Re: Elevation Adjustment Use Up Windage?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DeepEastKilla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is a very "noobish" question but ive just never really thought about it before and i couldnt find the topic anywhere. I read a few post on various forums of guys who said they needed more adjustment or a "MOA base" to get the adjustment they need to a certain range when windage was needed.</div></div>
From your quote of <span style="font-style: italic">"MOA base"</span> I take it that you are unfamiliar with "canted" / "angled" bases, their design, and how their installation affects scope operation. So a brief explanation is called-for:
<span style="font-weight: bold">"MOA"</span> is an acronym for <span style="font-style: italic">"Minute of Angle"</span>. Bases can be "flat" with 0 (zero) MOA built-in, or they can be machined with a pre-determined amount of MOA built-in. Bases with built-in MOA are taller at the rear than the front, hence the terms <span style="font-style: italic">"canted"</span> and <span style="font-style: italic">"angled"</span>. The resulting downward angle of the scope reduces the amount of elevation that is required to "zero" the scope, which leaves more "UP" available. Canted bases shift MOA from the low end of the scope's adjustment range to the high end of the adjustment range, extending the effective range of a given scope. 20 MOA is commonly used on centerfire rifles and typically gets you pretty close to zero at 100 yards with a .308.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DeepEastKilla</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> ...so lets say if you are nearly maxed out on elevation and end up needing windage can u use up the moa that is needed for the elevation or visa-versa.</div></div>
No. Don't forget that the scope tube is round, and as the reticle is moved away from center the available adjustment is reduced. If you are close to maximum adjustment of the Elevation you have reduced the <span style="font-style: italic">available</span> travel of the Windage, and vice-versa.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DeepEastKilla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">im looking at a nikon 6-18x40 that has 50moa total elevation adjustment and i was already wondering the 25moa is enough to get me by but now hearing that i may loose some adjustment when windage is needed so maybe i really should go with a 20 moa base. being that i would really only have 5 moa to work with in sighting in is that generally enough?</div></div>
Definitely get the 20 MOA base - there is no downside to it, only upside. Not only will the 20 MOA base help extend the effective range of your scope, but it will help keep the adjustments closer to "center". <span style="font-style: italic">Generally speaking</span>, scopes adjust and track more accurately within the middle range of their adjustments (high-end scopes are built to more exacting specifications with higher grade components and, while no manufacturer is infallible, usually don't suffer in this regard).
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DeepEastKilla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">thanks again guys. </div></div>
You're welcome. Hope this helps.
Keith