Nightforce NX8 1-8 thoughts and experience in 2022

[ASH556]

Member oregon45 asked me in another thread how I liked my Nightforce NX8 1-8. Rather than derail that thread, I figured I'd create a separate post about it. I did a search and it looked like the most recent discussion was a few years old and mostly hype from when it was first released. So, this is my attempt to provide some feedback on it.

This is actually the second NX8 1-8 I've had. I got the first one in October of 2018 a few months after they were released. I used that one a fair amount in various environments from flat range drills to hunting. I ended up selling it in May of 2019 as part of my overall withdrawal from pursuing shooting and guns at that time. Even so, I had considered moving away from it. There were things I didn't like about it, but in retrospect, most of those had to do with what I now deem to be unrealistic expectations of what that scope is good at.

1. It is not a replacement for a red dot outside of static range drills. This is my opinion and others may disagree. That's fine. For me, in static positions or even with one-dimensional movement, it does work like a red dot. Fairly flat image, nice bright illumination. However, in multi-dimensional movement and, more importantly, less than ideal shooting positions, it certainly suffers compared to a red dot. Frankly, in my experience, every LPVO including the renowned Vortex Razor 1-6 struggles here. It's just what happens when you have tubes and lenses like that.
2. It is not a long range precision optic. Yes, it's FFP. Yes it has Mil stadia. However, the reticle design does not lend itself well to shooting groups or small things far away.

Initially this led me to dismissing the optic altogether as overpriced and a "worst of both worlds compromise." My line became, "If you have to add a red dot, why not put it on a real scope like a 2.5-10 or something with even more top end magnification?"

I've seen many others go down this path as well. On paper, the logic seems to make sense. If all you ever do is shoot from static positions, it will also seems to make sense.

So why did a buy another NX8 and how do I like it?

Short answer: I love it! I've been messing with AR's very heavily since 2002 and have had more configurations than you can shake a stick at; including several high-end optic setups. The NX8 with a piggybacked RMR does everything I want an AR15 to do and does it better than anything else I've tried.

The piggyback RMR is a lot of the magic here. Once you don't have to try to get the "scope" to work like an "Aimpoint," you can do a lot of different things. In several situations mostly revolving around nighttime armadillo hunting, I found myself wanting a more heads-up searching posture with the AR rather than the traditional cheek weld. The piggyback RMR does this perfectly. I think a lot of guys get hung up on the cheek weld vs "chin weld" thing and end up going with an offset RDS mount because they feel like they can transition to the scope faster and maintain cheek weld. To me, that's backwards. The scope is the secondary optic. The RMR is the primary optic and I only use the scope when I need more magnification for ID, Precision, etc. At that point, it's a simple dropping of the cheek into the cheek weld to use the scope.

Ok, but why the NX8? The NX8 is not the worst of both worlds compromise I once thought it was, but rather the best of both, but it is still a compromise. It's size and weight are huge gains compared to most magnified optics. The glass quality is superb as well. I was able to better observe and shoot better groups as well with the NX8 compared to a 10X Leupold Mark 4. In a pinch if the RMR were to fail somehow, the NX8 also works much better at 1X than that 3.5-10 Leupold with Mil-Dot reticle.

Is it the answer for everyone? Of course not. People will have preferences, biases, and budgets. However, if you go into it with the right expectations, I believe you will be well pleased.

https://i.imgur.com/6Bjp524.jpg

[oregon45]

Thanks for the writeup! That's very helpful.

[ASH556]

One other thing I meant to mention: How much top end mag do you need? Well, it depends on what you're doing (obviously) and there's a size and weight pentalty if you go much beyond 10X (Really 8X as there are some 1-10 scopes out now, but they're pretty heavy relative to the NX8). I'll tell you my opinion on what's NOT enough: 3.5X. Prior to this setup, I ran something almost identical but with a TA11 3.5X ACOG instead of the NX8. Great glass. I really like ACOG's for that and certainly the size and weight win. However, a couple things:

1. If I were going to do it with an ACOG again, I would go with a crosshair reticle. I've had several TA11's with their Horseshoe reticles in both red and green and also red Chevrons. I was able to be more precise with the Chevron when zeroing at 100yds, but unfortunately all reticles bloomed too much in even moderate sunlight.
2. I found the 3.5X to be lacking for PID. I think a lot of folks define their need for magnification by something like, "I was banging steel at 200yds with my Aimpoint." Right. Me too. On white painted steel on a static range. However, in field use, there were multiple times I tried to use that 3.5X ACOG to determine if the brown thing moving in the brush at 200yds was a deer or a coyote. Not so easy. The 8X on the top end of the Nightforce helps solve that problem. Truth be told, I've begun leaving the NX8 on 4X because that is a useful general purpose magnification, but then I can go up or down depending on the need. The RMR is still the primary optic, though.

