In that crucial moment before you pull the trigger, the most important piece of your rifle for your success is your optic. It’s the one thing between you and that buck of a lifetime and without a solid piece of dependable and reliable glass, you put your trophy animal and hunt at risk.
When you have a Nikon Riflescope attached to your go-to hunting rifle, you don’t hesitate to pull the trigger, because you know it will be dead-on, every single time. Now, Nikon introduces the new Black X1000 4-16x50SF Matte Riflescope, featuring Nikon’s own X-MOA, Illuminated X-MOA or Illuminated X-MRAD reticle. This riflescope is truly a bang for your buck, bringing long-range precision to an affordable price range that can’t be beat. For only $599.99, you can get the 4-16x50SF model with the illuminated reticle; truly a great value for the price.
The scope is constructed with aircraft grade aluminum alloy, so it’s built tough for rugged, serious shooters and features a 30mm main tube. This scope brings Nikon’s renowned lead and arsenic free glass lenses to the table, which are fully multicoated with anti-reflective compounds for consistently bright, sharp and high-contrast images at every magnification. The illuminated reticle has 10 different brightness settings and is powered by a single CR2032 button battery. This optical system is highly capable with a four-time zoom, as well as extremely generous eye relief, to provide a comfortable setting for any long-range glassing opportunities.
Every riflescope in Nikon’s Black series features a turret-mounted, side focus parallax adjustment, to enable the shooter to fine tune the sight image without changing position and creates flexibility for anyone from the first-time range shooter, to the seasoned trophy hunter. The windage and elevation turrets also included on the scope control internal travel for long-range dialing and crisp, click-stop movements operate with no backlash to provide a precise image, every time.
Something to remember is that this riflescope delivers 90 total MOA internal adjustment travel, for the X-MOA reticle that I was given and 25 MRAD for X-MRAD reticles. Its turrets have ¼ MOA or .1 MRAD click graduations, yielding 12 MOA / 5 MRAD per revolution, depending on variants and when making any holdover corrections or ranging on the 4-16x50SF models, they should be done at 16X magnification.
Other very important standout features for the Black series riflescopes are Nikon’s X-MOA and X-MRAD tactical reticles, which come in both standard and illuminated options. These reticles provide an extremely clean and precise image, while giving the shooter highly functional and advanced tools for estimating range, maintaining holdovers and compensating for wind. An added feature of the tactical-style reticles is their ability to be used in basically any shooting situation or further optimized for Nikon’s Spot On Ballistic Match Technology.
The Nikon X1000 is a phenomenal piece of technology for the price point and offers many features that you’d expect to find on a much higher priced piece of glass. Next time you stop by your local Sportsman’s Warehouse, I highly recommend taking a look at this scope and taking it home with you!
Dan Kidder
My name is Dan Kidder, I am Managing Editor of Sportsman's News Magazine. I am a former Marine who served with the Fleet Anti Terrorism Security Team Company during Operation Desert Storm. Prior to moving to Utah, I served as communications director for Georgia Congressman Mac Collins in his Washington, DC office. I am the President and CEO of On Target Defensive Training, offering firearms and unarmed combat courses to civilians and law enforcement. My students have included federal agents of the FBI, CIA, Secret Service, Border Patrol, ICE, local and state law enforcement, national celebrities, and the general public. My beat at Sportsman's News includes tactical firearms, personal protection, survival, first aid, camping, and hiking.