The Nightforce SHV 5-20×56 Riflescope has over the years proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the hunting and shooting community. Made with premium glass, durable construction, and illuminated control, the scope will exceed your expectations.
It is the most powerful recapitulation of Nightforce’s SHV series and is a perfect choice for hunting small games or the range. The scope is designed for shooters who hanker the challenges of mastering shots at extreme distances.
Although the quality of images in many riflescopes decreases exponentially as the magnification increases, the objective lens guarantees precision, crispness, and unmatched color contrast across the whole magnification range.
Like other Nighforce SHV scopes, it has a fast-focus eyepiece that facilitates seamless and swift focusing of the reticle. This facet is very resourceful among hunters. The reticle illumination is another construction marvel that makes Nightforce SHV 5-20×56 the ultimate hunting scope.
It is worth mentioning that the Nighforce SHV 5-20×56 garnered the 2016 Hunt Alaska Editor’s Choice for Best Optics for enduring the challenging Alaskan wilderness conditions while beating other scopes in the competition.
To learn more about the scope, let’s look at its specification, features, and pros and cons.
Specifications
- Variable 5-20x magnification
- 30mm tube diameter
- Parallax adjustment of 25 yards to infinity
- 56mm objective lens
- Eye relief of 3.1 to 3.5 inches
- Matte black finish
- Exposed turrets that are finger adjustable
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Glass etched reticle
- Side focus adjustment
- Length of 386mm
- MOAR reticle
- Eye relief of 80-90mm
- Second focal plane reticle
Nightforce SHV 5-20×56 Riflescope Features
Durability
Nightforce SHV 5-20×56 riflescope features a superior construction that guarantees relentless performance for many years. It is made with high-quality materials that allow the user to use it in all conditions without worrying about accuracy.
Like other Nightforce scopes, the SHV 5-20×56 is constructed of high-quality materials. This makes it solid and sturdy so that it endures the heavy recoil of magnum caliber rifles when shooting at long ranges.
Its tube is crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum that provides a balance of durability and weight. This means that the tube withstands wear and tear brought about by shock and strong vibrations. Being lightweight, the aluminum housing doesn’t add unnecessary weight that would be a hindrance when in the field.
Nightforce SHV 5-20×56 riflescope is ruggedly designed to withstand recoil from all calibers. This expands its applications as it will handle different hunting and shooting scenarios effectively. The scope performs admirably at both medium and extended ranges. From varmint hunting to big game hunting, you got a do-it-all shooting solution.
Multiple Reticle Options
The scope has several reticles so that as a shooter, you select the one that suits you and your needs. An IHR reticle that is easy to use is available if you want to keep things simple. This kind of reticle is the fastest reticle choice found on the market and is perfectly suited for shooting at long ranges.
A MOAR reticle is also available for those who prefer a smarter choice. This reticle is suited for any hunting adventure. It ensures that you never miss a shot by providing unmatched low-light performance across all magnification settings.
The reticle also has a floating crosshair with optimal size to retain accuracy over long distances. It would be best to opt for this retile if you intend to use the scope for long-range precision shooting.
Exposed Elevation Turrets
The elevation turrets of the scope are exposed for more convenience when adjusting the elevation. You get to save time in the process. The turrets have a large design and are built with audible clicks to show the alterations.
Additionally, the scope comes in illuminated and non-illuminated types. The illumination dial is clubbed with the parallax dial, and each illumination has a battery saver stop that helps in power conservation.
Superior Low Light Performance
Like other quality scopes, this Nightforce SHV promises a reliable and consistent performance in both dismal and brightly lit situations. However, you are always clueless about what you will find out there once you set out for shooting or hunting. That is why a scope that performs well in both conditions is necessary.
Besides that, the scope is ideal for nighttime hunting and shooting as it is designed with the MOAR center-illuminated reticle that gets the job done.
Great Magnification Range
Another admirable feature of this scope from Nightforce is the 5-20x magnification range. This makes it unique from other models because the scopes that provide magnifications as high as 20x with an unchanged image clarity are few.
With this scope, the clarity of the target picture and the definition is retained even as you reach the higher magnification levels. The wide magnification range enhances the scope’s versatility.
ZeroSet Feature
Returning to zero is no hassle with this riflescope as it incorporates the ZeroSet feature to handle this requirement. This is a feature that many shooters and hunters appreciate.
Generous & Comfortable Eye Relief
This is another exciting feature of this scope. The comfortable design reduces straining your eyes when positing yourself in front of the riflescope. This way, you can view your target with maximum comfort.
Large Objective Lens
The objective lens of this scope is so massive. A 56mm objective lens is generally not found with scopes with magnification like the one in this scope but in riflescopes with the highest magnifications.
This massive objective lens is beneficial in delivering ultra-bright pictures even in low-light situations such as dusk and dawn. The brightness and clarity of scope make the difference between a hit and a miss during your shooting or hunting expedition.
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Pros of Nighforce SHV 5-20×56 Riflescope
- The scope has a solid aircraft-grade aluminum construction that guarantees relentless use for many years.
- It is suitable for varmint hunting, competitive shooting, and long-range hunting applications.
- The zero set feature allows an easy reset to zero.
- The eye relief is made with a design that is comfortable to use to avoid straining your eye.
- A large objective lens allows optimal light transmission even in low-light conditions.
Cons of Nightforce SHV 5-20×56 Riflescope
- Heavy
The scope is heavy as it almost weighs 2 pounds. This can be a pain in the neck when you need to carry it over long distances.
- Turrets are not capped.
Remember that when focusing on the target in various shooting positions, there is a likelihood that you may turn the turrets without your realization.
This issue can be thwarted if caps are present. However, this riflescope doesn’t have a cap to lock in the setting.
Read: Best Nightforce Hunting Scopes
Conclusion
In this review, we have expounded on the features of the Nightforce SHV 5-20×56 Riflescope. We have also gained insight into why this scope qualifies as one of the best scopes from Nightforce.
These impressive features are enough reason for you to trust this scope. It will for sure get the job done regardless of what the condition looks like. You can never go wrong with the Nighforce SHV 5-20×56 riflescope.