Nightforce NX8 4-32x50 Riflescope

I believe that the NX8 is the most versatile quality riflescope on the market. I’m not going to get into the spec details (they’ve got a product page for this reason), but I am going to say why I like it so much. 

Long before I ever worked in this industry, I considered Nightforce as the gold standard. Their motto, “Rugged, Reliable, Repeatable,” told me everything I needed to know about what they believe in - delivering a workhorse of a product that you can trust. A tool designed to be used as such, especially in the most extreme circumstances. That’s still just as appealing to me now as it was back then.

If you've spent any time in the shooting or hunting worlds, you know the stigma and endless debate: do you run a dedicated hunting scope, or a competition-ready optic? For years, hunters and shooters had to choose between one or the other. The truth is, one scope can do exceptionally well, and in my opinion Nightforce’s NX8 helps make that outdated argument obsolete.

The hunting industry has recently started to come around to MIL reticles, first focal plane scopes, different magnifications, and unique rifle builds that stand out from grandpa’s traditional wooden stock (still cool too). Much of that shift is due to the rising popularity and learning efficiency of shooting matches like the NRL Hunter that allow you to practice in the “off-season”, and it’s opened a lot of eyes to the benefits of first focal plane scopes and MIL reticles for every scenario. 

My understanding of riflescopes, glass, reticles, shooting, and hunting have grown a lot over the years, and they will certainly continue to evolve as I’m forever a student, but I’ve found what I really like in the NX8 and what works well for me. My hope is that you continue to learn and find what works best for you.

One of the biggest strengths of the NX8 is its magnification range. As the name suggests, it’s got a 8:1 zoom ratio, and in this specific case it’s a 4-32x50. Meaning at its lowest power it’s at 4x magnification making it easy to use in closer range situations with plenty of field of view. At 32x, its highest magnification shines for when you want to extend your rifle’s capabilities on steel. Whether you’re on a hunt or at a match this scope gives you such a wide use case. It’s hard to imagine a scenario that a 4-32x50 doesn’t suffice, but if you’re looking for a different magnification they do make other options within their NX8 lineup. The 50mm objective pulls in plenty of light and I have been very happy with the glass quality, edge to edge clarity, and crisp picture it provides me. I’m always going to spend the most time glassing behind my binoculars, so when I’m behind my scope it’s for one reason, to shoot. I recommend finding a friend that has one and looking through it, or better yet, shooting with it to see how your eyes like it. My educated guess is that you will thoroughly enjoy your experience as I have. 

There are several different MIL and MOA reticle options in both first focal plane and second focal plane, but my personal recommendation is the MIL-XT reticle in a first focal plane scope. You can go for a more simple reticle or even a more complex reticle, but to me the MIL-XT is right in the sweet spot and gives me plenty of information with its subtensions without being overwhelming. I can make adjustments while still on the rifle, and I have a much easier time doing fast mental math with tenths than I do with quarters. At this stage in my experience, it’s got everything I need and nothing that I don’t.

Another impressive aspect of the NX8, and Nightforce in general, is the build quality, hardware, and durability. It’s not a secret that these things are built like tanks, but the NX8 doesn’t weigh like one. It’s housed in a 30mm tube, and its compact size is definitely noteworthy for something this versatile. The responsive clicks of the turrets, a trustworthy zero stop, the smooth movement of the magnification ring and power throw lever, and the peace of mind after Nightforce does their impact test all add to the user’s experience. I paired it with Nightforce’s X-Treme Duty Ultralite rings. They're built from machined 7075-T6 hard anodized aluminum with titanium crossbolts and jaws, which delivers the strength of steel at roughly half the weight. This was my first experience with their rings, and I have no complaints about them. The NX8 is designed to be used in the field under all kinds of environments, so my biggest test of this was flying with this riflescope for a hunt to see if there would be any issues or shift in my zero. After all, you want a tool to perform when you need it to, and my zero was spot on after confirming before my hunt started. With a successful bear hunt under its belt, the NX8 has certainly proven that Nightforce reliability to me.  

I truly believe that this is the most versatile quality optic on the market, and if you're shopping in this tier of riflescope, it deserves a serious look. You can learn more about the NX8 options, features, and specs by visiting Nightforce, or by checking them out at a retailer near you.