[BK14]

The RMR is still the primary optic, though.

I’ve been using a Viper 1-6 in a 1.54” mount with a 507C up top. For me the dot and scope switch jobs for primary. I’ve been surprised that when shooting from unconventional positions, I just automatically go to the scope. The scope is defaulted to 1x, until I get in a position where I want the magnification, then I dial up. I’ve been considering the NX8 for the next rifle setup to shave some weight, but wanted to try tweaking some stuff.


Have you tried any different mount heights, specifically a 1.7? What about a closed emitter optic?

[ASH556]

I’ve been using a Viper 1-6 in a 1.54” mount with a 507C up top. For me the dot and scope switch jobs for primary. I’ve been surprised that when shooting from unconventional positions, I just automatically go to the scope. The scope is defaulted to 1x, until I get in a position where I want the magnification, then I dial up. I’ve been considering the NX8 for the next rifle setup to shave some weight, but wanted to try tweaking some stuff.


Have you tried any different mount heights, specifically a 1.7? What about a closed emitter optic?

I’ve not had the opportunity to try a 1.7 height mount. I have tried a 1.93 on a friend’s rifle with NX8 and didn’t care for it. On closed emitter, for me that would mean Aimpoint Micro. I think a T1/T2 or the new ACRO that takes the 2032 would be ideal, but more weight. I have 4 RMR’s (2 on Glocks, one of which is carried daily, another on a pimped out 22 pistol and this one). I’m not that worried about it.

[rjohnson4405]

Going down this similar road and found a lot of the same things to be true.

Doing it with a SWFA Ultralight 2.5-10 on the bottom though.

[breakingtime91]

I am also doing a nx8 1-8 with a rds back up. Right now that RDS is a 508t on an arksaka offset. I find this gives me the most capabilities in a fighting carbine. I like the offset because canting the gun into me gives me more control/stability when shooting on the move. I also really like it because I can stupid low in the prone and still make hits. As far as choosing the 508t, I really like the circle dot reticle for 50 yards and in, it's fast and works much better for my eyes than a 2 moa dot. I have pretty much decided to never use a 2 moa dot on anything after experiencing a 6moa dot. Man what a difference, especially in bright New Mexico sunlight.

[mrozowjj]

1. It is not a replacement for a red dot outside of static range drills. This is my opinion and others may disagree. That's fine. For me, in static positions or even with one-dimensional movement, it does work like a red dot. Fairly flat image, nice bright illumination. However, in multi-dimensional movement and, more importantly, less than ideal shooting positions, it certainly suffers compared to a red dot. Frankly, in my experience, every LPVO including the renowned Vortex Razor 1-6 struggles here. It's just what happens when you have tubes and lenses like that.
2. It is not a long range precision optic. Yes, it's FFP. Yes it has Mil stadia. However, the reticle design does not lend itself well to shooting groups or small things far away.


I agree with all that you've said but highlighting this paragraph in particular because IMO nothing not even the venerable Razor 1-6 which I agree likely has the most generous eyebox out there is a good replacement for CQB work over a red dot. Just doesn't work like that. There's a reason all the gamers and even some duty shooters have that top mounted RMR or that 45 degree offset red dot. Red dots are just undeniably inside 100 yards.

I'm not sure at what distance you are thinking about when you say it's not a long range precision optic but I can agree with that too. It can absoltuely make your day easier hitting a target at 500 yards but this is not a scope for a bolt gun or a 308 gun or anything where you are going to shoot 500+ yards with on a regular basis especially if it's a small target like a 6" steel gong. But for hitting people sized targets at 500 yards this works well.

I don't love the NX8 but I've yet to find something else I like more. Everything else is a different and worse for me compromise. Everything else I've worked at is either way more expensive, less magnification, heavier, worse reticle etc or something else that makes me go back to the NX8.

That said I know it's fallen out of favor and it also has compromises but I really think a red dot with some BDC hold overs like a Sig Romeo 4T and a magnifier is probably far more useful for most people in most situations than LPVOs. I'm not really including the forums members here in that group because well the members here shoot so much they make me look like a noob but I'm a member at a range with a 100 and 200 yard range and I've only ever seen one person besides me that's shot at 200 yards and it was this dude using iron sights on his Anschutz 22 LR

[DaBigBR]

I had one and sold it. Great looking optic, excellent weight, great controls, etc.

My two complaints were:

Eye box was pretty unforgiving. Obviously there is a balance between weight and magnification at play that will ultimately determine eye box. For my application (LE patrol), I preferred the more forgiving, but heavier and lower magnification Vortex Razor Gen 2 E, which was also available to me much cheaper than the NX8.

