Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 F1 Riflescope: The Definitive Guide for Precision Shooters

For serious shooters who continually push the boundaries of rifle and cartridge performance, selecting the right optic is not just a preference, it’s a critical necessity. The Nightforce ATACR™ 7-35 x 56 F1 riflescope, with its advanced features and unwavering reliability, is engineered precisely for this demand. If you're searching for an optic that can unlock the full potential of your long-range precision rifle system, or if you're asking, "What is the best riflescope for extreme long-range shooting and competitive disciplines like PRS?", this comprehensive overview will provide the answers.

This riflescope is designed for those who refuse to compromise on clarity, precision, and durability. Whether you're a competitive shooter striving for victory in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS), a dedicated long-range enthusiast dialing in shots past 1,000 yards, or a professional requiring robust and repeatable performance in any environment, the ATACR 7-35x56 F1 stands as a benchmark.

Unlocking Unprecedented Precision: Why the ATACR 7-35x56 F1 Stands Apart

The Nightforce ATACR™ 7-35 x 56 F1 redefines what’s possible in high-magnification optics. It combines an expansive magnification range with Nightforce’s legendary optical performance, all housed within an incredibly robust and user-friendly platform. This scope is an investment in unparalleled accuracy and long-term reliability.

What makes this riflescope a top-tier choice for the most demanding applications?

• Exceptional Magnification Range: The 7-35x magnification offers immense versatility, allowing for wide field-of-view target acquisition at lower powers and extreme detail resolution at maximum zoom.
• Superior ED Glass Optics: An Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass package ensures brilliant image quality, exceptional color fidelity, and outstanding clarity across the entire magnification range, even in challenging light conditions.
• First Focal Plane (F1) Design: The reticle’s position in the first focal plane ensures that all subtensions and ranging features remain accurate at every magnification setting, a crucial advantage for dynamic shooting scenarios.
• Vast Elevation Travel: With 100 MOA of elevation travel, this scope provides ample adjustment for engaging targets from close range out to the furthest distances modern cartridges can reach.
• Precision Parallax Adjustment: Parallax correction down to 10 meters means critical focus is achievable at virtually any shooting distance, eliminating aiming errors that can plague less advanced optics.
• Renowned Nightforce Durability: Built to withstand the harshest conditions, the ATACR series is synonymous with ruggedness, reliability, and absolute repeatability.

Mastering the Magnification: 7-35x for Every Scenario

One of the most frequently asked questions by shooters is, "How much magnification do I really need for long-range shooting?" The Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 F1 answers this with a resounding "enough for anything." This expansive magnification range provides several distinct advantages:

1. Versatility for Diverse Distances:
   • At 7x, you gain a wide field of view, making it easy to spot targets, scan terrain, and navigate stages in competitive shooting. This lower power is ideal for closer engagements or quick target acquisition.
   • As you dial up to 35x, minute details become incredibly clear. This high magnification is invaluable for precisely identifying small targets at extreme distances, reading mirage, and making the most accurate shot placements possible.
2. Adaptive for Different Shooting Disciplines:
   • For PRS or NRL competitors, the ability to transition smoothly from wide-angle situational awareness to pinpoint magnification is critical for efficiency and accuracy on complex stages.
   • For extreme long-range (ELR) enthusiasts, 35x provides the resolution needed to spot impacts and make precise corrections on targets thousands of yards away.

The balance of this magnification range ensures that whether you're engaging a small steel plate at 200 yards or a distant target at over a mile, you have the optical power required.

The Brilliance of ED Glass: Unrivaled Image Quality

"What makes a riflescope's image so clear and sharp?" The answer often lies in the quality of its glass, and the ATACR 7-35x56 F1 utilizes an advanced Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass package. This specialized optical design delivers a host of benefits that directly impact your shooting performance:

• Exceptional Clarity and Resolution: ED glass minimizes chromatic aberration (color fringing), ensuring that images appear remarkably sharp with true-to-life color reproduction, even at the highest magnifications.
• Enhanced Contrast: By effectively managing light wavelengths, ED glass provides superior contrast, allowing you to distinguish targets from their backgrounds with greater ease, particularly in challenging light conditions like dawn, dusk, or heavy mirage.
• Bright Sight Picture: The 56mm objective lens, combined with the high-quality ED glass, maximizes light transmission, resulting in a bright, clear sight picture that extends your effective shooting hours. This is especially beneficial for hunters or tactical users operating in low-light environments.

