Author Topic: Riflescopes and Paralax (Read 1454 times)

ccanevit · « **on:** July 07, 2003, 09:53:07 AM »

Ok, what exactly is paralax... I've read some that its good to have a scope with adjustable paralax. How true is that?

What things can you tell me are best to look for in a scope?

chk · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2003, 10:54:47 AM »

The best way for me to describe parallax is it's the distance the recticle apears to be focused on the target. You didn't say what you are hunting or type of shooting you are going to do. The need for a scope with adjustable parallax is usually for varmint hunting or target shooting, hunting small game at close distances or very long range shooting. Normally the parallax is set at 100 or 150 yards for big game on a fixed parallax scope. For small game or turkey it's set at 50 to 75 yards. None of my scopes for deer/big game have an adjustable parallax. When the parallax is not correct the recticle apears to move when you move your head while looking through the scope. For deer or large game this is maybe slightly noticed under 100 yards and over 100 yards maybe not at all with a fixed parallax scope. I look for durability, clarity, brightness, and eye relief when buying a scope. You can normally expect to pay $250 on up to get a decent scope. Some times a little less. Dave

Zachary · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2003, 03:16:01 PM »

Dave is right. The only other thing that I would add is that you normally find AO scopes with magnification of 12x or higher. Why? I don't know, but this is just my observation.

Zachary

ccanevit · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2003, 03:47:17 AM »

Well my first scope I'll be shopping for will be for my 7mm Rem Mag, for med-big game.. But mostly it was just a question to get answered to educate myself more on this.

chk · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2003, 04:28:11 AM »

Chris, I like to look at the stats on scopes I'm interested in, comparing field of view, eye relief, weight, length, and exit pupil. I know people that have bought a scope for that once in a life time hunt out west and hunt in heavy brush all their life with a scope that has too much magnification for the normal use. I have low end variable scopes on my two rifles but I feel are more than enough for a 300 yard shot yet have a wide field of view for close shots that are normal here. If you're happy with a 4.5x15 or greater that's good too. A late dear friend of mine used a 3x9 and never shot his rifle with the power ring set lower than 9x even in heavy brush. He was a great hunter and who am I to say he was wrong? :wink: Dave

ccanevit · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2003, 08:05:33 AM »

Ok, so lets add to this.
If you had a 7mm Rem Mag, shooting 175 grain Sierra Spitzer Boattails, loaded to 57grains of IMR4350, out of a 110 Savage, what scope would you put on it, and what would you consider maximum effective range of the rifle?

Then substitute the Sierras for 175gr Nosler Partitions too.

On Deer and Elk.

TheOpticZone · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2003, 08:58:05 AM »

I don't use Sierra's, but do use Nosler's for reloading. With you 175gr. Partitions, I would not feel very comfortable shooting more then 350 yards. Below you will find some information on bullet drop:

0/100yds -12.8"/300yds, -28.9"/400yds
0/200yds -7.5"/300, -21.8/400

If you are planning on reloading, I would go with the 120gr Nosler Ballistic tip, then I would probably shoot out to 400.

0/100 -8.8"/300yds, -20.5"/400
0/200 -5.5"/300, -16.0"/400

I would use the 120grs only for deer, but would use something in the 150gr range for elk. As for the scope, I would got with either a 3-9 or something in the 4-12.

Zachary · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2003, 12:44:15 PM »

You could also go with a 4x-16x, like Bushnell's Elite 4200 in 4x-16x-either 40mm or 50mm. You may not NEED to use 16x on game, but my feeling is - IT'S AVAILABLE IF YOU NEED IT. Also, you can at least use 16x power out on the range.

