Why is nightforce so expensive

In my day job, hardly a week goes by without someone asking this question: Where are Nightforce scopes made or manufactured? The Federal Trade Commission commonly called the FTC along with a few other government agencies are tasked with making sure that goods that are both manufactured within the US, and those that are imported into the USA are correctly and accurately labeled as to their Country of Origin which is also commonly called the COO. Sounds pretty straightforward right?

Those items scopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, etc. So, when a certain percentage of those components are manufactured in a country outside the United States, the Country of Origin is required to be the country where the majority of the components are sourced from.

That Country of Origin designation comes from the fact that the majority of the components used in the manufacturing process do make the product come from China. This is all great info, but how does it relate to answer the question about where Nightforce scopes are manufactured? Again, its important to understand that being assembled, tested, etc. Nightforce Optics, like most rifle scope brands in the U. Nightforce has a relationship with a company in Japan that produces all the lenses in each Nightforce scope line.

The SHV acronym stands for Shooter Hunter Varminter and this series is available in 4 power ranges with each power range being offered in at least 4 different Nightforce reticle options. New for , the NX8 line is really geared towards mid-range shooting with an emphasis on features and functionality. A slight step up from the SHV line in terms of glass and features.

Nightforce is marketing it towards hunters who need a lightweight scope with good power and excellent glass without breaking the bank. The NX8 series is available in 3 power configurations with each configuration offering at least 4 different reticle choices. The NXS series was series that was original built for military and law enforcement use, and for entry into military trials. A variation of the NXS series did win a military contract and is still in use across a number of military branches and across a number of law enforcement agencies.

The NXS series is marketed towards long range shooters with an edge towards military and tactical applications. Lastly, we have our budget scope, a Bushnell Elite 10x40mm. As you might expect, this scope lacks some of the features found on the other two scopes. It does not have an illuminated reticle or a parallax adjustment knob.

It is fixed at 10x magnification and uses a basic mildot reticle. After getting all the scopes together I carefully looked each one over in order to see how the three optics differed from one another in terms of parts fit and finish as well as overall scope construction.

Unsurprisingly, the Nightforce led the pack in this department, as it should given its higher price tag. The markings on both the windage and elevation knobs also lined up perfectly with the index point on the scope body, meaning that there was no question as to how many clicks of adjustment were made. All moving parts of the scope were well-machined to provide a textured gripping surface, and the scope sported a very durable matte finish. The NXS also sported more features overall, such as red and green push-button illumination seamlessly incorporated into the parallax knob and the proprietary Mil-R reticle and Zero-Stop mechanism.

Leupold optics have an excellent reputation for durability and clarity which I can personally attest to, having used some of their products on missions in Afghanistan. However, in this case I was a bit underwhelmed with the fit and function of the elevation and windage turrets. The adjustment clicks were less positive than on the NXS and overall the turret rotation felt a little mushy.

Warning Close. Confirm Action Are you sure you wish to do this? Confirm Cancel. User Panel. Login Register? AR » Optics, Mounts, and Sights. Site Notices. Meyers' New "Pocket Rocket". I had one and can't explain this to a buddy of mine, so maybe you guys can help,,,, I tell him they are probably the best scopes out there, really clear, perfect reticles and illumination, tough as hell, and Reasonably priced for the quality that you are getting IMHO.