside to be honest. From 50-300yrds....................Im answering my own question here aint I!! haha....
 
nightforce defo ,maby not as good for light gathering but a tougher better made scope and great turrets and trackability for shots at longer range
 
The schmidt and get BDC turrets fitted at some stage.
The NF is a heavy lump and the glass isn't great to find deer in low light.
edi
 
Hi Brian,
Thanks for the reply.
It is for Deer and general stalking on my Sako75, Its a fear of the unknown im guessing with spending that much on another scope. Ive had a few nightforces and love them.
Most of the shots shall be pasture adjoining woodland and not on open hillside to be honest. From 50-300yrds....................Im answering my own question here aint I!! haha....

There is nothing unknown about the Zenith, they have been the nuts for the last 7 or 8 years.

Your shooting sounds about like mine, typical Irish stalking of farmland on the edge of forestry.

Just my personal prejudice, but here is a short list of things that have no business on a scope for deer stalking:

1. High Magnification. The standard Euro 3-12x50 is that size for a reason, more than 12x is completely unusable under field conditions.

2. Complicated reticule designs. The European No4 or 4a is the most natural crosshair out there, you will subconsciously centre the reticule on the beast every time.

3. Any sort of parallax adjustment. What the f##k is that all about? Who has time to refocus the scope for shots between the muzzle and 200m anyway?

4. Scopes that weigh getting on for a kilo which make the rifle bloody unwieldy and top heavy. Rifles handle badly enough these days with bloody great can's hanging on the end of them.

Rant over..... :stir:
 
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If there is potentially going to be some long range target shooting I would go with the NF but for general stalking the Schmidt. I dont agree with more than 12 power being unusable as I find a 4-16 (S&B)to be miles better than the 3-12 I used to have. There are some occasions where it is nice to use higher power though I accept you could probably cope with 12x.

If you were to compare a 4-16 S&B with a NF 5.5-22 (I have both) I would go with the Schmidt every time but saying that they are both cracking scopes that will serve you well.

S
 
The Night force is just too big!! I had one and it was like having the 'Hubble Telescope' on top of my rifle! Parallax adjustment is a real pain and the mag far too high for practicle deer stalking use.
I now use a Swaro 3-12 x 50 (Illum with a 4N reticle) which covers everything I need which varies from Munties at a few metres, to Reds out on the heath. I neat little package and great at low light. The Schmidt will be far more practicle for what you need!:thumb:
MS:)
 
European optics, always. Like said before the n°4 & 4A reticle are the most natural. I used an English friends Nightforce for 3 days and wasn't impressed. My 45 year old eyes had difficulties finding the reitcle in low light (to thin) and I didn't know how to use the illumination. Overal not a European scope in low light. I started using his other rifle with a "simple" 8x50 Swaro and n° 4 reticle. Simple, no frills. Hold the reticle where you want it, in all light conditionds, bang and a dead animal.
 
These scopes are like chalk and cheese. As a stalking scope the S&B wins hands down, you have all the magnification you need, the best light gathering in the business and no parallax to worry about. As a long range precision scope the Nightforce has the edge, and is a great scope in daylight. I have both of these, the S&B on a 25/06 and the Nightforce on a 22/250AI. very different bits of kit.
 
For stalking in low light it has to be the S&B.
I have compared both scopes at dawn and I could of shot deer with the S&B when they couldnt even be seen through the nightforce. I was amazed at the difference.
I still would like a nightforce for target work though.
 
nf are more of a long range day scope for vermin or target. as it has massive moa adjustment for dialling in. my mate had one on a 6br and well it was great in the day. on the night with lamp or in low light isn't a patch on the zeiss victory fl he replaced it with.
 
I would go european with 8 fixed or a higher mag variable (4-16 or 6-24). If your into long shots the TDS 4i reticle is hard to beat. Can't see what is to be gained over an 8 by a 3-12. Some 3-12's I've seen have chunky cross hairs for smashing pigs in the ribs in moonlight - not good for a 300y shot on a skinny deer - they don't need paralax because the fat cross absorbs the error. I would avoid the cross hair that grows when you wind the mag up. I use 6-24 swarovski and in the bipod season its not unusual to get down on the grass, wind up the mag and make use of the bars on the TDS ret. I've had NF, cracking kit but can be a bit fussy and play up in certain light conditions.
 
A friend of mine who's a 'keeper was seduced by the knobbly turrets and twizzly parralax of the Nightforce when he had his custom rifle built for foxing. I think he took it out lamping twice..................before he px'ed it for a Zeiss.
 
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