The large center dot of the reticle was simply too large for me at 8X. I ended up feeling like the extra magnification was offset by the relatively imprecise center dot. I really liked the reticle otherwise and thought the way that the illumination works along with being first focal plane to create a "red dot" at 1x was really smart, but at 8x I just didn't like it.

I liked the NX8 well enough that I would probably still recommend it as a good value if you need the 8x capability or if you knew you were going to shoot from predictable positions. If it was down to the NX8 or Razor HD Gen 3 (1-10), for example), I would be much more apt to stick with the NX8 when the relative prices are considered.

[Biggy]

I had one and sold it. Great looking optic, excellent weight, great controls, etc.

My two complaints were:

Eye box was pretty unforgiving. Obviously there is a balance between weight and magnification at play that will ultimately determine eye box. For my application (LE patrol), I preferred the more forgiving, but heavier and lower magnification Vortex Razor Gen 2 E, which was also available to me much cheaper than the NX8.

The large center dot of the reticle was simply too large for me at 8X. I ended up feeling like the extra magnification was offset by the relatively imprecise center dot. I really liked the reticle otherwise and thought the way that the illumination works along with being first focal plane to create a "red dot" at 1x was really smart, but at 8x I just didn't like it.

I liked the NX8 well enough that I would probably still recommend it as a good value if you need the 8x capability or if you knew you were going to shoot from predictable positions. If it was down to the NX8 or Razor HD Gen 3 (1-10), for example), I would be much more apt to stick with the NX8 when the relative prices are considered.


I also had one and sold it, and had the same two complaints about it. Bottom line, it was just not the LPV scope *for me*. I still much prefer the Kahles K16i (G4B reticle) I bought new a couple of years ago for $1720. shipped from Sport Optics. Below are a couple links to some reviews of the K16i. I have my Kahles 16i mounted in a Reptilia Corp 1.54 " height mount with an ACRO P2 (3.5 MOA dot) at 12 o'clock on their ring mount, until I can get a Reptilia Corp 30MM ROF™-90 mount for it.


https://www.westernshooter.com/2014/09/08/kahles-k16i-1-6x24-sm1-review/

https://youtu.be/-p-8gBpYX0Q

[Biggy]

I also had one and sold it, and had the same two complaints about it. Bottom line, it was just not the LPV scope *for me*. I still much prefer the Kahles K16i (G4B reticle) I bought new a couple of years ago for $1720. shipped from Sport Optics. Below are a couple links to some reviews of the K16i. I have my Kahles 16i mounted in a Reptilia Corp 1.54 " height mount with an ACRO P2 (3.5 MOA dot) at 12 o'clock on their ring mount, until I can get a Reptilia Corp 30MM ROF™-90 mount for it. Also FYI, Reptilia Corp told me that they they will be coming out with a 1.700” height scope mount later this year.


https://www.westernshooter.com/2014/09/08/kahles-k16i-1-6x24-sm1-review/

https://youtu.be/-p-8gBpYX0Q

[TicTacticalTimmy]

The upcoming Primary Arms 1-8 compact seems like a good alternative for the same use case as the NX8 1-8. It is a bit lighter, has a way nicer reticle, and potentially much nicer optically.

https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-compact-plx-1-8x24mm-ffp-rifle-scope-illuminated-acss-raptor-m8-556-308-reticle

[breakingtime91]

The upcoming Primary Arms 1-8 compact seems like a good alternative for the same use case as the NX8 1-8. It is a bit lighter, has a way nicer reticle, and potentially much nicer optically.

https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-compact-plx-1-8x24mm-ffp-rifle-scope-illuminated-acss-raptor-m8-556-308-reticle

That reticle is crazy busy for a fighting optic.

[Biggy]

That reticle is crazy busy for a fighting optic.

I agree, way to busy of a reticle for *me* also.

[Trukinjp13]

Also just installed a nx8 on my 16” setup. Threw it in a Badger 1.7 mount. Need to get a offset backup system installed. I prefer the higher mount, I’m a bigger dude and do not like being choked up on the gun and this height is actually a sweet spot for me at prone. Very personal decision imho when it comes to height.

I have been highly impressed with the optic. Size, weight and I actually really like the reticle for a 556 fighting gun. For the distances I’ll actually be using, the size is just right and I find that the eye relief and box is good for what it is.

I have tried other lpvo and was always left disappointed. This one checks the boxes I need.


