Zeiss vs. Nightforce SHV

[gutsnthegrass]

Any opinions on the differences in these scopes? Looks like they are priced pretty close.

[fowl smacker]

Not sure which Zeiss you're comparing but I've got the V6 and it's amazing.  Glass is every bit as clear as a Swarovski, and lighter than a Nightforce.  It's probably not as bulletproof as the Nightforce but I was trying to keep weight down somewhat.

[gutsnthegrass]

Sorry about that. I was looking at the conquest V4

[nwhunter]

I have a couple of the ziess v4's.. Great scopes. lighter than NF and cheaper by far . NF are likely tougher but I try to not drop my gun so being able to buy two scopes for the price of one NF it works for me....

[Airohunter]

I have never looked through the SHV but I felt like the NXS glass wasn't very good. I have a couple of the V4's and they have been a solid scope. Not as bright at as ATACR, V6, or VX6HD but pretty equal to a VX3.

[jrebel]

I own both and like both.  Zeiss is lighter for sure.  The nightforce is tough as nails and I have 100% confidence in it.  I own 5-6 nightforce and 1 Zeiss…..I’m a nightforce guy all the way.   With that said, I don’t think you can go wrong with either.   You can find the NSX at very reasonable prices now because most want the NX8.  I have both of them to and they are all great.   

[actionshooter]

I like NF but for my main hunting rifle, I traded the NXS for a V6. It has clearer/brighter glass and is lighter weight.

[Bushcraft]

What's the application?

[gutsnthegrass]

What's the application?

Mostly hunting. I’m putting in on a Springfield Armory 2020 in 6.5prc. I wouldn’t mind trying some of the long range stuff also.

[jrebel]

What's the application?

Mostly hunting. I’m putting in on a Springfield Armory 2020 in 6.5prc. I wouldn’t mind trying some of the long range stuff also.

If you can swing the price....I would really look at the NX8 4-32x50 in 2nd focal plane with the MOAR-CF2 reticle.  You won't regret it.  If that's not in the budget, I would look at an NSX 5.5-22, or the Zeiss V4 4-16x44. 

Here is a good site to buy demo nightforce for very reasonable prices. 

https://www.eurooptic.com/sale/nightforce-demo-sale.aspx

[Sneaky]

the zeiss goes on sale every now and then on midway for sub $700 which is hard to beat. I own nightforce, zeiss, and leupold. Zeiss is the best of the three for the money.

[b23]

What's the application?

Mostly hunting. I’m putting in on a Springfield Armory 2020 in 6.5prc. I wouldn’t mind trying some of the long range stuff also.

If you look around the different forums you can find some really good deals on clean used NF NXS 5.5-22x50 scopes.  The NXS series may not have the same "cool factor" as the NX8 or ATACR but they're as solid a scope as you can get.  They hold zero and their tracking/repeatability is second to none.  Are there scopes with a little better optical quality, yes.  Is it a deal breaker, not even close.  I have numerous NF scopes, NXS, NX8 and ATACR.  If I sit them side by side and go back and forth between them I can see a slight difference but it's minimal.  If you listen to some people you'd think the NXS optics is terrible but that just isn't the case. 

The NF NXS line has very good optics and fantastic tracking with the ability to hold zero in the worst of conditions or use which, for me at least, is far better then having the most amazing optical quality but tracking/repeatability and the ability to hold zero is less than.

If you want to do any LR shooting where you'll be dialing the scope, not just holdover shooting using the reticle, having a scope that holds zero and tracks repeatably is far more important then having the very best optical image.  Like I mentioned there are scopes with a little better optics then the NXS series but it's not like the NXS optics are bad, in fact, they're quite good and better then most.

[delmar90]

I have both. Zeiss V4 4-16 and SHV 5-20x56. Obviously the Zeiss is lighter in this application but I prefer the Zeiss over the SHV because the turret clicks are much sharper, the zero stop seems to be a bit better to me, and the Zeiss has 20 MOA of travel in one full turn of the turret where the SHV only has 10 MOA. I Would say the clarity is pretty close on both.

I'll probably trade out the SHV for a V4 6-24x50 eventually to shave some weight and also gain those same benefits I've really started to like in my V4.

[gutsnthegrass]

I have both. Zeiss V4 4-16 and SHV 5-20x56. Obviously the Zeiss is lighter in this application but I prefer the Zeiss over the SHV because the turret clicks are much sharper, the zero stop seems to be a bit better to me, and the Zeiss has 20 MOA of travel in one full turn of the turret where the SHV only has 10 MOA. I Would say the clarity is pretty close on both.

I'll probably trade out the SHV for a V4 6-24x50 eventually to shave some weight and also gain those same benefits I've really started to like in my V4.

I like the idea of the weight savings for sure. I would be looking at the 6-24x50 myself.

