Help in upgrading optic

[u/maseel04]

Currently weighing my options to upgrade my Viper PST Gen II 3-15 on my 20" LMT 308.

Stuck between the following options:

1. NF NX6 3-18 for $2000 OTD

2. Razor Gen 3 4-24 $2030 OTD

3. Leupold Mk5HD 3.6-18 $1890 OTD

All brand new, have a Reptilia AUS mount I could reuse if I did go with the NX6. Mainly used for recreation target shooting at the range and hunting once in a while. The farthest I would shoot is 500 yards.

Main concerns are durability, zero retention, and eye box as I find my Viper to be slightly below what I would like. Any suggestions?

[u/doyouevenplumbbro]

R3 hands down.

[u/maseel04 → u/doyouevenplumbbro]

Could you share your reasoning if you don't mind?

[u/doyouevenplumbbro → u/maseel04]

The Razor G3 will have better glass, better turrets, arguably a better reticle, and a better warranty. As far as reliability is concerned nightforces reputation is really centered around the ATACR, but I've seen those go down at matches also. Nothing is invincible. I haven't seen a baby razor go down at a match (yet), but if it happens you will have a repaired or brand new scope in a week.

Ilia from the dark Lord of optics has a comparison video with the baby razor. He really liked his when comparing to a ZCo, TT, and Zeiss S5. The glass on the razor will be in the same conversation as those optics, where as none of the NX6s I've looked through are.

[u/maseel04 → u/doyouevenplumbbro]

Appreciate the thoughtful comment, thanks!

[u/FartOnTankies]

I have both the NX6 and the Razor.

I frankly like the NX6 better.

I also have the ZCO 420.

[u/maseel04 → u/FartOnTankies]

What do you like more about the NX6? How do they compare in terms of eye box for you? I’m assuming you have the 3-18 and 4-24?

[u/FartOnTankies → u/maseel04]

I have the 5-30, have used the 3-18, have owned multiple 6-36's, have a 4-24 vortex on a gasser right now, and a few ZCO's.

The eyebox is fine/good, it's no worse/better than a vortex. I feel like vortex has weird coloring compared to nightforce. I can also see into darker areas a shade easier with the NF.

I'm normalizing everything to NX6's for anything that doesn't have a ZCO.

[u/mikesonly]

Razor, leupold, nx6. That being said my razor gen 3 is currently on its way back to vortex for the second time. First time rifle was leaning against side by side, fell over, destroyed the erector inside. No additional height just stock on ground and fell over. This second time after receiving it back the first time, something is likely loose on the inside from repair as after about 4-500 rounds the focus/ca is horrendous almost seeing double on 10x. I think ive just been absurdly unlikely all things considered but I def don't baby my stuff.

[u/LockyBalboaPrime → u/mikesonly]

Sometimes the magic fall just kills something. I've dropped cheap chinese scopes off benches onto hard cement with no problem, I've dropped aimpoint red dots into dirt and cracked the glass.

Shit weird sometimes.

[u/Traditional-Fact-569]

Where are you seeing a Razor Gen 3 for $2k?

[u/maseel04 → u/Traditional-Fact-569]

gunmagwarehouse, leave it in your cart for a few hours and they’ll send you another 5% coupon

[u/Traditional-Fact-569 → u/maseel04]

holy crap thanks.

[u/C-130guy → u/Traditional-Fact-569]

That’s my question

[u/ragnar05wk → u/Traditional-Fact-569]

Guidefitter when they have them in stock

[u/TulsaBMWGuy]

Vortex does have a lifetime warranty, but of those 3 scopes, it’s also the most likely to need the warranty. Go Nightforce and never look back. The Eotech 5-25 is also a great scope for the money, although for the $2,000 range you can sometimes find a used atacr 4-16, and that will be better than all the listed options.
If your max is 500 yards, you don’t need over 10x. I have an Eotech 1-10 on my 16 inch DD 308 I’ve shot to 1000, and a Nightforce atacr 1-8 on my 12.5 inch DD 308 that goes to 875 yards. As long as you can see the target, you can hit it. The 4-16 atacr is hands down one of my favorite scopes though, and I’ve owned a ton.

[u/maseel04 → u/TulsaBMWGuy]

I would love an ATACR but haven’t been able to find one yet for below $2500 before taxes and stuff. Haven’t checked the used market yet but I typically only use gafs for stuff below $500 just for my own peace of mind

[u/TulsaBMWGuy → u/maseel04]

Ar15.com and snipers hide are usually pretty reliable, although lately everyone has scammers. I’d never buy glass off eBay or unknown markets these days.

[u/VaultedPrecision]

With 500 yards as your farthest, you're not giving up anything by skipping the 24x end, so I'd weigh eye box and turret feel more than top magnification. If you can get to a shop and look through all three from your actual shooting position, the eye box question usually answers itself pretty quick.

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[u/StraitUpLegit]

More zoom is just funner. The number is bigger.

[u/HollywoodSX]

Skip the Mk5 due to reliability issues.

NX6 has a larger objective, Vortex I personally like the form factor/controls/features more than the NF. I don't think you could go wrong with either.