Nightforce is a premier manufacturer of riflescopes in the United States. It offers hundreds of different scopes across more than half a dozen product lines.
Of those product lines, two stand out more than the others — ATACR and NXS.
So what is the difference between a Nightforce ATACR riflescope and a Nightforce NXS riflescope?
On this page, we'll discuss the differences between these two product lines, including the intended use case, pros, and cons that go along with each.
Let's start with Nightforce ATACR riflescopes.
1. Nightforce ATACR: Uses, Pros, & Cons
Use Case: Military and law enforcement sniping and support fire
Pros: Pro-grade construction; optimized for accurate firing in combat scenarios
Cons: Ultra-expensive
Nightforce ATACR riflescopes are designed from scratch to be used by law enforcement and military personnel. Intended for use by snipers and mid-range assault infantry, you may spot these riflescopes in use by SWAT teams and militaries around the world.
Above everything else, the ATACR line of riflescopes is intended for accurate firing under extreme duress, like what you would encounter in a live combat situation.
This extremely stressful and literal life-or-death scenario is why each scope is made for pinpoint precision over its specified range and magnification.
Because of this, the accuracy of these riflescopes is improved well beyond simple magnification and lens clarity. The lenses themselves are precision-engineered for optimum light dissemination so you can retain outstanding clarity, even in dim conditions.
On top of that, the lenses are treated further to allow for vibrant color over extreme distances. This allows you — and those in the military — to discern among targets, obstacles, and more over long distances as you line up a shot.
Overall, Nightforce ATACR riflescopes are made to a standard of quality that is considered "above and beyond" for the civilian market.
Incidentally, that also means that these scopes are some of the most expensive in Nightforce's arsenal. After all, it's not cheap to engineer and manufacture riflescopes that excel in accuracy when every competitor claims to do the same thing.
Still, the track record of ATACR scopes is impressive. If you're a military veteran or if you've served in tactical law enforcement, you may even recognize some of these scopes from your time on duty.
Featured: Nightforce ATACR 5-25x56 Riflescope
Amazon Rating: ★★★★★ (15 reviews)
The Nightforce ATACR 5-25x56 riflescope is intended for outstanding accuracy at extreme range. It's perhaps the most powerful and accurate scope that's in the ATACR product line, and it provides an absolutely outstanding level of clarity over long distances.
Aside from that, this riflescope is built with side parallax focus, quick adjustment turrets, and a surprisingly lightweight frame. Its zoom makes you feel like you're practically breathing on your target, and despite its laser precision, it's shockingly durable (for a riflescope, anyway).
The demand is high for this scope among distance shooters in the military and law enforcement. It's also an incredible buy for a hobby shooter who wants to treat themselves to the best of the best in terms of accuracy.
Want to pick up the Nightforce ATACR 5-25x56 riflescope? Click the button below.
2. Nightforce NXS: Uses, Pros, & Cons
Use Case: Hunting and other uses that could include regular impacts
Pros: Durability
Cons: No "bells and whistles"
Nightforce NXS riflescopes are considered the tried-and-true product line for anyone who wants a good, old-fashioned riflescope — and that's it.
The distinguishing feature of NXS riflescopes is that they have no distinguishing features. They're simple, useful, affordable, and established in the shooting community.
In a nutshell, you know what you're getting when you get a Nightforce NXS scope. It's a riflescope, plain and simple, that you can use for sport shooting or game hunting.
If anything, the most noteworthy feature of the NXS is its almost insane level of durability. These scopes are designed to withstand punishment that would make others shatter, and they're not sold until they pass a rigorous set of stress tests. They're like the MAGlights of riflescopes.
Beyond that, the scopes also have to be accurate and clear after they're stress tests as well. So not only do Nightforce NXS riflescopes take a beating before they hit the shelves, they're also within accuracy tolerance for a new scope.
This makes NXS riflescopes perfect for hobby shooters or new hunters who may not be concerned with rigorous maintenance or, in some cases, watching where they're going.
Even so, we've all banged a scope against a tree or a wall at some point. The Nightforce NXS product line is made to ensure those bangs and scrapes make almost no lasting impact.
Featured: Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x50 Riflescope
Amazon Rating: ★★★★★ (6 reviews)
The Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x50 riflescope does pretty much what we discussed in the previous section — it's a strong, accurate riflescope that prioritizes durability over everything else.
In fact, this riflescope is one of the best at withstanding regular and extreme damage. It's also waterproof and fogproof with tactical MOA turrets and two focal panes — so it even comes with some of those "bells and whistles" that other NXS scopes lack.
As a side note, this makes the Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x50 riflescope an excellent choice for a gift. Beginner hunters, hobby shooters, and even experienced marksmen will value having a rough-and-tumble scope that they know will stand up to regular wear and tear.
Nightforce ATACR vs. Nightforce NXS: Which Is Better?
Nightforce ATACR and Nightforce NXS riflescopes aren't necessarily "better" than others on the market — or each other, for that matter.
It all comes down to what you want to get from your riflescope as a hunter or sports shooter.
If you're looking for a riflescope that prioritizes accuracy and clarity above all else, then go with the Nightforce ATACR. Its use in military and law enforcement applications speak for its reliability, especially in extreme or adverse conditions.
If you're looking for a riflescope that is designed for durability first, then go with the Nightforce NXS. This line of riflescopes is stress tested under conditions that would break most other scopes, and they come out clean, straight, and precise.
Plus, NXS is Nightforce's oldest product line. It's been around for years, and that kind of longevity speaks for itself.
So which riflescope are you going to choose?
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