5 Best Nightforce Scopes for 338 Lapua

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The 338 Lapua is a long-range(1900 yards+) and high-powered cartridge, if you are looking for the best Nightforce scope for 338 Lapua you came to the right place.

.338 Lapua Magnum Features

  • Effective range: 1,750 meters (1,910 yds)
  • Muzzle velocity: 880 to 915 m/s (2,890 to 3,000 ft/s)

.338 Lapua Magnum specifications

  • Designer: Nammo Lapua Oy
  • Produced: 1989–present
  • Parent case: .416 Rigby, .338/416
  • Case type: Rimless, bottleneck
  • Bullet diameter: 8.61 mm (0.339 in)
  • Land diameter: 8.38 mm (0.330 in)
  • Neck diameter: 9.46 mm (0.372 in)
  • Case length: 69.20 mm (2.724 in)
  • Overall length: 93.50 mm (3.681 in)

Source: Wikipedia

 

If you are in a hurry here is a summary of the Best Nightforce Scopes for 338 Lapua

1) NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Rifle Scope

NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Riflescope

 

  • Length:15.2 in
  • Weight: 29.1 oz
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
  • Magnification: 5 – 20 x
  • Tube Diameter: 30 mm

 

 

2) NightForce NXS 5.5-22x50mm Tactical Riflescope

NightForce NXS 5.5-22x50mm Tactical Riflescope

 

  • Length:15.1 in
  • Weight: 31.0 oz
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 50 mm
  • Magnification: 5.5 – 22 x
  • Tube Diameter: 30 mm

 

 

3) NightForce NXS 5.5-22x56mm Tactical Scope

NightForce NXS 5.5-22x56mm Tactical Riflescope

 

  • Length:15.2 in
  • Weight: 32 oz
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
  • Magnification: 5.5 – 22 x
  • Tube Diameter: 30 mm

 

 

4) NightForce Precision Benchrest 8-32x56mm Rifle Scope

NightForce Precision Benchrest 8-32x56mm Rifle Scope

 

  • Length:16.6 in
  • Weight: 36 oz
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
  • Magnification: 8 – 32 x
  • Tube Diameter: 30 mm

 

 

5) NightForce ATACR 4-16x50mm ZeroStop Rifle Scope

NightForce ATACR 4-16x50mm ZeroStop Rifle Scope

 

  • Length:13.1 in
  • Weight: 33.3 oz
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 50 mm
  • Magnification: 4 – 16 x
  • Tube Diameter: 34 mm

 

 

 

Choosing the Best Nightforce Scope for 338 Lapua

Durability

Most rifle scopes are made of a single-piece body made out of aircraft-grade aluminum. This kind of construction ensures protection from shock and recoil while still retaining the scope’s lightweight nature.

Magnification

The perfect 338 Lapua riflescope would have a minimum magnification between 3x and 5x and a maximum magnification of at least 10x. It will even be better to have one with a magnification of a maximum of up to 15x.

Weatherproof

Apart from being waterproof, it is good for your rifle scope to have fog-proof lenses for convenient use in all manner of weather. Features like O-ring seals and inert gas purging help with weatherproofing.

Lightweight

The best scope for hunting should be easy to carry around the field without much fatigue. Very lightweight scopes are however presumed to have lesser features compared to their heavier counterparts.

Eye relief

This refers to the distance between the lens and your eye. A good scope should have long eye relief to ensure that the eyepiece does not bounce into your brows or eyes during heavy recoil.  Additionally, a forgiving eye box helps with the proper positioning of your eye for comfortable aiming.

 

Best Nightforce Scope for 338 Lapua-Our Top Picks

1) NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Rifle Scope

NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Riflescope

 

 

 

This is your best scope for close and extended-range varmints, big game hunting, and tight groups on paper.

This NightForce SHV riflescope is made to provide maximum versatility in different shooting applications, including target shooting, big game hunting, and varmint shooting. The scope costs much less than many in its class from other brands.

The NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Rifle Scope is constructed of high-quality materials with a unique design that offers exceptional precision at extended ranges.

It offers high magnification to ensure clarity, crispness, and color contrast through the entire range, minimum to maximum.

The rifle scope also comes with the standard ZeroSet that allows you to make a rapid return to your chosen zero even after making several elevation adjustments.

The scope’s heavy-duty materials also help by increasing its longevity and durability for more reliable performance.

