Nightforce 3-12x56mm SHV

There has been a trend recently for scope manufacturer’s to offer value models of their premium products as an entry level scope to the brand. Duralyt for Zeiss has worked very well, now NightForce, long regarded for their NF and NXS scope models, has launched the SHV scope range. These are value engineered but still contain the same build quality and optical excellence of their big brothers but with less peripheral features to keep the cost down.

I was sent the 3-12x56mm SHV model from the Sportsman Gun Centre (SGC) that comes with 30mm tube as standard, with no reticule choice and non-illuminated and no parallax adjustment either. You may think ah, but look at the price, £599 for a NightForce quality scope and you will soon question, do you actually need those options?

BUILD

A one-piece, machined 6061 T6 aluminium aircraft grade 30mm tube is used and finished in a satin black, tough anodised coating. This model has been designed to suit the European hunter with maximum light gathering properties and practical zoom range of the magnification.

The objective lens itself is 56mm diameter, with a 65mm outer housing diameter, that has a threaded lip for a sunshade. The 44mm diameter eyepiece is a fast-focus type, so you can change the diopter quickly. The exit pupil at x3 power is 11.3mm and at max x12 it is 4.7mm diameter. Thus, when combined with the large 56mm objective, you have way over the maximum 7mm eyes actual pupil ability on x3 power, providing bright images in low light, whilst even at 12 x power 4.7mm is still very good to provide a detailed image.

The magnification range is typically hunter-friendly, x3 power for closer range and woodland, whilst the x12 magnification takes care of those longer shots. Field of view is 37.1 feet on x3 and 9.3 feet on x12 power. As there is no parallax adjustment, the SHV is parallax-free at 100 yards or 91.4metres. Overall length is only 14.8”, so quite short and its light too at 25.4 oz but due to the highgrade aluminium body, internal adjustments are well protected against shocks and heat. The mounting length is also good on the SHV, 60mm in front and behind the turrets, so even long actions can be accommodated.

RETICULE AND ADJUSTMENTS

Reticule adjustments are via capped elevation and windage dials with .25 MOA per click. There are 4 clicks per segment indicated on both dials and there are 10 segments or division per dial. That’s one MOA per segment and 10 MOA per one complete rotation. Maximum adjustment for both elevation and windage is 50 MOA, so plenty of scope for getting on zero and shots at longer ranges too.

This first model supplied comes with the IHR or International Hunting Reticule. It’s a honey; I really like its uncomplicated but highly visible design. It is in the 2nd focal plane and the main aiming point is a floating cross hair that centres the eye and aim quickly. The other parts of the reticule are bold 3, 6 and 9 o’clock stadia, with see-through upper pointed sections that focuses the eye into the centre. Nonilluminated at this time but I found it no problem at all.

OUT IN THE FIELD

Lenses on the SHV are manufactured in Japan and being fully multi coated on all surfaces still brings that characteristic high level of light transmission and sharpness that built the NightForce reputation. At all magnifications the edge to edge sharpness was impressive, no vigneting or chromatic aberration. Because it is parallaxed at 100 yards on x8 -12 powers, at short ranges both target and reticule may not be perfectly focussed! But that’s common to all non parallaxed scopes and at shorter ranges x3-7 power would be used anyway!

I mounted the SHV on a Tikka .308 Win rifle and set up targets at 50, 100 and 200 yards to spot and shoot at in a varied lightning environment. First up, the elevation and windage adjustments were precise and gave 0.25 MOA per clicks with no ‘wandering’ off line as the adjustment increased. I then wound it back to zero and all shots grouped together, so it’s reliable and more importantly repeatable too! I did manage six full rotations though.

At x3 mag the image is really bright and crisp and even as the light ebbed towards dusk I could see and connect with the fox targets, good for this price range. Seemingly at maximum x12 mag the image, as you would expect, is less bright but now the twilight factor comes into play as this magnification that 56mm objective gives a value of 194 so the image is closer and although less bright than x3 you can make out the target against the background better.

As already stated, I really liked the IHR reticule, that floating centre cross does instantly train your eye onto the target and it is un-obscured by the hollow or see-through tops to the remaining posts. The SHV comes with rubber bikini type lenses covers and a NightForce lens cleaner in a branded pouch that attaches to your sling if desired.

CONCLUSION

I can see the SHV becoming very popular here in the UK, NightForce have an excellent reputation as a scope manufacturer and the price point of only £599 will attract much attention. Far from cheapening the brand the SHV scope allows access at a very good price that over time one can aspire to the higher spec’d models if you desire. The SHV is a lean version of its bigger NF or NXS scopes without any adverse effects, think of it as a NightForce ‘Lite’; it’s money well spent in my view.

PRICE: £599
CONTACT:  Sportsman Gun Centre, 01392 354854