[jrebel]

I have both. Zeiss V4 4-16 and SHV 5-20x56. Obviously the Zeiss is lighter in this application but I prefer the Zeiss over the SHV because the turret clicks are much sharper, the zero stop seems to be a bit better to me, and the Zeiss has 20 MOA of travel in one full turn of the turret where the SHV only has 10 MOA. I Would say the clarity is pretty close on both.

I'll probably trade out the SHV for a V4 6-24x50 eventually to shave some weight and also gain those same benefits I've really started to like in my V4.

I like the idea of the weight savings for sure. I would be looking at the 6-24x50 myself.

Your not comparing apples to apples.....If you want the V6 then you should be looking at a comparably price scope in the nightforce line.  V6 would be comparable to the NX8 both in magnification and cost.  The V6 and NX8 are not on the same playing field as the SHV line. 

V6 27.9 ounces for the 5-30 x 50mm      Cost is roughly $2200
NX8 28.9 ounces for the 4-32 x 50mm    Cost is roughly $2200

These are apples to apples.  Go find a store or person that will let you look at them to see what your eyes like better. 

[Mtnwalker]

I personally am not a big fan of my v4. Haven't gone NF yet because of the weight, but I think it's inevitable. Other option might be a Trijicon tenmile

[gutsnthegrass]

I personally am not a big fan of my v4. Haven't gone NF yet because of the weight, but I think it's inevitable. Other option might be a Trijicon tenmile

Mind me asking what you don’t like about the V4? I have gone through a lot of reviews and yours is the first one I’ve seen that is negative.

[pickardjw]

I have both. Zeiss V4 4-16 and SHV 5-20x56. Obviously the Zeiss is lighter in this application but I prefer the Zeiss over the SHV because the turret clicks are much sharper, the zero stop seems to be a bit better to me, and the Zeiss has 20 MOA of travel in one full turn of the turret where the SHV only has 10 MOA. I Would say the clarity is pretty close on both.

I'll probably trade out the SHV for a V4 6-24x50 eventually to shave some weight and also gain those same benefits I've really started to like in my V4.

Wow, I had no idea there was that big of a difference in erector travel per turret revolution.

I like the v4 4-16x44, got it from Redhawk as a demo model for a solid discount. I'm planning on doing some zero retention testing on it this summer. If the scope fails I'll put it on a trainer rifle and replace with a NF, Trijicon Credo or Tenmile, or the new Maven RS1.2.

This new Maven is getting some overwhelmingly positive reviews.

https://mavenbuilt.com/collections/riflescopes/products/rs1-2-2-5-15x44-ffp

[Mtnwalker]

I personally am not a big fan of my v4. Haven't gone NF yet because of the weight, but I think it's inevitable. Other option might be a Trijicon tenmile

Mind me asking what you don’t like about the V4? I have gone through a lot of reviews and yours is the first one I’ve seen that is negative.

There's nothing in particular that is bad, the overall package is just very mediocre for me. I could take it or leave it, good for the price I guess. I don't like the big fat crosshair. The focus is very finicky for me (no, not the parallax) I have a hard time getting a clear picture of the target and the crosshair at the same time. Everybody says they love the glass in the Zeiss but my old non-hd vx6 is heads and tails above the v4 for my eyes. Tracking appears to be pretty good but zero retention is questionable. Clicks are ok not great, the light weight is nice. This weekend we were shooting 1100 and the NX8 on 16 power seemed equal to the Zeiss on 24 power as far as zoom goes. Side by side on 24x it wasn't even close, which I wouldn't expect it to be but still. If I were to do the v4 over again I think I'd go with the 4-16 instead but I have no plans on purchasing another

[delmar90]

I have both. Zeiss V4 4-16 and SHV 5-20x56. Obviously the Zeiss is lighter in this application but I prefer the Zeiss over the SHV because the turret clicks are much sharper, the zero stop seems to be a bit better to me, and the Zeiss has 20 MOA of travel in one full turn of the turret where the SHV only has 10 MOA. I Would say the clarity is pretty close on both.

I'll probably trade out the SHV for a V4 6-24x50 eventually to shave some weight and also gain those same benefits I've really started to like in my V4.

I like the idea of the weight savings for sure. I would be looking at the 6-24x50 myself.

Your not comparing apples to apples.....If you want the V6 then you should be looking at a comparably price scope in the nightforce line.  V6 would be comparable to the NX8 both in magnification and cost.  The V6 and NX8 are not on the same playing field as the SHV line. 

V6 27.9 ounces for the 5-30 x 50mm      Cost is roughly $2200
NX8 28.9 ounces for the 4-32 x 50mm    Cost is roughly $2200

These are apples to apples.  Go find a store or person that will let you look at them to see what your eyes like better.

You are right, but the 6-24x50 I was referring to is part of the V4 line, not the V6 line. So it puts it at a similar price point to the SHVs. Just wanted to clear that up.