I have a Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 on my long range target rifle. It weighs a ton. 2.5 lbs I think. It is an amazing scope but I hate heavy hunting rifles.

To me a hunting scope needs to weigh less than 20 oz and below 15 oz is better. I love my 13.4 oz Trijicon 3-9x40 scopes.

Does Nightforce make scopes that are significantly lighter? Granted the 7-35x56 is their biggest model but even the 4-16x42 weighs 30 oz which is a no go for me. Even the tiny 1-8x24 is 21 oz.

No, they do not...but with that boat anchor weight you get durability and repeatability.

It's hard to find any optic over 10x that is lighter than 20 ounces.

Nighforce makes the SHV line (Shooter, Hunter, Varminter) model of scopes. These would be their lightest scopes. They are much lighter than the NXS and ATACR models.

Are they any good?

SHV and NX8 are the lightest they make. But they are still crowding 30 ounces.

So, Night Force does not make light, but they do make durable, and reliable. I am about to get an NX8 for my daily carry rifle as well as my 7 Rem Mag that gets used on western hunts. Move the same scope between both rifles.

I just cannot sacrifice the reliability of Night Force, so I will carry the few extra ounces.

There are plenty

Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44 19.7 oz

Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x40 13.4 oz

Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 15.9 oz

Zeiss Conquest V4 3-12x44mm 16.6 oz

Sounds like you'll have plenty of options outside of NightForce to choose from.



The VX5 barely made it.

One of the best, some say better than all of those, that is not on your list is March. I love mine. Can’t confirm the durability aspect but everything else about them is top notch.

My NX8 1-8 rides on my 6.8 and it's light, durable, and perfect in every regard for normal shots on our place

I ran the numbers a few days ago. March against NX8. The lightest March with the same features was 6 ounces lighter than the NX8. The next size up March was 4 ounces lighter. Decided to stick with my tried and true Night Force.

+ March 2-25x42 20.81 oz
+ Vortex Razor LHT 3-15x42 19.1 oz

In my opine the Razor LHT is best hunting scope on the market currently...The reticle is better than those listed above it.

Again my opinion (and I've owned NF and actually sent one back for repair, which they fixed seamlessly) you don't have a hunting scope if it is over about 20-25 ounces. I say that and I don't own a hunting rifle that is over 10lbs fully rigged (including suppressor and scope).

Have you looked at the newer Trijicon scopes? I just got the Credo HX 2.5-15x42. It's a bit over your target weight at 21 oz. Haven't had too much time to spend with it, but it seems to track well and has a great reputation. I'll be breaking it in on an elk hunt next week.

Saw something a couple of days ago at the range that I didn't know ever existed. An accomplished BR guy next to me had a Nightforce fixed 42x scope. It was amazing given the high power and smallish objective.

I found a lighter one to try. Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42mm Mil-R Riflescope C461 20.5 oz. I ordered it and will see how I like it.

I haven’t. I love the accupoint scopes. I have 5 or 6 of them. They are probably my favorite scopes. I am sure other models in their lineup are great too but for some reason they just don’t appeal to me.

For some reason I had a hankering to put a nightforce on this rifle.

That 2.5-10 NXS is a great little scope. Have owned a couple and not had a problem with mechanics. It isn’t a great first or last light scope but should be fine for the game-legal light regulations.

Mighty fine choice!

They bring a premium on the money, probably because they are so light weight for a Night Force.

Had one on my first AR-15. I found the reticle too fine. great glass though.

My lightweight go to is the Swarovski 5-30X50, 21.2oz. Scott calls it a Huble

IMO Swaro makes the best lightweight hunting scopes.

Got it mounted today and sighted in. I really like it. The reticle is really fine. I wish it was a bit heavier. It reminds me of a FFP reticle at low power.

I just got that scope for a Barrett 6.5. Haven’t used it much yet, waiting on the suppressor to finish up the sight in.

Buzz, I’m shocked a scope that size weighs only 21oz.

Because the guts of Swarovski rifle scopes are weak as a kitten. The internals are probably made out of paper machet.

Another scope that might meet the criteria is some of the Swfa stuff. Think they are around 20.5 ounces for the 3-9, 6x and 10x scopes. Consistent dialing and durability. I hate to say as good as Nightforce though… haha

I might throw leupold into that paper machet discusssion. Lost track of how many I’ve sent back. That’s why I switched to Nightforce.