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Rifle Scopes How important is parallax adjustment?

W

Wrighty

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 12, 2010
124
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San Diego, CA
#1
just wondering how important parallax adjustments are because I'm surprised by some good scopes that do not have them. the SS 3-9, bushy 10x, and the new Weaver grand slam tactical 3-10, to name a few. so how important is it? (assuming one is shooting at a variety of distances, not just 100 yards)

would you buy a scope without parallax adjustment?
 
#2
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

If you can always keep your eye perfectly centered, then it is not important at all. But there's the rub- no one can. If your parallax is not adjusted for the range at which you are shooting, then you will hit off center any time your eye is off center (all other variables notwithstanding).

A non-adjustable parallax scope will be set at a distance that is a good compromise to get you fairly close at ranges within the intended purpose of the scope. A scope for hunting may be set for 100 yards, while a long-range scope would be set to be fairly parallax-free from, say, 300 or 400 yards to infinity.

IMO, you want adjustable parallax for a sniper rifle.
 
#3
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

Depends how small of target your shooting at. Deer, no parallax adjustment need, golfball at 200yrds, better have all the parallax adjusted out! The Bushnell 3200 10x40 is an awesome no frills scope, seems to be focused at any range, but mine had parallax issues at 200yrds that I swear could vary by at least 2" If you can line up behind the rifle perfectly every time, you don't need the adjustment, I prefer SF or AO, myself
smile.gif
 
#4
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

I just bought a Super Sniper 3-9 FFP...and boy do I wish it had a Parallax adjustment. Now granted, I have only shot it at 100 yards to test different ammo and get my 100 yard zero squared away.

I just had a really hard time staying perfectly straight and the image looked like ass if I moved even the slightest bit. I looked thru some guys NXS 5-22 with sidefocus and a mark 4 with sidefocus and liked both of those much better.

*on a side note, and i dunno if its me or just looking thru optics in general...but the more i stared thru the scope and looked at the target, my vision just seemed like it would go black and blurry and i would have to look down at the ground around me and focus on other things and then look back into the scope. then my durn glasses kept fogging up and it was really miserable lol.
 
#5
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

Same problem with my old tired eye muscles can't keep focus for an exteded period and things stsrt to get blurry. You are not alne with this problem.
 
#6
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

Generally speaking the higher the magnification the more parallax adjustments are needed. This is why scopes below 9X seldom have parallax adjustments. Is this good or bad? It is all about application of the optic. Most DM type scopes such as the Leupold MR/T and Super Sniper 3-9 are lower power and intended for larger targets at medium range. Higher power scopes are intended for longer range and/or smaller targets which require more precision. Thus the requirement for parallax adjustment. I shoot a M1a and HK91 with the 3-9 Super Sniper at steel targets out to 800 yards and I don't miss the parallax adjustment. However, my varmint guns all wear 6-20X scopes with parallax even though I seldom take shots over 500 yards. Parallax adjustment is needed because Prairie Dogs are much smaller than IPSC steel targets.
 
#7
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Santo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Same problem with my old tired eye muscles can't keep focus for an exteded period and things stsrt to get blurry. You are not alne with this problem. </div></div>

The only scary part about that is I'm only 25 lol.
 
#8
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

so a 3-9 like the S.S. could make hits on Man Sized Torso targets to 800 yards without the use of parallax adjustment?
 
#9
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HD1911</div><div class="ubbcode-body">so a 3-9 like the S.S. could make hits on Man Sized Torso targets to 800 yards without the use of parallax adjustment? </div></div>

The person behind the trigger would play a very big role in that. Just as important if not more than the scope itself.

To answer your question. That shot is most certainly possible with that optic.
 
#10
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HD1911</div><div class="ubbcode-body">so a 3-9 like the S.S. could make hits on Man Sized Torso targets to 800 yards without the use of parallax adjustment? </div></div>
Certainly, parallax isn't much of a problem with this scope. Here I am shooting it at 700 yds with a little lightweight 7-08 hunting rifle:

http://www.youtube.com/user/JonAadland#p/a/u/0/Mmv7tKh5CJU

That's a 9" circle.
 
