Nightforce NX6: Which of the 6 New Models Should You Buy in 2026?

US street pricing across the NX6 line: the 1-6x24 runs $1,500 (F2) to $1,800 (F1); the 2-12x42 is $1,800 across F1 and F2 configurations; the 3-18x50 is $1,900 for both F1 and F2; the 4-24x50 sits at $2,000 (F2 only at launch); the 5-30x56 F1 is $2,100; and the 6-36x56 (F1 or the capped F2 FVR-1 variant) tops the line at $2,200. That's a tight $700 spread across the whole family — you're mostly paying for magnification range and objective size, not a jump in build quality between tiers.

The FieldSet turret is the real news here. On the exposed F1 dials, you can reset your zero stop and dial position in one action using a coin, a cartridge rim, or almost any flat tool you'd already be carrying — no separate turret cap or hex key. FieldSet also converts between capped and exposed dial designs and will accept custom Bullet Drop Compensating (BDC) dials cut for your specific load, a feature that matters most to hunters who want a set-and-forget holdover dial rather than a dial-to-distance system.

For an AR-15 or dangerous-game rifle where speed at close range matters more than reach, the 1-6x24 is the pick — true 1x at the bottom end for both-eyes-open shooting, illuminated reticle, and enough top-end magnification for a 200-yard shot. For a general-purpose deer or hog rifle where you want Nightforce glass without extra weight, the 2-12x42 is the compact choice at 12.5 inches and 23 ounces — light enough to carry all day on a stand or a stalk.

Western hunters chasing mule deer or pronghorn across open country, and predator hunters calling coyotes at distance, are the target market for the 4-24x50: it's built to stay light (13.9 inches, 27.3 ounces) while still giving enough magnification to make a confident 400-yard-plus shot. The 3-18x50 sits between the compact hunting scopes and the dedicated long-range models — a sensible all-rounder if you split time between stand hunting and longer-range shooting on the same rifle.

If you're building or upgrading a PRS gun, or you regularly shoot game at genuine long range, the 5-30x56 F1 and 6-36x56 F1 are where NX6 gets serious. The 6-36x56 carries a 34mm tube, 115 MOA (33.4 MRAD) of elevation travel, quarter-MOA or 0.1-mil clicks depending on reticle choice, a 10-meter (11-yard) close focus distance, and weighs 31.6 ounces at 15.3 inches long — genuinely competitive numbers against scopes costing $1,000 more.

Before you order, match the reticle to how you actually shoot: if you dial for every shot and want the reticle subtension to be accurate no matter what magnification you're on, buy F1. If you zero once, use a duplex or BDC-style holdover, and rarely touch the turret in the field, the F2 capped-turret versions are lighter on the wallet and just as durable — you're not paying for a First Focal Plane feature you won't use.