This optical superiority translates directly into better target identification, more accurate shot placement, and reduced eye strain during extended observation.

Mastering Long-Range: The Advantages of First Focal Plane (F1)

One of the foundational elements distinguishing advanced optics for precision shooting is the First Focal Plane (F1) reticle. "Why is FFP important for competitive and long-range shooting?" The ATACR 7-35x56 F1's FFP design provides a critical advantage:

• Consistent Reticle Subtensions: In an FFP scope, the reticle physically grows and shrinks proportionally with the magnified image. This means that your holdovers, windage corrections, and ranging calculations (using Mil-based or MOA-based reticles like the Mil-XT, MOAR, or Tremor3 options available for this scope) remain accurate at every magnification setting.
• Rapid Adjustments: For dynamic shooting scenarios, such as those found in PRS competitions, the FFP design allows shooters to quickly change magnification without recalculating their holdovers, saving precious time and improving engagement speed.
• Reliable Ranging: If you use your reticle for ranging targets, an FFP design ensures that your estimations are consistently accurate, regardless of whether you're at 7x or 35x.

This makes the ATACR 7-35x56 F1 an intuitive and highly efficient tool for complex long-range engagements.

Precision Dialing: Unmatched Elevation and Windage Control

For serious long-range shooters, the ability to precisely dial for elevation and windage is paramount. "How much adjustment do I need for shooting extreme distances?" The Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 F1 offers robust adjustment capabilities that ensure you can reach out as far as your rifle and cartridge can shoot:

• Expansive Elevation Travel: With 100 MOA of internal elevation adjustment, this scope offers a vast range to compensate for bullet drop over extreme distances. This ample travel means fewer external devices (like inclined scope bases) are strictly necessary, though they can still be beneficial.
• Generous Windage Travel: The scope also provides 60 MOA of windage adjustment, allowing for precise compensation for crosswinds, a critical factor in long-range accuracy.
• Precise Click Values: The scope features precise 0.25 MOA click adjustments (for MOA models), providing tactile and audible feedback that ensures confident, repeatable adjustments.
• Nightforce ZeroStop™ Technology: A hallmark of Nightforce ATACR scopes, the integrated ZeroStop™ mechanism allows shooters to instantly return to their established zero point by feel, even in complete darkness or under pressure. This eliminates the possibility of dialing past your zero, offering immense peace of mind and speed.

This comprehensive adjustment system empowers shooters to make precise, repeatable corrections for any shot, ensuring exceptional hit probability.

Built for the Extremes: Durability and Reliability

"What is the most durable riflescope for tactical or field use?" Nightforce has earned its reputation by building optics that can withstand the harshest conditions imaginable. The ATACR 7-35x56 F1 exemplifies this commitment to ruggedness and reliability:

• Robust Construction: Crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum, the 34mm main tube provides exceptional strength and rigidity, protecting the intricate internal components.
• Waterproof and Fogproof: Nitrogen purged and sealed, the scope is completely waterproof and fogproof, ensuring internal integrity and optical clarity in all weather conditions, from torrential rain to extreme temperature fluctuations.
• Shockproof Design: Engineered to withstand the concussive forces of powerful magnum cartridges, the ATACR maintains its zero and optical performance even after repeated recoil or accidental impacts.
• Legendary Nightforce Quality Control: Every Nightforce scope undergoes rigorous testing and inspection before leaving the factory, guaranteeing that it meets the brand's exacting standards for performance and longevity.

When you invest in a Nightforce ATACR, you're investing in an optic designed for a lifetime of dependable performance in the field or on the firing line.

