Nightforce 2.5-10x42 Illuminated

I have not tried that particular Nightforce scope, but I did recently purchase a Nightforce NX8 4-32×50 F1 and can attest to the quality of Nightforce scopes. You can feel the quality and precision engineering in the adjustment knob's smooth operation and positive response to inputs. Tracking is a joy, with it moving exactly where you dial and back again. 

The specs on that 2.5-10 compact scope are pretty nice. The only drawback for airgun use is that the parralax doesn't focus down to 11 yards like most of their scopes do. But if it is anything like mine, it will focus lower than advertised. And if you're not going to be shooting that close ever it is a non-issue anyway.

$1600. That’s painful 

$1600. That’s painful

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Mine was a bit more, and worth every penny.

$1600. That’s painful

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Mine was a bit more, and worth every penny.

i struggle with some of this stuff and I’m asking a question not being at all critical . You say the scope is worth it? What are you getting for all that money? To me it seems like buying large screen TV’s or audio equipment . Can you really justify $1600 when a $500 scope would be so close ( or not) And I’ve owned nightforce scopes. They are top notch but really?

I own anschutz rifles and daystate guns and I can feel and touch and see the quality but these scopes just make me question.

If I was hunting dangerous game ... I hunt groundhogs with my varmint rifles and pigeons with my air rifles

I’m asking for some one to talk me into or explain why I (or anyone else) should spend the money

May be you just have to do direct comparisons which is hard to do 

so we go on opinions and the advice of others which is what I am asking for . 

For $1600 I could buy another NICE gun

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I’ve done some on line reading and I will add more. There seems to be a general consensus that a $400 scope is not twice as good as a $200 scope or that a $1600 is even close to being 8 times better then a $200 one.

The problem I guess is how much DO YOU need to spend ?

I’ve been spending $400 to $600 on my scopes and I think I’m doing OK with them and I guess there are some realities that I have to deal with ( maybe you too) I can’t afford a $1600 scope and I probably not sufficiently skilled to notice the difference 

"probably not sufficiently skilled to notice the difference "



Youd'd notice. I agree that you and I many not see the difference in OPTICAL quality, but the difference in build quality from my 1400.oo sightron vs the center points and even the AEON is obvious. These are mechanical devices, and the precision of manufacture, fit and finish (as they say ) and how it feels as your manipulating it is very evident.



Also note that Nightforce has great service, a bonus at the cost level

$1600. That’s painful

Click to expand...

Mine was a bit more, and worth every penny.

i struggle with some of this stuff and I’m asking a question not being at all critical . You say the scope is worth it? What are you getting for all that money? To me it seems like buying large screen TV’s or audio equipment . Can you really justify $1600 when a $500 scope would be so close ( or not) And I’ve owned nightforce scopes. They are top notch but really?

I own anschutz rifles and daystate guns and I can feel and touch and see the quality but these scopes just make me question.

If I was hunting dangerous game ... I hunt groundhogs with my varmint rifles and pigeons with my air rifles

I’m asking for some one to talk me into or explain why I (or anyone else) should spend the money

May be you just have to do direct comparisons which is hard to do 

so we go on opinions and the advice of others which is what I am asking for . 

For $1600 I could buy another NICE gun

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I get where you are coming from here. Itwas purchased in response to a failure of a decent mid-ranged scope and I wanted a quality scope that I did not want to have to worry about on a wilderness hunt. It is on an expensive big bore and doing it's job with precision, another reason I chose this particular unit. I put a sub moa group on a silhouette at 235 yards yesterday, tracked back to 100 and did another group of the same.uWhile I did do the same groups with thee other scope,I trustt this too notfail me in the field 2000 miles from home. And yes, I am going after dangerous game that will hunt you as well if they are so inclined.

I like nice stuff and I have nice things. Too much truth be told. For some reason I can’t talk myself into spending over $ 500 on a scope. It’s a hang up in my mind. And I guess if I could some how convince my self or maybe even justify it I’d probably spend the money.

I the days that I shot competitively I used leupold scopes ( mostly the 6.5 - 20 x 40 target scopes) and I never felt under glassed. Along comes Nightforce at twice the money and I just can’t get my head around it. 

Now this is from a guy that has anschutz rifles and custom action powder burners . 

There clearly is a disconnect between my ears on this subject.

I guess I need to just buy one. (OR NOT) 

Although I have stopped most of my long range powder burner shooting I could never drop back to what I call "cheap" scopes, to me that is below $1500.

I currently have 7 NF scopes, 3 ATACR, 2 NX8 & 2 COMPETITION, the competition areactually the best optically IMO, the ATACR cost has a lot to do with its robustness and ability to be used in any conditions.

