Others Riflescope Parallax Knob Brain-Fart

[Ezana4CE]

I was thinking earlier about how some of the markings on my scopes’ parallax knobs don’t always align with the number that represents the actual distance. I then had to think about how some manufacturers use the metric system and design theirs to focus in meters. I understand that some people say that manufacturers can be way off with their markings. That’s not too relevant to me. Once I have my DOPE, these markings still serve a purpose since I’m not big on using rangefinders while hunting. Just something I was thinking about.

 

[Solo1]

I was thinking earlier about how some of the markings on my scopes’ parallax knobs don’t always align with the number that represents the actual distance. I then had to think about how some manufacturers use the metric system and design theirs to focus in meters. I understand that some people say that manufacturers can be way off with their markings. That’s not too relevant to me. Once I have my DOPE, these markings still serve a purpose since I’m not big on using rangefinders while hunting. Just something I was thinking about.

Every time you adjust the ocular it will change where you’re parallax marks sit too.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Every time you adjust the ocular it will change where you’re parallax marks sit too.

@Solo1 I honestly have never heard this. Thanks for bringing it into the conversation. I generally don’t bother it much, but I think bumping opened scope caps can turn the ocular focus ring on some scopes. I wish more scopes made locking ocular focus rings.

 

[Solo1]

@Solo1 I honestly have never heard this. Thanks for bringing it into the conversation. I generally don’t bother it much, but I think bumping opened scope caps can turn the ocular focus ring on some scopes. I wish more scopes made locking ocular focus rings.

Shooting ft and having old eyes have taught me quit a bit and yes bumping scope caps can really mess things up!

 

[Danman]

I was thinking earlier about how some of the markings on my scopes’ parallax knobs don’t always align with the number that represents the actual distance. I then had to think about how some manufacturers use the metric system and design theirs to focus in meters. I understand that some people say that manufacturers can be way off with their markings. That’s not too relevant to me. Once I have my DOPE, these markings still serve a purpose since I’m not big on using rangefinders while hunting. Just something I was thinking about.

I guess it would matter how many gun/scope combos you have that you pest/hunt with? I can see mismatched parr. markings (to actual distances) being fine if I used 1 or 2 rifles, but multiple rigs would be a problem! If I'm bench shooting it matters not, but pesting is quick, off the cuff shooting usually for me. Quite often I don't even have time to dial my parralax perfectly esp if the quarry is closer up....aim, mental note on ammo weight, adj hold, fire. I use an Airmax and a Helix with both being pretty accurate. The Midas Tac has yet to be Parralax proven..

 

[Solo1]

I guess it would matter how many gun/scope combos you have that you pest/hunt with? I can see mismatched parr. markings (to actual distances) being fine if I used 1 or 2 rifles, but multiple rigs would be a problem! If I'm bench shooting it matters not, but pesting is quick, off the cuff shooting usually for me. Quite often I don't even have time to dial my parralax perfectly esp if the quarry is closer up....aim, mental note on ammo weight, adj hold, fire. I use an Airmax and a Helix with both being pretty accurate. The Midas Tac has yet to be Parralax proven..

The only place i use parallax is field target. When hunting i know my holdovers and use a rangefinder to pick objects to mark distance. I think thats much better than depending on parallax.

 

[Ezana4CE]

The only place i use parallax is field target. When hunting i know my holdovers and use a rangefinder to pick objects to mark distance. I think thats much better than depending on parallax.

@Solo1 I think to the contrary. I rarely use a rangefinder while hunting. I still range landmarks ahead of time if there's time for it, but with the scope. Once the image is clear, I know the hold for the closest number represented if the animal is within a range I am comfortable shooting. I don't need to know the actual exact range, only where to hold. I don't have to take a hand off of the rifle to grab anything but the scope. Once the image is focused, I depend upon my memory not the parallax knob.

The parallax brain fart comes into play when DOPE(ing) and not remembering if the scope adjusts in imperial or metric units as my rangefinder measures in imperial units.

@Danman I will swap scopes and guns until I find combos I like.

 

[Danman]

@Solo1 I think to the contrary. I rarely use a rangefinder while hunting. I still range landmarks ahead of time if there's time for it, but with the scope. Once the image is clear, I know the hold for the closest number represented if the animal is within a range I am comfortable shooting. I don't need to know the actual exact range, only where to hold. I don't have to take a hand off of the rifle to grab anything but the scope. Once the image is focused, I depend upon my memory not the parallax knob.

The parallax brain fart comes into play when DOPE(ing) and not remembering if the scope adjusts in imperial or metric units as my rangefinder measures in imperial units.

@Danman I will swap scopes and guns until I find combos I like.

I'm curious what scope brands use meters!? Up here we use both metric/imperial often but I prefer Imp
All my scopes run in Yards... I believe all 4 are China made. I definitely wouldn't have time for a range finder while pesting either, but id love to get my dope ironed out and then run scope tape on one....My last long range Kill with my Ghost was late fall @ 75-80 Y....I cranked parralax till clear (works best on max mag on the Helix) adj holdover and literally popped it's spine up from its body. It flew less than 100Y and crashed dead, ending up as cat food.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I'm curious what scope brands use meters!? Up here we use both metric/imperial often but I prefer Imp
All my scopes run in Yards... I believe all 4 are China made. I definitely wouldn't have time for a range finder while pesting either, but id love to get my dope ironed out and then run scope tape on one....My last long range Kill with my Ghost was late fall @ 75-80 Y....I cranked parralax till clear (works best on max mag on the Helix) adj holdover and literally popped it's spine up from its body. It flew less than 100Y and crashed dead, ending up as cat food.

@Danman The first thing that comes to mind are Hawke scopes. In the literature they publish the focus range in yards and meters. I’m not sure if the knobs are designed to represent the units used in specific regions or what. It made me want to pay closer attention to the literature on some of my other scopes. I think when I was scope shopping I read a lot of literature (specifications mostly) and occasionally encountered this. So it caused me to wonder if this may be why certain scopes’ parallax knob doesn’t align with the numbers on the knob. I’m wondering if it may have been designed to adjust in meters, but different knobs are used to correspond with the unit of measurement in that market. It was a thought that I had.

An example

Frontier 30 SF 2.5-15x50 Mil Pro

All models feature HawkeÕs new H7 optics with high zoom ratio, supreme clarity and light transmission. Supreme accuracy for rifle shooting, driven and hunting applications. Patented Exposed Zero Lock ÔNÕ Stop Elevation Turret. 30mm Mono-Tube Chassis. Side Focus. Illumination. Wide Angle FOV...

us.hawkeoptics.com