The day many tactical optic enthusiasts have been whispering about over the past year is finally here: Nightforce has just announced their long-rumored 1-8 power tactical scope, called the NX8. Nighforce describes the NX8 1-8×24 F1 as “a class leading, compact and lightweight riflescope optimized for short to mid-range shooting“. The company also released a full spec sheet, replicated below:
- Focal plane: First
- Objective outer diameter: 30 mm
- Exit pupil diameter: 1x: 7.9 mm | 8x: 3 mm
- Field of view @ 100 yards/100 meters: 1x: 106 ft. | 1x: 32 m
- Eye relief: 3.75″ | 95.3 mm
- Internal adjustment range for MOA: e: 100 | w: 100
- Internal adjustment range for MIL-RADIAN: e: 30 | w: 30
- Click value: .5 MOA | .2 MIL-RADIAN
- Parallax adjustment: Fixed at 125 m
- Tube diameter: 1.18″/30 mm
- Eyepiece outer diameter: 40 mm
- Overall length (in/mm): 8.75/222
- Weight (oz/g): 17/482
- Mounting length (in/mm): 5.7/144
- PTL (Power Throw Lever): Standard
- Reticles available: FC-MOA™/FC-MIL™
- Illumination: Daylight visible, externally adjustable
- Elevation Feature: ZeroStop®
- MSRP: $1,750
It’s too early to have put the NX8 head-to-head in the field with what may be its closest competitor, the Vortex Razor HD 1-6×24, but going by the spec sheet alone the new Nightforce looks like a major threat to the Vortex. It’s a far more compact and lightweight scope, being 2.85″ shorter, and over half a pound lighter (!!!), and it does all this while being a nought to eight power variable, rather than a 1-6x. The Nightforce wins on budget too, being listed with a $1,750 MSRP, versus the Vortex’s $1,999. If the market reduction for the Nightforce comes down the way it has for the Vortex, that means we could see NX8s on the market for less than $1,200, eventually. I would expect initial prices on the NX8 to be considerably higher, however, probably in the $1,500-1,600, which still makes it potentially highly competitive with the Vortex. The inclusion of a free throw lever by Nightforce further improves the value, as that’s a $60 “must-have” addon that has to be bought separately from…
Additionally here is the Release from NightForce!
The NX8 1-8×24 F1 is a class leading, compact and lightweight riflescope optimized for short to mid-range shooting. At only 8.75“ in length and 17 ounces, this riflescope adds minimal size and weight but delivers superior optics and trusted Nightforce performance to any rifle.
With the daylight visible center red dot users can engage targets with speed like a red-dot sight, but as targets increase in distance the intelligent FC-Mil and FC-MOA first focal plane reticles provide precise hold points. For those preferring to dial for long shots, the ZeroStop elevation adjustment allows for a rapid and positive return to zero. Adjustments are a true .2 Mil-Radian or .50 MOA. To aid in fast magnification adjustments, a built-in Power Throw Lever (PTL) is included.