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[SecondsCount]

The upcoming Primary Arms 1-8 compact seems like a good alternative for the same use case as the NX8 1-8. It is a bit lighter, has a way nicer reticle, and potentially much nicer optically.

https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-compact-plx-1-8x24mm-ffp-rifle-scope-illuminated-acss-raptor-m8-556-308-reticle

People rave about the ACSS reticle but for me, it has waaay too many features. It is like they took every option they could think of and threw it at the scope. I own an older PA scope with the ACSS reticle. There is so much going on that you have to really be aware of what part of the reticle that you are using. They were one of the early adopters of putting in some wind holds which I really like but mixing BDC and MIL, and all the other fluff, make it more complicated than it needs to be.

[littlejerry]

People rave about the ACSS reticle but for me, it has waaay too many features. It is like they took every option they could think of and threw it at the scope. I own an older PA scope with the ACSS reticle. There is so much going on that you have to really be aware of what part of the reticle that you are using. They were one of the early adopters of putting in some wind holds which I really like but mixing BDC and MIL, and all the other fluff, make it more complicated than it needs to be.

The simple mil grid is much more appealing. Like an Atacr reticle with thick stadia to help with 1x performance.

[Tokarev]

Nightforce is now selling a capped version of the NX8. It was previously only available for LE purchase. This new version is using the FC-DMx reticle from the ATACR.

Part number C654.

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[Maca]

I have been considering an NX8 1-8 or a Razor Gen2E 1-6 for an Ar15 that will be used inside 400yards.

If anyone has experience with both, I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

I am new to LPVOs.

Thanks.

[SecondsCount]

I have been considering an NX8 1-8 or a Razor Gen2E 1-6 for an Ar15 that will be used inside 400yards.

If anyone has experience with both, I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

I am new to LPVOs.

Thanks.

If you can swing the Nightforce, that's what I would pick, but you will do fine with a Razor inside of 400 yards and there have been some deals on them lately.

[WobblyPossum]

Nightforce is now selling a capped version of the NX8. It was previously only available for LE purchase. This new version is using the FC-DMx reticle from the ATACR.

Part number C654.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

Hmmm. That’s a pretty good looking set of characteristics. If I was in the market for an LPVO, I’d be trying to find their veterans discount price list.

[HCM]

So the new hotness is projected to ship in July. Time to save your Pennies.

For those with significant time on these:

I was told the tight eye box issues on these can be alleviated by considering it a 1-6x with a bonus 2x as the eye box is noticeably better / more forgiving at 6x vs 8x

[SecondsCount]

So the new hotness is projected to ship in July. Time to save your Pennies.

For those with significant time on these:

I was told the tight eye box issues on these can be alleviated by considering it a 1-6x with a bonus 2x as the eye box is noticeably better / more forgiving at 6x vs 8x

FFP would become more critical as the reticle will stay scaled.

I would want a tighter eyebox at higher magnifications as it will help reduce parallax.

[Wake27]

So the new hotness is projected to ship in July. Time to save your Pennies.

For those with significant time on these:

I was told the tight eye box issues on these can be alleviated by considering it a 1-6x with a bonus 2x as the eye box is noticeably better / more forgiving at 6x vs 8x

That’s how I’m thinking of the Razor 1-10 when I get to use it some more. Zeroing and grouping, the 10x is great. But I’m going to try and keep it in the 6-8 range for more dynamic stuff and see how that goes.


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[El Cid]

Didn’t see a reason to start a new thread. Those folks with the NX8, are you still happy with them? I’m trying hard to resist but it’s not going well. Lol!

How’s the illumination? So many companies claim daylight brightness and so few actually achieve it. Any pics of the FC-DMx reticle?

Thanks in advance!

[TCB]

The illumination is very bright. I’m in S AZ and even on a cloudless midday I don’t have to turn it all the way up…

[El Cid]

The illumination is very bright. I’m in S AZ and even on a cloudless midday I don’t have to turn it all the way up…

That’s what I wanted to hear. Thanks!

[ASH556]

Still loving mine! I have the older FC-Mil reticle, but got the gov model with the capped turrets. Plenty bright. I usually keep mine on 5 or 6. I did just today put it back in a Reptilia AUS30 mount with an RM06 on an ROF 90 (12:00 piggyback mount). I tried it solo in a 1.93 NF Ultramount. If you’re only going to run the scope and want it to behave as much like a red dot as possible, the taller mount helps. For me, I found that past 200 yds the lack of solid cheekweld became problematic and I still had the “what ifs” in the back of my mind about the close and fast stuff. I just have a little more confidence in a piggybacked dot and feel more comfortable with a heads up position than tucked into a scope.

Also, once you get the mount position and diopter right, the glass is great. I was spotting my own .223 hits at 100yds through the NX8 on paper. It’s not a true long range precision optic, but for a carbine I think the size, weight, and capabilities hit a real sweet spot.

