Scope help

Trying to decide between a few scopes for a rifle. Goal with this rifle/ set up will be something light that I can take on a elk hunt. Would like to stay below $2500. I would probably use this set up for target practice out to 700 yards as well. I have a few Leupold vx-5hd already and I do like them for hunting but not much for dialing or long range shooting. It is still something I am considering though. I am very much in the mind set of buy once cry once with this purchase.

Anyone have experience comparing the nightforce nx8 vs the march?

https://www.eurooptic.com/March-Com...-Reticle-01MIL-Riflescope-D25V42TML.aspx

https://www.eurooptic.com/Nightforce-NX8-25-20x50-F2-1-MRAD-MIL-CF2-Riflescope-C638.aspx

https://www.eurooptic.com/Leupold-V...2-Side-Focus-HTMR-Riflescope-178027.aspx

Even considering a nightforce 2.5-10 to save some weight. Of course I would lose a lot of magnification too
https://www.eurooptic.com/nxs-25-10x42mm-zerostop-1-mil-radian-mil-r-digillum-ptl-c461.aspx

No NX8 but I do have a March and can say for glass there is not much better except a TT.

March 21.9 ounces
NX8 28.6 ounces
NXS 20.5 ounces

Based on weight alone, I think the March is your answer. A friend of mine has one and loves it. No problems from it.

The NXS 2.5-10X just doesn't save you enough weight for the lack of magnification range against the March.

I have a March on my 28 Nosler I built to hunt elk with. I don't regret the purchase at all. I want to say I found it used for $1800, but when I say used it had never been mounted and was still in the box.

http://marchscopes.com.au/scopes/first-focal-plane-scopes/3-24x42mm-ffp/

I got the non-illuminated model. They came out with a 17ish ounce scope this year. I plan on adding it to my light weight SA build I've got in the works for hopefully a sheep hunt in 2023.

Boy, for an elk hunt you'll need some lower magnification in the timber.
How much do those scopes weigh also ? Lugging a heavy rifle around the mountains ain't fun.

Vortex Razor AMG is stupidly nice. 28 ounces

I'd figure out another way to save 6 or 7 ounces myself. That's not a meaningful amount of weight on a gun built to shoot a half mile accurately and repeatably. JMHO

These are way out of my price range but this seems to be the most sound logic. While I've recently learned I can really stretch out my 10x at the range in controlled setting, man I would want more when actually hunting scenario.

This. I just sold my nx8 the I didn’t care for the eye box everything else was solid. YMMV

Which March model do you have? I am looking at the 2.5-25 2nd focal plane model - https://marchscopes.com/scopes/d25v52timl/

I am wondering if the subtentions on the reticle are correct at max power or not. Here are a couple pics I found on their website of the reticles for this model. It looks like they might be right at 10x which seems really weird.

Also I cant figure out what this chart means.

Looks like a second focal plane scope where it is that for only one magnification, First focal plane the values would be the same at all magnifications, though the reticle does look fatter on higher power and can get real small at the low end.

Yea this is the 2nd focal plane model. I know most 2nd focal plane scopes the subtentions are correct at max power. I find it odd these are right at 10. At least that is the way I read that image and description

Don't care for SFP, and this is why, ya gotta think.

Same story, different day. Got a trotting off coyote in the scope this morning. Turned up the magnification until it was enough. Knew the tree line he was headed into was 200 yards, and got .5 Mil on the back of his head. Then he made his escape, no shot fired. But, many, many of them have died making a quick elevation hold. Never a thought as to what magnification setting I was on.

If you run a first focal plane at the bottom of the power ring bet that you can’t quite make out the retical on an elk at any distance. I find the second focal plane is better for hunting because the retical will stay the same size throughout the power range which helps to see which way your game animal ran off after the shot, and if a follow up is required you can usually run them down within your observed field of view.

If I make a long shot, I take my time get a range, dial the scope and in my way I do things it doesn’t matter much sfp or ffp.. I own both types of scopes and believe each has their purpose and place.

Hunting wise I tend to lean towards second focal plane because of my stated reasons above.

The steel bangers, and their quickness and the goal of ringing a gong first focal plane has an advantage but typically the steel plate is painted white or something bright and you can pick that black retical out pretty dang easy on the lowest power setting.

Animals are hard to see, especially in low light, dim, wet, overcast conditions.

Food for thought, good luck with your choice!

That's why you get FFP with illumination - the illumination makes the reticle visible at low power.

Even with a good illuminated scope (nightforce or better) it’s still not ideal, but to each his own..
there’s no right or wrong if you can use what you have to the fullest potential.

Illuminating a retical seems like a good idea till you sit in the dark for 2-3 hours then flip it on and blind yourself because it’s set to high..