Specifications

  • Tube Diameter: 30 mm
  • Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
  • Reticle Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane (SFP)
  • Magnification: 5 – 20 x
  • Attachment/Mount Type: Ring
  • Field of View, Linear: 5 – 17.9 ft at 100 yds
  • Parallax: 25 yds to infinity
  • Exit Pupil: 2.5 – 8.7 mm
  • Eye Relief: 3.5 in
  • Length: 15.2 in

Pros

  • High-quality construction for durability
  • Ideal magnification range for hunters
  • Incredible precision
  • Available in First or Second Focal Plane
  • Impact and shock resistant
  • Side parallax adjustment
  • Weather- resistant
  • Clarity and image brightness
  • Close and extended-range applications

Cons

  • Analog illumination

 

2) NightForce NXS 5.5-22x50mm Tactical Riflescope

NightForce NXS 5.5-22x50mm Tactical Riflescope

 

 

 

The NXS Tactical riflescope is made for extreme long-range shooting. Like other NXS scopes, this one passes through a battery of tests, including side and front impact which makes them able to withstand what ordinary optics cannot.

The scope is made using only the highest quality, most durable components, offering a lifetime of repeatable precision.

The lenses are bedded with NightForce Mil-Spec formulation that reduces any glass-to-metal contact, preventing breakages, stress, misalignment, and thermal shock.

The NightForce 5.5-22×50 NXS Rifle Scope provides a broad magnification and range, as well as a large field of view.

It also provides you 100 M.O.A. elevation travel and four inches of eye relief to ensure you get the best performance while still keeping your eyebrows safe. This is especially necessary when using high-recoil rifles.

This NXS riflescope’s range of magnification and internal adjustment allow most .50 BMGs to achieve the 2,000-yard mark accurately.

It has a MOAR Reticle, which is a great advancement in precision long-range shooting, offering extremely fast aiming and easy viewing. This reticle features a floating center crosshair that is two MOA wide and two MOA tall for a precise aiming point.

It also features one-MOA elevation and windage spacings, with a 20 MOA scale below the center.

Specifications

  • Objective Lens Diameter: 50 mm
  • Magnification: 5.5 – 22 x
  • Parallax: 50 yds to infinity
  • Tube Diameter: 30 mm
  • Adjustment Type: MOA (100 MOA range)
  • Reticle Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane (SFP)
  • Illumination: Red LED
  • Field of View, Linear: 4.7 – 17.5 ft at 100 yds
  • Exit Pupil: 2.3 – 9.1 mm
  • Eye Relief: 95 mm

Pros

  • 6061-T6 Aircraft Grade Aluminum construction
  • Accurate 2000 yards and beyond
  • Completely waterproof and weatherproof
  • Features proprietary titanium beta erector spring for more spring pressure
  • It offers 100 M.O.A. of internal adjustment
  • Speed and accuracy in all situations
  • Rigorously tested for perfection

Cons

  • No Power Throw Lever

 

3) NightForce NXS 5.5-22x56mm Tactical Scope

NightForce NXS 5.5-22x56mm Tactical Riflescope

 

 

 

The NightForce 5.5-22×56 NXS Rifle Scope is made for long-range precision and accuracy.

It combines performance and innovation, while still maintaining its ruggedness, dependability, and craftsmanship.

The scope is perfect for long-range shooting and hard target acquisition. It comes with a broad magnification and range, combined with a large field of view, four inches of eye relief, and 100 M.O.A. elevation travel.

The range of magnification and internal adjustment allow most .50 BMGs to accurately achieve the 2,000-yard mark.

This NXS scope is one of the most advanced field tactical scopes ever produced, a major advancement in precision long-range shooting, with extremely fast aiming and easy viewing.

Specifications

  • Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
  • Magnification: 5.5 – 22 x
  • Field of View, Linear: 4.7 – 17.5 ft at 100 yds
  • Tube Diameter: 30 mm
  • Parallax: 50 yds to infinity
  • Exit Pupil: 2.5 – 10.2 mm
  • Adjustment Click Value: 0.25 MOA
  • Illumination: Red LED
  • Eye Relief: 3.9 in
  • Reticle Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane (SFP)

Pros

  • It has 100 M.O.A. of internal adjustment
  • Waterproof and fog proof
  • Incredible Speed and accuracy
  • It is made of 6061-T6 Aircraft Grade Aluminum
  • The scope is completely waterproof and weather resistant
  • It has a proprietary titanium beta erector spring for more spring pressure
  • Strong and durable
  • Weather Resistant

Cons

  • Pricey

 

4) NightForce Precision Benchrest 8-32x56mm Rifle Scope

NightForce Precision Benchrest 8-32x56mm Rifle Scope

 

 

 

NightForce Precision Benchrest 8-32x56mm Rifle Scope comes with some of NightForce’s most impressive features, including a 56 mm multi-coated objective lens that provides the high resolution necessary to distinguish fine detail at extremely long ranges.