[El Cid]

Still loving mine! I have the older FC-Mil reticle, but got the gov model with the capped turrets. Plenty bright. I usually keep mine on 5 or 6. I did just today put it back in a Reptilia AUS30 mount with an RM06 on an ROF 90 (12:00 piggyback mount). I tried it solo in a 1.93 NF Ultramount. If you’re only going to run the scope and want it to behave as much like a red dot as possible, the taller mount helps. For me, I found that past 200 yds the lack of solid cheekweld became problematic and I still had the “what ifs” in the back of my mind about the close and fast stuff. I just have a little more confidence in a piggybacked dot and feel more comfortable with a heads up position than tucked into a scope.

Also, once you get the mount position and diopter right, the glass is great. I was spotting my own .223 hits at 100yds through the NX8 on paper. It’s not a true long range precision optic, but for a carbine I think the size, weight, and capabilities hit a real sweet spot.

Excellent info. Thanks!

I’ve found I usually don’t like 1.93” mounts. I was hoping ti find something between that and 1.57.

[HCM]

Excellent info. Thanks!

I’ve found I usually don’t like 1.93” mounts. I was hoping ti find something between that and 1.57.

Badger makes 1.70 mounts.

[WobblyPossum]

Excellent info. Thanks!

I’ve found I usually don’t like 1.93” mounts. I was hoping ti find something between that and 1.57.

Is it Bobro that has the 1.7” or Badger Ordnance?

[El Cid]

Badger makes 1.70 mounts.

Thanks. I actually have one but nothing to put in it. Lol!

ETA: I’ve also had my eye on this. 1.64.
https://www.admmfg.com/recon-m-mount-odg

[Wake27]

The Badger 1.7 is the way. I don’t foresee myself ever using a different height again. Crazy that it took so long and there are still so few options to put an LPVO close to the most common RDS height.


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[El Cid]

The Badger 1.7 is the way. I don’t foresee myself ever using a different height again. Crazy that it took so long and there are still so few options to put an LPVO close to the most common RDS height.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Agreed. I have been holding out for a Scalarworks to try but can’t wait forever.

[Caballoflaco]

Slight aside, but people are built so differently that ideally you could tweak mount heigh with spacers or something. What‘s ideal for a shorter person with stump neck and rounder head probably won’t be ideal for someone with a giraffe neck and tall oval shaped skull.

[Trukinjp13]

1.7 is awesome for this style scope imo. Good balance of speed and precision. The badger is well built, light and gives you offset capability


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[HCM]

1.7 is awesome for this style scope imo. Good balance of speed and precision. The badger is well built, light and gives you offset capability


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The badger offers both off set and 12 o’clock options.

[Default.mp3]

The Badger 1.7 is the way. I don’t foresee myself ever using a different height again. Crazy that it took so long and there are still so few options to put an LPVO close to the most common RDS height.Wait, what? Since when has 1.7" been close to the most common RDS/HWS height? AFAIK, for lower 1/3rd, the common OEM heights are 39mm/1.54" (Aimpoint) and 41mm/1.61" (EOTech EXPS, Vortex UH-1). The various Aimpoint Micro mounts that are lower 1/3rd range are still more often closer to 1.54" than 1.7" (Scalarworks at 1.57", Geissele, Reptilia, Bobro, and Spuhr all at around 1.54", etc.). There are taller lower 1/3rd mounts, for sure, such as Daniel Defense, LaRue, ADM, throw in the number of folks still running absolute co-witness, and I would think that 39mm/1.54" LPVO mounting is going to be closer to the average "most common RDS height".

I am curious, how well does the 1.7" clear a PEQ-15 ATPIAL at the 1200? I know that the 1.93" was chosen specifically to clear the PEQ-2 while using an S&B Short Dot 1-4, but I don't know how much taller the PEQ-2 sits on the rail, nor the S&B's FOV compared to newer optics.

[El Cid]

Wait, what? Since when has 1.7" been close to the most common RDS/HWS height? AFAIK, for lower 1/3rd, the common OEM heights are 39mm/1.54" (Aimpoint) and 41mm/1.61" (EOTech EXPS, Vortex UH-1). The various Aimpoint Micro mounts that are lower 1/3rd range are still more often closer to 1.54" than 1.7" (Scalarworks at 1.57", Geissele, Reptilia, Bobro, and Spuhr all at around 1.54", etc.). There are taller lower 1/3rd mounts, for sure, such as Daniel Defense, LaRue, ADM, throw in the number of folks still running absolute co-witness, and I would think that 39mm/1.54" LPVO mounting is going to be closer to the average "most common RDS height".

I am curious, how well does the 1.7" clear a PEQ-15 ATPIAL at the 1200? I know that the 1.93" was chosen specifically to clear the PEQ-2 while using an S&B Short Dot 1-4, but I don't know how much taller the PEQ-2 sits on the rail, nor the S&B's FOV compared to newer optics.

