New Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x50mm F1 and Remington Premier Match ammunition

[MCMXI]

I ordered a Nightforce 3.5-15x50mm F1 with zero stop about five months ago and received it last week. I made a call to Diann at Mile High Shooting last week and ordered an AI 30mm scope mount with 18 MOA of cant. I lapped the lower part of the mount this morning (will Cerakote later) and got the scope mounted. I need to order some Butler Creek scope covers but here's the scope on the rifle.








The next step was to bore sight and zero the scope at 100 yards using some "crappy" Remington Premier Match 168gr SMK. I obviously did a decent job bore sighting since the first group was only 1-1/2" high and 3/4" left (cold bore shot top left). I used the MLR2 reticle to measure the offset and got the windage right for the second group but didn't go a good job measuring the elevation offset. I adjusted down 0.8 mils which was clearly too much. After shooting the second group I made one more adjustment and could still come up 0.1 mil but overall I'm really surprised and pleased with the performance of the Remington ammunition (all five-shot groups under 1" at 100 yards) and the Nightforce is everything I hoped it would be. I need to lower the bench though since it's way too high to get comfortable. I was half standing/sitting shooting these groups but all in all a good day.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Gorgeous setup. I was looking at one of those scopes just yesterday. I am looking at one for my 700 SPS .308. I just bought the NightForce ATACR for my 300 WinMag and love it.

 

[jpwilly]

Sweet set up. Like those AI rifles.

 

[Walkalong]

Sweet!. Great pics. Looks like it really wants to shoot.

 

[Geno]

It looks very nice. I have a question. Why did you elect to use the AI unimount type base, and not Nightforce's unimount?

Geno

 

[MCMXI]

Thanks guys!!

Why did you elect to use the AI unimount type base, and not Nightforce's unimount?

That's a good question. The main reason that I chose AI mounts is that they were designed specifically for the AI and I want the option to move scopes between AIs without any issues. I have three AIs in all and already had AI mounts on two of them so I wanted to stay with what I know. The AI mount sits completely flat against the top of the AI Picatinny rail, so if the scope is level with the mount it's also level with the rifle ... a plus if you need or want to move scopes/mounts between rifles. In my experience this isn't the case for all mount/rail combinations. Also, the AI mount has an integral recoil lug and the three screw system (30 in-lb) with one jaw is a simple and effective design. I didn't even consider the Nightforce Ultralight Unimount but it looks to be well made. However, at close to $100 more than the AI mount and without any prior experience with that model I probably wouldn't have taken the risk. The NF scope came with a set of 30mm Ultralight rings that I may or may not use on another rifle.