Nightforce caught the attention of the shooting market when it introduced its SHV (Shooting Hunting Varmint) line of rifle scopes. Offered at a lower price point than the other models of Nightforce optics, many shooters couldn’t wait to see if they would live up to their expectations.
The Nightforce SHV 4-14×50 F1 Riflescope has an 30mm body tube and external .1 MRAD or .25 MOA turret with 5 MRAD of elevation in one rotation, a zero set (not zero stop), illuminated reticle, crisp, precise windage adjustments, and great glass all for a little over one thousand dollars. The price may be higher than some other mid-tier scopes, but for the quality of optic you get with this SHV, I think it is well worth it.
The glass provides exceptionally good clarity and resolution for its price bracket. I’ve had good luck with the tracking and durability of the scope. I’ve been shooting it at least once a week and it always seems up to the task.
Nightforce offers two different reticles for the SHV 4-15×50, the Mil-R SHV F1 for MRAD scopes and the MOAR SHV F1 for MOA scopes. Mine is the MRAD model, C557, the MOA model is C556.
For the long range and PRS crowd, the only downside is the 5 MRAD per revolution elevation. For a 308 Winchester 175 gr. Gold Metal at 1,000 yards, you’d need to dial 11.2 MRAD up. On the SHV F1 this would be over two revolutions. The optic has 29 MRAD (90 MOA) of internal elevation, so shooting out to this range is mechanically supported by it, but it is possible to get “lost” in the dial if you forget the correction you have on the scope. If you mostly dial within 5 MRAD of your zero, this is a non issue.
I’ve become so familiar with the SHV, that I knew it tracked very well. To confirm this, I conducted the box test with a Howa 1500 in an MDT ESS chassis.
I conducted a quick box test and set up an IPSC target with an orange paster at 100 yards. To do this I:
- Fired one round with the scope zeroed
- Dialed 2 MRAD left, fired one round
- Dialed 4 MRAD up, fired one round
- Dialed 2 MRAD right, fired one round
- Dialed 2 MRAD right, fired one round
- Dialed 4 MRAD down, fired one round
- Dialed 2 MRAD left and fired one round
You’ll note the scope tracked extremely well.
The only two suggestions I have for the SHV are I wished it had 10 MRAD of vertical adjustment in the elevation turret and the windage turret wasn’t covered by a removable cap. I don’t really find much use for illuminated reticles 99% of the time, so if it were up to me, I would drop that feature in favor of one of the two I just mentioned.
I think the Nightforce SHV 4-14×50 F1 Riflescope is a solid option for the shooter who is new to the intermediate and long range game. The glass is clear and adjustments are crisp and precise. If you are in the market for a first focal plane scope and the SHV F1 meets your needs don’t look back, just buy one. It is a lot of scope for the money.
To learn more about the Nightforce SHV 4-14×50 F1 riflescope click here.
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