I don’t have a PEQ, but I have an DBAL-D2, and my 1.7” doesn’t have a scope yet. Lol! But maybe this will help. The Strike Eagle is in a standard height ADM.

https://i.imgur.io/Twh72kt_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

https://i.imgur.io/V5mVQc6_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

https://i.imgur.io/kzSWkbj_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

https://i.imgur.io/ZgaC27h_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

[Sensei]

Eurooptic finally had a batch of like-new demos and factory blem FC-DMx scopes go on sale for $400-500 off list price. Needless to say I couldn’t resist. Grabbed a Badger Ordinance 1.7 mount. Will post a review and side by side comparison against my ATACR, VCOG, and Razor. This will probably be my last LPVO purchase for a while - the spouse doth protest...

[Coal Train]

ASH556 are you still liking this set up? I am thinking about trying an LPVO again and was going to try this route on a 16” carbine. Perhaps with an Acro up top.

Member oregon45 asked me in another thread how I liked my Nightforce NX8 1-8. Rather than derail that thread, I figured I'd create a separate post about it. I did a search and it looked like the most recent discussion was a few years old and mostly hype from when it was first released. So, this is my attempt to provide some feedback on it.

This is actually the second NX8 1-8 I've had. I got the first one in October of 2018 a few months after they were released. I used that one a fair amount in various environments from flat range drills to hunting. I ended up selling it in May of 2019 as part of my overall withdrawal from pursuing shooting and guns at that time. Even so, I had considered moving away from it. There were things I didn't like about it, but in retrospect, most of those had to do with what I now deem to be unrealistic expectations of what that scope is good at.

1. It is not a replacement for a red dot outside of static range drills. This is my opinion and others may disagree. That's fine. For me, in static positions or even with one-dimensional movement, it does work like a red dot. Fairly flat image, nice bright illumination. However, in multi-dimensional movement and, more importantly, less than ideal shooting positions, it certainly suffers compared to a red dot. Frankly, in my experience, every LPVO including the renowned Vortex Razor 1-6 struggles here. It's just what happens when you have tubes and lenses like that.
2. It is not a long range precision optic. Yes, it's FFP. Yes it has Mil stadia. However, the reticle design does not lend itself well to shooting groups or small things far away.

Initially this led me to dismissing the optic altogether as overpriced and a "worst of both worlds compromise." My line became, "If you have to add a red dot, why not put it on a real scope like a 2.5-10 or something with even more top end magnification?"

I've seen many others go down this path as well. On paper, the logic seems to make sense. If all you ever do is shoot from static positions, it will also seems to make sense.

So why did a buy another NX8 and how do I like it?

Short answer: I love it! I've been messing with AR's very heavily since 2002 and have had more configurations than you can shake a stick at; including several high-end optic setups. The NX8 with a piggybacked RMR does everything I want an AR15 to do and does it better than anything else I've tried.

The piggyback RMR is a lot of the magic here. Once you don't have to try to get the "scope" to work like an "Aimpoint," you can do a lot of different things. In several situations mostly revolving around nighttime armadillo hunting, I found myself wanting a more heads-up searching posture with the AR rather than the traditional cheek weld. The piggyback RMR does this perfectly. I think a lot of guys get hung up on the cheek weld vs "chin weld" thing and end up going with an offset RDS mount because they feel like they can transition to the scope faster and maintain cheek weld. To me, that's backwards. The scope is the secondary optic. The RMR is the primary optic and I only use the scope when I need more magnification for ID, Precision, etc. At that point, it's a simple dropping of the cheek into the cheek weld to use the scope.

Ok, but why the NX8? The NX8 is not the worst of both worlds compromise I once thought it was, but rather the best of both, but it is still a compromise. It's size and weight are huge gains compared to most magnified optics. The glass quality is superb as well. I was able to better observe and shoot better groups as well with the NX8 compared to a 10X Leupold Mark 4. In a pinch if the RMR were to fail somehow, the NX8 also works much better at 1X than that 3.5-10 Leupold with Mil-Dot reticle.

Is it the answer for everyone? Of course not. People will have preferences, biases, and budgets. However, if you go into it with the right expectations, I believe you will be well pleased.

https://i.imgur.com/6Bjp524.jpg

[ASH556]

ASH556 are you still liking this set up? I am thinking about trying an LPVO again and was going to try this route on a 16” carbine. Perhaps with an Acro up top.