#11
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

Yes, I have done it. I would argue that the SS 3-9 or Leupold MR/T scopes are much better for a DM type rifle because they lack parallax adjustments. Side fous, higher power scopes are nice in their correct application, i.e. small targets at long range. However, making this paralax adjustment when shooting steel (DM aplication), the parallax adjustment slows you down.
 
#12
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

Just my observation (I haven't studied up on it)... but parallax seems to make the most difference at close ranges and at high magnification. Shooting rimfire, I have noticed big differences between 50 yards, 100 yards, and 200 yards. 300+ yards, a lot less parallax adjustment is required. As mentioned above, every little bit helps with a tiny target.

I managed to hunt deer for 15 years without adjusting parallax, but if you are hanging out on this board, you are probably at least a little bit in precision shooting, and yes, parallax adjustment can and does make a difference.
 
#13
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

what you pointed out about parallax being worse at certain ranges over others is interesting. i have heard that as well. it just seems like if i was to use a scope without parallax adjustment i would always wonder if parallax was a factor in a miss. it would probably drive me crazy. but it does seem like there are specific applications that do not absolutely require parallax adjustments. as for me, I'm looking for a new scope for my 22 trainer and will most certainly get one with parallax adjustments, though new, solid, inexpensive scopes like this one are tempting...

https://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=950843
 
#15
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Goin'Hot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That scope I your link would be great for a 22. I have one on a 223ai that's shot steel out to 900 yds and works just fine for it. </div></div>

that's good to hear my friend, thanks for the recommendation!
 
#16
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

Important? Depends.

For a low power huntings scope that will be used at or near distances where the adjustment is arbitrarily fixed, it's probably not crucial.

For serious accuracy applications, I wouldn't own a scope without adjustable parallax

Greg
 
#17
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

Both scopes have their place. Close to medium range with larger targets like a big game hunting or a DM set up your don't need parallax adjustment. Longer range or percision shooting at smaller targets you need parallax adjustment.

The photos are of a M1A at five hundred yards fired prone as fast as I could settle the cross hairs. The scope is a 3-9 SS. Ammo is American Eagle M1A 168 gr OTM. The other photo is five shots at 600 yards. Rifle is a Colt lower with a Colt M16 upper. The scope is an ACOG 3.5X compact. Ammo is a 69g hand load. Neither scope has parallax adjustment. Neither group is for bragging rights, just practical application. Hope the pictures work I'm new at this.

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Pictures fixed??
 
#19
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

was shooting this weekend at a 250 yard target and got horrible vertical string with one particular load i was testing so i moved on to other loads thinking that one sucked. but at the end of that string noticed the parralax was still set to 100 yards so i switched it without thinking a whole lot about it, then proceeded to shoot much improved groups with other loads. got home and started wondering...did the parralax adjustment being set wrong screw up that test?
 
#21
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HD1911</div><div class="ubbcode-body">^^^^^ Pictures did not work</div></div>

Photos fixed I think.
 
#22
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: marduk185</div><div class="ubbcode-body">was shooting this weekend at a 250 yard target and got horrible vertical string with one particular load i was testing so i moved on to other loads thinking that one sucked. but at the end of that string noticed the parralax was still set to 100 yards so i switched it without thinking a whole lot about it, then proceeded to shoot much improved groups with other loads. <span style="font-weight: bold">got home and started wondering...did the parralax adjustment being set wrong screw up that test?</span> </div></div>

If you have a tendency to be inconsistent with your head placement in the vertical plane shot-to-shot, you bet!
 
#23
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

Is it still necessary for a side parallax adjustment (S&B 5-25x56 in my case) to set the parallax from infinite to the dead-on setting to cope with backlash?

I read somewhere that the backlash can be an issue and should always be dialed from inf. to the desired paralax-free setting.

Thanks in advance...
 
#25
Re: How important is parallax adjustment?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SurgeonPredator</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is it still necessary for a side parallax adjustment (S&B 5-25x56 in my case) to set the parallax from infinite to the dead-on setting to cope with backlash?

I read somewhere that the backlash can be an issue and should always be dialed from inf. to the desired paralax-free setting.

Thanks in advance... </div></div>

Thought that was a Leupold issue only, or so I read.
 
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