The scope features an adjustable objective that offers extra-fine focus to adjust parallax from 25 yards to infinity.

It also features target turrets that are calibrated in true .125 M.O.A. (1/8 click) value and can be reset to zero after sighting in.

Additionally, the scope is fitted with a coil plunger adjustment return system that helps to maximize tracking accuracy.

Also included is a quick diopter-style eyepiece to ensure fast focusing as well as a glass-etched illuminated reticle for ideal image/reticle contrast.

Specifications

  • Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
  • Magnification: 8 – 32 x
  • Reticle: Illuminated NP-R2
  • Adjustment Click Value: 0.125 MOA
  • Parallax: 25 yds to infinity
  • Tube Diameter: 30 mm
  • Attachment/Mount Type: Ring
  • Reticle Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane (SFP)
  • Exit Pupil: 1.7 – 5.6 mm
  • Field of View, Linear: 3.1 – 9.4 ft at 100 yds
  • Eye Relief: 75 mm

Pros

  • Made of 6061-T6 Aircraft Grade Aluminum
  • Completely waterproof and fog-resistant
  • Capped, finger-adjustable Elevation and windage adjustments
  • Best light management and resolution
  • Accuracy in a variable power scope
  • Recoil and impact are tested at 1,250 Gs for both positive and negative forces

Cons

  • Analog illumination

 

5) NightForce ATACR 4-16x50mm ZeroStop Rifle Scope

NightForce ATACR 4-16x50mm ZeroStop Rifle Scope

 

 

The NightForce ATACR 4-16x50mm ZeroStop Rifle Scope is designed with very desirable features that provide a bright, virtually perfect image in all manner of weather.

It is made from strong durable materials that make it impact-resistant even when using rifles with heavy recoil.

It also features an ED glass hence making it the ultimate precision instrument for long-range shooting for all including the military, tactical professionals, and civilian shooters.

The ATACR 4-16 x 50 rifle scope performs as well as a hunting rifle, with great resolution and clarity that come in a second focal plane configuration.

The scope’s low standard deviation and match grade make it stand out from other hunting scopes in the market.  It also comes with repeatable adjustments that make it easy to use for the ordinary hunter.

Specifications

  • Objective Lens Diameter: 50 mm
  • Parallax: 45 yds to infinity
  • Magnification: 4 – 16 x
  • Field of View, Linear: 26.9 – 6.9 ft at 100 yds, 9 – 2.3 m at 100 m
  • Eye Relief: 3.5 in
  • Brightness Settings: 6
  • Tube Diameter: 34 mm
  • Exit Pupil: 3.2 – 9.5 mm
  • Battery Type: CR2032
  • Adjustment Click Value: 0.1 Mil Rad
  • Battery Life: 29 – 350 hours

Pros

  • Made with multi-coated ED glass for brilliant images
  • It has great low-light performance
  • It has an integrated Power Throw Lever
  • Low-profile ZeroStop elevation technology
  • It has Digillum digital reticle illumination
  • It has highly visible magnification markings for easy adjustments
  • Capped windage adjustment helps prevent accidental adjustments in the field
  • Fully multi-coated lenses
  • It is waterproof
  • It is lightweight, measuring just 13.1 inches and weighing 33 ounces

Cons

  • Expensive

Read Also: 6 Best Nightforce Scopes for Hunting

FAQs

Why Nightforce is the best?

Nightforce is one of the leading suppliers of hunting and shooting optics. Their products are made by professionals in their factory with proprietary designs to give shooters the best performance in terms of light diffusion, color correctness, visual sharpness, and magnification.

Are Nightforce scopes better than Leupold?

These are two big brands. Their construction, glass quality, and brightness have not many differences. However, Leupold scopes tend to have a higher zoom range, more magnification, and more eye relief. NightForce scopes, on the other hand, are very accurate and hard to lose zero.

It can penetrate better-than-standard military body armor at ranges of up to 1,000 meters (1,090 yds)

Conclusion

There are a ton of options in the market when it comes to finding the perfect scope for your rifle. However, nothing beats a custom-made rifle scope, made by professionals to suit the needs of different hunters and shooters all over the world.

NightForce Inc. has made its products trustworthy all over the world by providing quality over everything else. Just as the ones discussed in this Best Nightforce Scope for 338 Lapua review, their rifle scopes come with specific features to make your experience in the field unforgettable.

We hope you find the best fit for your needs among our choices.