I think it's probably about the best setup for a general purpose rifle. I'm no longer using it, mostly because I don't really have much use for a rifle. I tend towards minimalism, and the thought of at that money in glass just sitting in the safe finally got the best of me this past fall. I reasoned that for my "needs" (which is mostly the thing sitting in the safe) an Aimpoint and Magnifier would probably get me 75% of the capability at 1/2 the cost. The capability equation shifts a little as well given my lack of opportunity to make shots past 200 yds without going to a lot of trouble, travel, etc. For 200yds and in, which is probably close to the realistic limit of my 11.5" gun anyway, an Aimpoint and Magnifier probably gets me closer to 90% of the capability.

If someone is a really enthusiastic user, knows what they're doing, and has the means, the NX8 w/piggyback dot is the best solution I can think of. Hope this helps!

Here's where I landed for my "sit in the safe" gun. For reference, I just checked my round counts google sheet and I put 80 rounds through this rifle in 2024, 40 of which were zeroing the dot and irons and confirming lack of parallax with the magnifier.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54059595496_8cff1e9e09_k.jpg

[dontshakepandas]

ASH556 are you still liking this set up? I am thinking about trying an LPVO again and was going to try this route on a 16” carbine. Perhaps with an Acro up top.

I ran an NX8 with a top mounted Acro for almost 2 years. I've since switched that rifle over to a Gen II Razor, but I till like the NX8 quite a bit and wouldn't have any issues running it.

With the right gun, the NX8 provides good performance from 0-500 yards. The eyebox and field of view aren't great, but the reticle, weight, and illumination are all fantastic.

I switched to the Razor because I picked up a 4-16 ATACR for a different rifle which serves my 0-500 yards needs better (although much heavier), and feel the Razor gives very good performance from 0-300 and then just ok performance from 300 - 500.

Most of my shooting is 50 yards and in so I wanted an optic best suited for that.

[Colt191145lover]

Its not a perfect optic at its best if treated as a 1-6 with 8x available from a steady position. Unlike a lot of FFP optics I can still use the reticle on 1x if the batteries die.
I wish I could afford to put one on most of my hunting rifles and ARs .

[Coal Train]

I reasoned that for my "needs" (which is mostly the thing sitting in the safe) an Aimpoint and Magnifier would probably get me 75% of the capability at 1/2 the cost. The capability equation shifts a little as well given my lack of opportunity to make shots past 200 yds without going to a lot of trouble, travel, etc. For 200yds and in, which is probably close to the realistic limit of my 11.5" gun anyway, an Aimpoint and Magnifier probably gets me closer to 90% of the capability.
The main use for mine too is safe sitting but I have been more diligent in practicing the last few months. I have another AR set up with a dot and was thinking of trying the LPVO again but I also considered just putting the spare EOTech on it. I have also considered a magnifier + dot.


With the right gun, the NX8 provides good performance from 0-500 yards. The eyebox and field of view aren't great, but the reticle, weight, and illumination are all fantastic.

I switched to the Razor because I picked up a 4-16 ATACR for a different rifle which serves my 0-500 yards needs better (although much heavier), and feel the Razor gives very good performance from 0-300 and then just ok performance from 300 - 500.

Most of my shooting is 50 yards and in so I wanted an optic best suited for that.
This is a helpful perspective so thanks for sharing it. And I also just put an ATACR 4-16 on a .308 and you are defiantly right, it is noticeably heavy.


Its not a perfect optic at its best if treated as a 1-6 with 8x available from a steady position. Unlike a lot of FFP optics I can still use the reticle on 1x if the batteries die.
I wish I could afford to put one on most of my hunting rifles and ARs .
Thanks for sharing your perspective.

[mrozowjj]

I ran an NX8 with a top mounted Acro for almost 2 years. I've since switched that rifle over to a Gen II Razor, but I till like the NX8 quite a bit and wouldn't have any issues running it.

With the right gun, the NX8 provides good performance from 0-500 yards. The eyebox and field of view aren't great, but the reticle, weight, and illumination are all fantastic.

I switched to the Razor because I picked up a 4-16 ATACR for a different rifle which serves my 0-500 yards needs better (although much heavier), and feel the Razor gives very good performance from 0-300 and then just ok performance from 300 - 500.

Most of my shooting is 50 yards and in so I wanted an optic best suited for that.


I currently have an NX8 1-8 and I bought a Razor 1-6 because I remember the eyebox being far more forgiving but the Razor I just got in the mail isn't as forgiving as I remember. The one I had checked our previously was a 34mm model so= maybe the switch from 34mm to 30mm tube impacted eyebox, most likely my memory just isn't accurate. The more I fiddle with LPVO the more I kind of think I don't actually want or need one. I know it's slower by every measurable standard but I kind of feel like an ACOG was pretty awesome when I had it or Sig Romeo 4T with 3 or 5x magnifier might be better for me.