Although I have stopped most of my long range powder burner shooting I could never drop back to what I call "cheap" scopes, to me that is below $1500.

I currently have 7 NF scopes, 3 ATACR, 2 NX8 & 2 COMPETITION, the competition areactually the best optically IMO, the ATACR cost has a lot to do with its robustness and ability to be used in any conditions.

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You are then a true believe and you could be entirely correct. I will have to take a closer look 

I'm a big fan of NF, but I do think they are overkill for an air rifle. Glass isn't as quite as good as the top end euro glass, but its very good and they are built like a tank. I just can't see spending $2K+ on glass to shoot 200 yards or less and mostly 100 or less.

I'm a big fan of NF, but I do think they are overkill for an air rifle. Glass isn't as quite as good as the top end euro glass, but its very good and they are built like a tank. I just can't see spending $2K+ on glass to shoot 200 yards or less and mostly 100 or less.

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I agree. If I was to buy I would not use it on an air rifle. Oh I might try it but it would go on one of my long range varmint guns. Even there it’s probably not justifiable (for me) 

i guess it’s a little like high end guns An over the counter Remington could easily hold 1 1/2,at one hundred. Your $5000 custom might shoot 1/2 Few people can afford the difference and most groundhogs in Pa will not know the difference. Some might however and that’s the quest a fair number of us are on and so maybe the high priced scopes are also just as helpful to the cause 

Thanks for the input and opinions. Lots of wisdom shared.

I guess it goes without saying that everyone's income and budget is different. I know people that could buy a NF or any high end scope with what amounts to pocket change to them. 

I'm far from wealthy but over the years I saved, borrowed, and sold, less expensive scopes, and other things, to get into NF(had 5 of them), S&B and other high end scopes. I liked my FFP S&B PM2 5-25x56 so much that it got swapped from rifle to rifle many times, from PCP's, to 22rf, to the centerfire tactical rifle, and to the ELR rifle. So I bought another one and a 3-20x50! Annd I won a bunch of matches with them so they have been worth every penny IMO!

My finances got worse and worse so THAT was the end of buying $3000+ scopes but to this day I still have the S&B's.

At the moment none of my S&B's are on my air rifles, they are a bit overkill, but I have them if they need to be pressed into service.

When a guy has had the fortunate opportunity of getting behind most of the rifle scopes out there he starts to learn what he likes and what he can't abide! 

6 years ago I was frustrated with a large host of scopes that for different reasons didn't meet my personal standards of combining all or most of the features I wanted in a scope. Features such as; FFP, mil tree reticle (preferring .2 mil hashes) offered with a mil turrets, compact and lighter weight, higher grade glass relative to price point, close focus side parallax adjustment, zero stop and revolution indicator.

On a forum I met Kevin who was starting a new Co called Athlon Optics. I was so happy he put my ideas into affordable FFP scopes! My S&B's don't get swapped onto the AG's much anymore but I can enjoy my favorite features in less expensive scopes now and every scoped PCP has a Athlon scope on them!!! 

I try to advise shooters looking for a scope to try to buy the next tier up from what they are thinking about buying, rarely have I seen them disappointed when they do. Life is short so enjoy it while you can.....

Anyone try one of these. If so how do you like it? 

https://www.nightforceoptics.com/riflescopes/nxs/nxs-25-10x42-compact

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Hey man. I get why you are asking. This was an option I was considering when looking for smaller, lightweight, lower mag options for a compact rifle. I like quality optics too, so I have been looking at a very wide range of optics. When you have your requirements dialed in, sometimes the more expensive options are what fits all the options. Sure a Bug Buster seems to fit some of those requirements, but not for all of us. And some $500 options are great for many, many uses but may not fit a specific need/want.

I did some looking around on some other PB forums that I also frequent where these types of optics are more popular. The guys that I saw responding all had good things to say about this particular optic. I couldn’t find anything negative, granted their uses are somewhat different than ours, but the comments were good. 

It is one that I really like the specs on. 10x in the high end might be too low for me, and I think I could probably get by with the 25yd side focus, but would prefer lower. At a price of around $1400, I also think I might choose something different, even if more expensive, to broaden my possibile uses. 

Good luck with your decision. I, for one, am curious where you end up. I started a list of around 20 scopes ranging from $150-$2000 as I try to decide what I want for one particular setup that sounds like it is probably similar to your compact requirements.

@skok3y is the Nightforce NX8 4-32×50 on your list? That is pretty compact for a NF scope. If you are seriously considering the purchase give SportOptics a call and ask for a price; you will be hard pressed say no to the quote.