Real-World Applications: Where the ATACR 7-35x56 F1 Shines

The versatility and performance of the Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 F1 make it an ideal choice for a variety of demanding shooting disciplines:

• Competitive Precision Rifle Series (PRS) & National Rifle League (NRL): The FFP reticle, wide field of view, expansive magnification range, and rock-solid tracking make it a dominant force in these fast-paced, high-stakes competitions. Shooters rely on its repeatability for rapid engagements across varying distances and conditions.
• Extreme Long Range (ELR) Shooting: For pushing the boundaries of what's possible with a rifle, the 35x magnification and 100 MOA of elevation travel provide the necessary tools to accurately engage targets at distances well beyond 1,000 yards, even out to a mile or more.
• Tactical and Professional Use: For military snipers, law enforcement sharpshooters, or security professionals, the ATACR's ruggedness, reliability, and precision are non-negotiable. Its ability to perform flawlessly under stress in adverse conditions is critical for mission success.
• Dedicated Target Shooting & Benchrest: While primarily designed for field use, the ATACR 7-35x56 F1 offers the precision and clarity desired by serious target shooters who demand the utmost accuracy from their setup, helping them identify subtle changes in mirage or wind.
• Long-Range Hunting (where applicable): For ethical hunters who demand the highest level of precision for long-range shots in challenging terrain, the ATACR provides the optical performance and durability to ensure humane and accurate shot placement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Elite Riflescopes

"What is the ultimate long-range scope for competitive shooting?"
For many, the Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 F1 is precisely that. Its combination of an ideal magnification range, First Focal Plane design, superior ED glass, and Nightforce's legendary durability makes it a top contender. It addresses the needs for both rapid engagements at varying distances and the pinpoint precision required for tiny targets far away.

"How does First Focal Plane (FFP) benefit competitive shooters?"
FFP is a game-changer for competitive shooters because the reticle's subtensions remain true regardless of the magnification setting. This means no mental math or adjustments are needed when you zoom in or out, allowing for faster, more confident holdovers and ranging on dynamic stages. It simplifies complex shooting scenarios significantly.

"Why should I invest in premium optics like Nightforce?"
Investing in a premium optic like the Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 F1 translates directly into enhanced performance, reliability, and longevity. Cheaper optics often compromise on glass quality, mechanical repeatability, and durability. With a Nightforce, you're paying for:

• Unrivaled Clarity: Superior glass provides a sharper, brighter image, reducing eye strain and improving target acquisition.
• Repeatable Tracking: Precise turrets ensure that adjustments are accurate and repeatable shot after shot, critical for consistent long-range hits.
• Extreme Durability: Built to withstand harsh environments and recoil, ensuring your optic performs when it matters most.
• Confidence: Knowing your optic won't be the weak link in your system allows you to focus purely on your shooting fundamentals.

To see the ATACR in action, watch the video below:

The Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 F1 is more than just a riflescope; it's a precision instrument designed to help shooters meet and exceed the limits of their precision rifle system. Its robust feature set, unwavering reliability, and world-class optical performance make it an indispensable tool for anyone serious about long-range accuracy and competitive success. This exceptional riflescope, SKU C578, and other Nightforce products are available at DEGuns and can be found on deguns.com.

Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 F1 Specifications

Feature	Detail	Additional Notes
Magnification Range	7x - 35x	Extensive range for versatile applications
Objective Lens Diameter	56 mm	Excellent light gathering capability
Focal Plane	First Focal Plane (F1)	Reticle subtensions true at all magnifications
Elevation Adjustment	100 MOA	Ample travel for extreme long range
Windage Adjustment	60 MOA	Generous for wind compensation
Parallax Adjustment	10 meters to infinity	Precise focus at all distances
Tube Diameter	34 mm	Enhances strength and adjustment range
Eye Relief	3.54 in (90 mm)	Comfortable and safe eye relief
Overall Length	15.37 in (390 mm)	Compact for its capabilities
Weight	39 oz (1108 g)	Robust yet manageable weight
Click Value	0.25 MOA	Tactile and audible adjustments
Optical System	ED Glass Package	Superior clarity, color, and resolution
ZeroStop™ Technology	Integrated	Instant return to zero
UPC	847362014685	Unique Product Code
SKU	C578	Stock Keeping Unit