Zachary

TheOpticZone · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2003, 12:59:01 PM »

Hey Zachary,

Trying to promote that Elite 4200? :lol:

chk · « **Reply #9 on:** July 08, 2003, 02:59:32 PM »

The max effective range is partly based on your experience and ability. For me I think 300 yards is around max and that's if I practice. My equipment may be capable of more. For all around a 3x9 is hard to beat. Price is your call of course. Nikon Monarch scopes are very nice. I bought one for my son last Christmas and it's a dandy. Zeiss Conquest 3x9 scopes are highly regarded. I recently bought a Pentax 2x8 and I'm well pleased with it. The Bushnell Elite series scopes are short on eye relief for my tastes. While possibly over priced the Leupold VXIII 2x8 scopes are highly regarded. My son has one and loves his. They have a long eye relief. BTW, I know I'll hear about this but I'd buy a Savage over a Remington any day. Best bang for the buck. I see your home area is Phoenix. I'll bet there are several shops to look at various scopes there. Here in WV we don't have that luxury. It's normally Leupold or El Cheapos.

Dave

Zachary · « **Reply #10 on:** July 08, 2003, 03:14:40 PM »

Quote from: TheOpticZone

Hey Zachary,

Trying to promote that Elite 4200? :lol:

Truth be told, I love that 4x-16x-50 that I bought from you. Like I said, and as many members know, my favorite scopes for under $1,000 are the Elite 4200s and the Nikon Monarchs. My only complaint about the Elites is that they have relatively short eye relief.

The main reason that I recommended the 4200 4x-16x over, say, the 4200 2.5x-10x is because the 4x-16x has 3.6" of eye relief whereas the 2.5x-10x only has 3.3. Granted, .3 may not seem like a lot, but it helps.

I know that Leupolds generally have longer eye relief, but a similar Vari-X III (similar meaning within the same power range - like a 4.5x-14x) may have long eye relief at low magnification, but at 14x it is about 3.6 or 3.7" - which is about the same as what the 4200 is at 16x.

If Leupold could improve their Vari-X III by having better glass (which, in part, I mean transmit more light, like 95% per lens like the Monarch and Elite 4200), have etched reticles rather than wires (like the Zeiss Conquest) and have something similar to Rainguard (like the Elites) AND STAY THE SAME PRICE, then I would buy the Leupold Vari-X III.

Zachary

Zachary · « **Reply #11 on:** July 08, 2003, 03:21:26 PM »

Quote from: chk

I see your home area is Phoenix. I'll bet there are several shops to look at various scopes there. Here in WV we don't have that luxury. It's normally Leupold or El Cheapos. Dave

Dave,

Why does living at home in WV have to impede your luxury? As such, why would it be either Leupold or El Cheapos? During this day and age, you can get on the net and shop from anywhere from anyone. Look at our sponsors- Jon at the opticzone or Chris at swfa- you can get: 1) a wide variety of models from which to choose, 2) get a great price, and 3) not have to pay tax on it. :grin:

You know, I think the last time that I bought a scope from a store was probably about 5 years ago - which is about the time that the net really started to get hot. I just can't see myself going to the store to buy scopes and pay top dollar. Rifles is a bit different, although I still buy many guns from local stores that advertise on the net through gunbroker and auctionarms. This way, I still support the little guy, and get great savings because the little guy doesn't have huge overhead and passes the savings on to me. I like helping the little guys! They are the backbone of America. :grin:

Zachary

chk · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2003, 03:33:17 PM »

Zachary, the luxury I spoke of is being able to look at before buying. I rely on fellows like you and reading stats before buying. I do read gun rags a great deal but like so many I've found the gun writers can't say too much negative or they're out of business. I've bought my last four scopes and my binos by phone or over the net. The stores around here carry mostly Leupold, Bushnell (low end), Simmons, and Tascos. You see a great deal of higher end rifles with $100 or less scopes on them around these parts. In a business you stock what sells. I can't blame the store owners. Dave

Zachary · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2003, 05:17:57 PM »

Oh, now I understand what you really meant about "luxury" - I apologize - my bad. :oops:

You are right, it sure is nice to actually look at a scope, or rifle, or anything else for that matter, before actually buying it. Granted, however, that you really can't make a proper evaluation of a scope in a store, but at least you get to feel it in your hands and get a more "hands on" experience.