[dontshakepandas]

I currently have an NX8 1-8 and I bought a Razor 1-6 because I remember the eyebox being far more forgiving but the Razor I just got in the mail isn't as forgiving as I remember. The one I had checked our previously was a 34mm model so= maybe the switch from 34mm to 30mm tube impacted eyebox, most likely my memory just isn't accurate. The more I fiddle with LPVO the more I kind of think I don't actually want or need one. I know it's slower by every measurable standard but I kind of feel like an ACOG was pretty awesome when I had it or Sig Romeo 4T with 3 or 5x magnifier might be better for me.

I actually tried a TA02 with a top mounted Acro in between the NX8 and the Razor and as much as I wanted to like it, I just didn't. The eye relief is too short to be usable for me. I'm 6'2 and run the stock pretty far out, so maybe that would work better for short people or anyone who likes to shoot nose to charging handle, but it didn't work for me. I would take the NX8 over the Acog all day every day. It was lighter than the NX8, but not enough to make up for the amount of capability it gives up.

The eyebox on the NX8 isn't nearly as bad as some people say, but the Razor is just on a different level. I can get a usable sight picture (some shadow but can still easily get a shot off) with my nose to the charging handle or with my face all the way on the back of my stock. The NX8 also gives more of the looking through a tube feeling even with perfect eye position, but the Razor feels like you're looking through a magical portal.

[Sensei]

I have both the 1-8 NX8 and ATACR. The NX8 is on this 16” MCX Spear LT:
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The ATACR is on this LMT MARS-L:
128182

As others have mentioned, the NX8 suffers from eyebox issues when doing non-static shooting at low power, and even at 8X while fairly static. The ATACR is far more forgiving, especially at higher magnifications. I plan to drop a RDS on the NX8 this spring to account for dynamic shooting needs around barriers at low magnification.

Moreover, I’m very closely watching the arrival of the new PA Compact PLx 1-8X FFP with updated daylight bright reticle. I may put this on my 11.5” MCX Spear LT pistol/SBR that is now sporting an Aimpoint CompM4:
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[ASH556]

I currently have an NX8 1-8 and I bought a Razor 1-6 because I remember the eyebox being far more forgiving but the Razor I just got in the mail isn't as forgiving as I remember. The one I had checked our previously was a 34mm model so= maybe the switch from 34mm to 30mm tube impacted eyebox, most likely my memory just isn't accurate. The more I fiddle with LPVO the more I kind of think I don't actually want or need one. I know it's slower by every measurable standard but I kind of feel like an ACOG was pretty awesome when I had it or Sig Romeo 4T with 3 or 5x magnifier might be better for me.

An ACOG is pretty good so long as you and/or the target aren't moving inside 100yds and you don't need to do anything inside 25yds. The 3.5X TA11 is better than the 4X TA31 I think, but comes at a size/weight penalty. I had an RMR piggybacked on a TA01 crosshair model for a minute and that wasn't too bad. ACOG's do have really good glass.

[Coal Train]

I have both the 1-8 NX8 and ATACR.
Any guess on a comparison of the 1-8 NX8 with a top dot vs. the ATACR and no dot?

[Sensei]

Any guess on a comparison of the 1-8 NX8 with a top dot vs. the ATACR and no dot?

I prefer offset dots to top mounts. I first used a TA31 ECOS over 15 years ago and found it difficult to find the dot after breaking cheek weld as opposed to shifting the gun with my face still indexed to find an offset dot.

Having said that, the NX8 is perfectly usable for 90+% off applications. The dot is likely improving on the margins. I suspect that a dot on the ATACR is well into the realm of diminishing returns. However, I’ve not yet shoulder either the NX8 nor ATACR with a dot to test that theory. I just know that I plan to put an offset RDS on the NX8 first.

[dontshakepandas]

I’m not going to lie, this thread has me missing my NX8 and thinking about picking up another one. I think the Razor is a better fit for the purpose of the gun, but something in me just loves the NX8.

Anybody want a deal on a Razor. Kidding. Maybe?

[mrozowjj]

An ACOG is pretty good so long as you and/or the target aren't moving inside 100yds and you don't need to do anything inside 25yds. The 3.5X TA11 is better than the 4X TA31 I think, but comes at a size/weight penalty. I had an RMR piggybacked on a TA01 crosshair model for a minute and that wasn't too bad. ACOG's do have really good glass.

The TA31 is only 14.9oz which really isn't all that much lighter so I can't really justify going ACOG red dot for weight. The TA11 is longer overall and like 2.7oz heavier than the TA31 but has a longer eye relief. That said it's 17.6oz which is the same weight as the NX8 1-8.

I still do kind of like the ACOG for just being a stupid simple optic, no fiddling with a throw lever, no brightness levels, no exposed turrets, no battery. The BDC reticle is simple but usable.