Thinking about selling my Leupold Vari X III 6.5 x 20 LRT and swapping it out for a NightForce for my custom Sako 7 Mag lightweight hunting rifle. Was wondering if the SHV or the NXS 5.5 x22 or 8 x 32 scopes are great optics and if anyone used them. I think the ATACR scopes are too bulky for a lightweight hunting rifle. My rifle shoots great at long distance, so I like a long distance scope with turret calibrations. I use the ATACR's on my 6.5 x 284 and Creedmore, and they are nice. Getting two more ATACR's for my .308 GAP Crusader and .300 Win Mag soon.

Dang...I wish I had a money tree...:-)

I have 5 Nightforce scopes, all 5.5-22 NXS series and love each one. The NXS series would be a heavy scope for a lighter weight hunting rifle. But the SHV series would be ideal. I like these scopes a lot, and plan to have one eventually for a hunting rifle. Don't get a "custom" turret for it. Get it in moa or mils and learn how to use moa or mils, and you'll be better off.

I just use the regular turrets, I do just fine with them. I use the MOAR T and MOAR in the ATACR's and they are in MOA.
Is the clarity / focus crisp clear as the ATACR's?

No

I just recently went head to head on our work nxs scope against my 4x16x44 atacr. My atacr was clearly more clear even with the smaller obj. I'm not sure it is 7-800$ clearer but easily noticeable.

16x will appear more clear than at 22x of the NXS, so it's not an equal comparison. NXS series are clear enough to see bullet holes at 300 and 400 yards on white paper. And the NXS series are clear enough to see anything you need to see.

I love all of my nxs, but they are on 12lb+ LR setups. I definitely wouldn't recommend them for a LW setup, they are long, heavy and bulky. The SHV is a better fit and personally 8x is too high for a low mag when hunting, 5.5 is darn near too much. My daughters ruger compact 260 sports a vortex viper 3.5-10x50 which is great and my 260 sporter rig has the SHV 4-14x50 F1.

My 3 NXS are 5.5-20×50&56 mil/mil btw

I've got the SHV on my hunting weight 7 mag. Seems to be a great all around setup. The only negative I can think of is that for the scope to be truly waterproof you have to leave the turret covers on. I haven't ran into any situations where I needed to make a quick adjustment in the field, so it hasn't been a problem for me.

I ran the 2.5-10x42 for a year, great scope but I have to be honest, the Bushnell LHRS 3-12x44 is a better scope. Better glass and better reticle for hunting. The Mil-R is very thin and I am not a fan of digital illumination controls.

This is not a knock against Nightforce, they make GREAT scope and are very dependable.
Just discussing in the context of a hunting scope.

I wish the SHV scopes weren't so heavy..

I have the SHV on my hunting gun and love it! I ordered an moa 1000 from extreme outer limits and it was the cheapest I could find by a couple hundred bucks. Was like $900 to my door. I have a 7mag and shoot the 168 VDL burgers. Awesome set up hand down!