NX8 2.5-20 vs Mk5HD 3.6-18

[Silentnight]

Looking at these two scopes to put on a kids/truck gun.

Anyone have both? Opinions? Glass about the same?

[TX03RUBI]

My issue with the MK5HD is the reticle options suck for a hunting/target rifle. Good glass, good turrets, and a reasonable sized package. The NX8 IMO has slightly better glass, much better reticles, and solid turrets as usual for a NF. Their issues are tight eyeboxes and finicky parallax. I owned the NX8 2.5-20 for about 6 months, and have a decent bit of time behind the MK5s. My conclusion was I’d just snag another ATACR 4-16 if I was in the market for another similar sized optic.

[HTOWN]

My issue with the MK5HD is the reticle options suck for a hunting/target rifle. Good glass, good turrets, and a reasonable sized package. The NX8 IMO has slightly better glass, much better reticles, and solid turrets as usual for a NF. Their issues are tight eyeboxes and finicky parallax. I owned the NX8 2.5-20 for about 6 months, and have a decent bit of time behind the MK5s. My conclusion was I’d just snag another ATACR 4-16 if I was in the market for another similar sized optic.

What he said! I have a NX8, but the 4x32. Have had it for about 6 months myself. Love the scope. I'd pass on the ATACR myself, just to heavy for my liking, but if it was just for a bench gun I'd buy one.

[Bullseye07]

Too much/too nice of scopes for a kids/truck gun IMO. I’d be looking much cheaper.


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[Silentnight]

My issue with the MK5HD is the reticle options suck for a hunting/target rifle. Good glass, good turrets, and a reasonable sized package. The NX8 IMO has slightly better glass, much better reticles, and solid turrets as usual for a NF. Their issues are tight eyeboxes and finicky parallax. I owned the NX8 2.5-20 for about 6 months, and have a decent bit of time behind the MK5s. My conclusion was I’d just snag another ATACR 4-16 if I was in the market for another similar sized optic.

Which reticle do you like in your NF for a hunting rig?

[Silentnight]

What he said! I have a NX8, but the 4x32. Have had it for about 6 months myself. Love the scope. I'd pass on the ATACR myself, just to heavy for my liking, but if it was just for a bench gun I'd buy one.

Weight difference isn’t much between the 3.

Mk5 - 26oz
NX8 - 28oz
ATACR - 30oz

I was leaning toward the Mk5 because it is the lightest of the three. And I can usually get a pretty good deal on Leupold.

[hoyt21]

I’m exact opposite of rubbi on this. I’ve ran a mark 6 for years and have a mark 5 for the past year and a half. I love the tmr reticle for hunting. Ffp is a must for me and I believe the mark5 to be clearer then the nx8. Ginger trophy8 has my old nx8 he likes it I didn’t. The reticle is unusable at below 5x and was a huge turn off. Glass always had a halo for me also. I’d go mark5 but imma leupold
Guy.

[Silentnight]

I’m exact opposite of rubbi on this. I’ve ran a mark 6 for years and have a mark 5 for the past year and a half. I love the tmr reticle for hunting. Ffp is a must for me and I believe the mark5 to be clearer then the nx8. Ginger trophy8 has my old nx8 he likes it I didn’t. The reticle is unusable at below 5x and was a huge turn off. Glass always had a halo for me also. I’d go mark5 but imma leupold
Guy.

I was thinking the same thing with the TMR reticle. I figure it would be a good for kids since it’s not real busy.. but still usable for wind holds and such. Just wish illumination wasn’t an extra $4-500!

[TX03RUBI]

Which reticle do you like in your NF for a hunting rig?

MILC although the MILXT isn’t horrible. It’s a tree reticle, but it seems to dissappear decently. The TMR of the Leupold leaves me wanting more even though I shot one for 7 years. The CCH doesn’t disappear for me, and I’m not a T3 or H59 fan at all.

The TMR isn’t a bad reticle for most, but I absolutely despise the dam thing.I ordered my MK6 the day they were released in 2013 as it checked a lot of boxes I required for a hunting/target optic. If Leupold offered a MK5 3.6-18 with a non tree reticle and .2 elevation and windage holds with a floating center dot I’d own one RFN. The TMR is the sole reason I won’t own a MK5. It’s a good optic otherwise.

[trophy8]

I’m pretty much exactly with Anthony on this. Glass is near identical on both. Slight edge to NF as you’re looking through a 30mm tube with tighter eye box vs a 35mm tube and forgiving one.

I’m running the MilC in my 2-20 NX8. The 4-32 is trash. Had one. Hayes it. Reticle is wayyyyy too big on 32x. And way too small on 4x. Eye box was incredibly tight.

I loved my atacrs but felt myself wanting more than 16x on the bench. I hope those 20x atacrs get reasonably priced. I’d swap my kahles 624i for one in a hurry.

I’m still running one Mark 6. TMR c2 turret. It’s been on that rifle since I had it built 8 or so years ago. I’ve said for years I’m gonna upgrade it but haven’t yet lol.

[Silentnight]

MILC although the MILXT isn’t horrible. It’s a tree reticle, but it seems to dissappear decently. The TMR of the Leupold leaves me wanting more even though I shot one for 7 years. The CCH doesn’t disappear for me, and I’m not a T3 or H59 fan at all.

The TMR isn’t a bad reticle for most, but I absolutely despise the dam thing.I ordered my MK6 the day they were released in 2013 as it checked a lot of boxes I required for a hunting/target optic. If Leupold offered a MK5 3.6-18 with a non tree reticle and .2 elevation and windage holds with a floating center dot I’d own one RFN. The TMR is the sole reason I won’t own a MK5. It’s a good optic otherwise.

What are your thoughts on the PR-1MIL reticle that they offer now?
.2 windage and elevation with a floating dot.
Can get it illuminated or non illuminated


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[trophy8]

What are your thoughts on the PR-1MIL reticle that they offer now?
.2 windage and elevation with a floating dot.
Can get it illuminated or non illuminated


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Well. Think that settles my upgrade for my mk6 lol. Ticks me off that they went 35mm though.

[Silentnight]

Well. Think that settles my upgrade for my mk6 lol. Ticks me off that they went 35mm though.

They just HAD to be different with the 35mm..

[HTOWN]

Weight difference isn’t much between the 3.

Mk5 - 26oz
NX8 - 28oz
ATACR - 30oz

I was leaning toward the Mk5 because it is the lightest of the three. And I can usually get a pretty good deal on Leupold.

You are correct.. I still had the larger scopes in my head when I made that post.

[cb4128]

For the OP's intended purpose, I'd go with a Leupold but the vx5hd line with an illuminated reticle. The eyebox should be the most forgiving for a youngster and or for quick target acquisition out of a truck vs the options that are currently discussed.

If you want to stick with the popular ones on this thread, I'd go MK 5hd. I'm not a fan of the 2.5-20 NX8, didn't think the glass was all that great and the parallax always seemed to be finicky - not what you want for the discussed purpose by the OP.

*I have a Swarovski z6i on my truck gun/kid gun and it works great for that purpose - very forgiving eyebox, can set the parallax and it works for most scenarios out of a truck and the illuminated dot in the center helps my son get on target quickly. Something else to consider!