The ATACR is the optic of choice for special forces, contractors, and SWAT. In many ways, it’s the gold standard for tacticool LPVOs known for its light transfer and intensely bright illumination. Nightforce is known for it’s durability and reliability in real world combat. But also known for being Gucci with a street price around $3000.

The ATACR’s FFP reticle optimized for long range use fine MIL stadia and a horseshoe of death with holdover markings. At 1x it appears as a T-style reticle which is a bit thicker and more usable without illumination than the Vortex Razor HD. But thankfully it has red dot bright illumination to compensate for it 1x reticle.

Its illumination knob features 10 levels of visible brightness and 3 additional night vision settings; with off settings in between. Curiously, there is a stop between it’s lowest NV and highest visible setting which does not allow you to turn it past. This brightness is not without a cost with reports of shorter battery life when on extended patrols (there is no free lunch).

Optically I found it to be impressively sharp and bright. While Nightforce uses ED glass the ATACR does exhibit chromatic aberration at the edges of it scope view; high light transfer glass tends to exhibit more CA. Despite the CA, the resolution was impressive at 8x and comparable to scopes of higher magnification.

While the eyebox is better than most 8x LPVOs, it still is not as forgiving as a red dot. But overall the LPVO lived up to my expectations. LEOs and Military get discounts from Nightforce but for us civilians, it’s $2,900 which is still way out of my league. The only reason I was able to get a hold of one was because my buddy lent it to me and he thinks its worth it.

BUY IT

Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/46gGVAe

RESOLUTION

Element 6 / Group -1

STATS

Magnification: 1-8x
Focal Plane: First (FFP)
Tube: 34mm
Length: 10.1in/256 mm
Weight: 21.0 oz/595 g
Click Value: 0.1 MRAD
Elevation Adjustment 30 MRAD
Windage Adjustment: 30 MRAD
Parallax: Fixed 125 m
Eye Relief: 3.7 in/95 mm
FOV @ 100 yd: 1x: @ 96.1 ft/32.0
FOV @ 100 yd: 8x: 13.1 ft/4.4 m
Exit Pupil 1x: 11.3 mm / 8x: 3.2 mm