I live in Miami, where fishing is King, and hunting is, well, unknown at best and a bad word at worse. There is a Bass Pro Outdoor world in Dania Beach which is about half way between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. There, you can see all types of guns and scopes (not to mention ammo, and other related equipment as you can imagine.)

Back to what you said about seeing expensive guns with relatively cheap scopes - that's really a shame. Optics are just as important, if not more important, than the rifle itself. Well, I kinda take that back, perhaps they are both equally important. Still, let me tell you a story of what I saw at the gun range last year...

There was a guy that had a Savage rilfe. I don't remember the caliber, but it was stainless with a Synthetic stock. Would you believe that he had a Swarovski Illuminated scope on it? I told him that I was surprised that he had a $1,500 scope on top of a $400 gun. He told me "Why are you surprised? Savage makes the most accurate rifles and Swarovski makes the best scopes. I got the best rifle with the best scope." :grin:

Well, I really couldn't argue with that. I don't own a Savage, but there is no denying that they are generally, and consistently, one of the most accurate out-of-the-box rifles, and it doesn't matter that they are also one of the cheapest either (by cheapest I am refering to price.) So then, it kinda does make sense. BTW, he was shooting 1/2" groups at 100 yards! :eek:

Zachary

chk · « **Reply #14 on:** July 09, 2003, 06:04:21 AM »

No apology needed. I do want to say if anyone reads what I said about inexpensive scopes I hope I have not offended you. :oops: I started out with a $30 Bushnell Sportview and got more than my monies worth. I later upgraded to a Tasco World class scope I really liked. I let it go with the rifle it was on. I do believe the less expensive scopes are not as good as they were. When I started wearing glasses is when I realized how much better a $250 and up scope is.
Zachary, my son put a Leupold 2x8 on the 760 he got from me and the 'smith that mounted it said " you don't see that around here often". He lives in NC and pumps are not common in his area. Dave

ccanevit · « **Reply #15 on:** July 09, 2003, 07:12:50 AM »

Right, ok, well just getting some opinions.. after shooting that 7mm mag tho, I've realized, I need a little more eye relief, or get a muzzlebrake installed at least.. savage didn't come with a recoil pad, and it was a sharp recoil on it, I hit eye eyebrow once while shooting it sunday.. So I'll go out and take all these into consideration for looking, then once I find what I want, shop for the best price. =)

Zachary · « **Reply #16 on:** July 09, 2003, 09:26:06 AM »

I have a 7mm ULTRA MAG, which, as you can suspect, kicks much more than the regular 7mag (of which I also own 2).

Rather than getting a muzzle brake, which is fine, but think of this alternative - get either a Pachmyer Decelerator recoil pad, or get a Sims Vibtration Labratory recoil pad. I have the Sims (made by Remington) and it really takes the sharp kick out of the Ultra Mag. As such, get the recoil pad first. Then if that is not enough, then get the muzzle brake.

I also have a muzzle brake on my 7 mag - it is a Vais Muzzle brake. It works really well, but it is kinda loud. Good thing is that it is not as loud as other brakes, but it is still louder than not having one.

BTW, on my 7 ULTRA MAG, I have the Elite 4200 4x-16x-50mm which has 3.6" of eye relief. Keeping in mind that this gun is a fast fierce kicker - the scope never hit my eyebrow. You can get the 40mm version of this same scope and it still has about 3.5" of eye relief. (and YES, these models DO have the adjustable objective for parallax).

Zachary

ccanevit · « **Reply #17 on:** July 09, 2003, 10:14:34 AM »

Yep, already ordered the Pachmeyr, and it shipped already, so I was already going that route, because if I don't need the muzzlebrake, why add all that noise? I'd be getting comments like my friend's at the ranges, "Hunt many elephants in arizona?"