Rifle Scopes Scope Image Deflection(?) per Scope Brand/Model?

[heldebrant]

Hello all

I've been a lurker here for a long time and figured I should ask this question as it's bugging the heck out of me. I'm a relatively new hobbyest to the shooting world (3 years?). I've bought maybe 6 scopes to date, a Zeiss, Leupold, SWFA, Nikon and one other one that the name escapes me.

So here's my question but I don't really know the exact terms to use. A buddy has a Leupold (not sure of the model but it has a relief in the bell if that helps). I can move my head around quite a bit and still be able to see the target and get a good shot on it. All of the scopes I have bought to date I have to have my head dead-on and perfect in order to see the entire field. This bugs the heck out of me and I believe its because I can use his scope and I have some individual freedom for positioning.

I at first thought that this might be parallax adjustment but then after reading more about it I don't think the is what I'm looking for. I've played around with my scopes that have this and it doesn't seem to be it. I need to purchase some more scopes but I am afraid to pull the trigger on any due to my perceived ability to be able to move around when viewing.

Is this just me? Am I imagining this maybe? My buddy agrees with me though when he shoots my rifles.

I'd also like to not spend considerably more money on a scope than I need to. I'm not 100% bought into that you need to spend over $1k to get a really good scope. Sure, I can see some differences between the Zeiss and Leupold but for a hobbyest do I really need to have a $2k scope to be happy with it? When I bought the SWFA I think I was expecting more than what I got based from reviews. While the scope seems to work OK I think I would have preferred a differnet brand/model thinking I would get better performance. There's just so many damned brands out there that it is overwhelming. I'd like to think I could buy a second tier brand and be happy with it while saving a little money for the next one. I've read up on so many differenet ones I'm beginning to think I won't be able to make a good decision. I'm the type who would prefer to buy once. If anyone has any good suggestions I would appreciate it. Unfortunately I don't have many retail places around me (really none at all) that have a good selection to view and maybe figure out what I'm looking for.

 

[BionicSniper]

What you are describing is how much of what I call "eye box" a scope has. It is the area behind the scope in which you will be able to see a complete picture. It varies depending on a lot of things and is generally given as a distance in spec sheets.

An incorrect parallax would cause the reticle to move around when moving your head (rifle stays still).

 

[heldebrant]

Thanks for the reply BionicSniper

What spec would I be looking for that you mention here?

What you are describing is how much of what I call "eye box" a scope has. It is the area behind the scope in which you will be able to see a complete picture. It varies depending on a lot of things and is generally given as a distance in spec sheets.

An incorrect parallax would cause the reticle to move around when moving your head (rifle stays still).

 

[slm9s]

Its not something that can be measured, at least there's no "standard" that companies list. You'll have to search for people commenting on the eyebox, or post a question regarding the eyebox on a certain scope or scopes. Leupold is known for having a generous one. Also, as magnification goes up, eyebox CAN shrink as well.

 

[BionicSniper]

The spec I commonly see is the "eye relief". Now as slm9s points out, that being a proper measurement is an entirely different story.

 

[slm9s]

Eye relief is only distance from the scope to your eyeball, one dimension. Eye box includes that distance as well as the vertical and horizontal distances where you can still get a complete sight picture. So its really a sphere shaped area behind a scope, if your eyeball is in that sphere you will have a complete sight picture.

 

[BigJimFish]

The closest thing to a stat for eyebox is exit pupil. This covers the up, down and left, right but not forward, back as slm9s said. This stat though does not really seem to have a 1 to 1 relationship with the feel that you are talking about even in just the x, y plain. There is no doubt that some scopes are much more comfortable to be behind especially for long periods of time. I'm afraid that their is no stat for this. You will simply have to use the scope in question yourself, find a comprehensive review of it, or pick the brain of an experienced individual who has used it. You will find eyebox larger and more comfortable at low magnification always.