Rifle Scopes Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

[ghorsley]

I am new to rifle shooting. My equipment is a 700 5R with a nightforce 3.5-15-56 NXS. I have a good zero and crystal clear picture at 100 yds and can see the holes. When I go to 200, fiddle with a few adjustments, the sight picture is not as sharp and I can't see the holes. I don't have a spotting scope.

Shouldn't the target picture be just as sharp at 200?

Thanks for your help.

 

[OFIS]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

did you focus the ocular, per instructions?

 

[ghorsley]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

Yes sir.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

Wow, thats strange, sounds like alot of gun to be shooting 100yds.
But reallly there must be something wrong, either focused incorrectly or perhaps a mechanical error, I assume the problem persists with a different set of eyes? Just for S&G how does it look at farther ranges?

 

[hydro556]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: coldboremiracle</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow, thats strange, sounds like alot of gun to be shooting 100yds.
But reallly there must be something wrong, either focused incorrectly or perhaps a mechanical error, I assume the problem persists with a different set of eyes? Just for S&G how does it look at farther ranges? </div></div>

Assuming it is a 308 or 223. Why is that a lot of gun for 100 and 200? Are you suggesting rimfire?

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

No, it was a bit of a joke, a 5R and a Nightforce that is useless for anything beyond 100yds.(meaning, if you cant see bulletholes @200yds you might as well shoot a rimfire and its distances) Sorry for not making that clearer

 

[black_ump]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

hahahahaha it was funny to me

 

[GB213]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

Could it be heat off the barrel from the first round of shots? Take a towel with you to the range and if this happens again lay a towel over barrel and see if anything is better.

 

[Guest]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MrHiggins</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am new to rifle shooting. My equipment is a 700 5R with a nightforce 3.5-15-56 NXS. I have a good zero and crystal clear picture at 100 yds and can see the holes. When I go to 200, fiddle with a few adjustments, the sight picture is not as sharp and I can't see the holes. I don't have a spotting scope.

Shouldn't the target picture be just as sharp at 200?

Thanks for your help.
</div></div>

Scope ajustment,... ocular first for reticle, any distance,... then parallax for distance.

 

[Plange]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

Do what Gunfighter says, focus reticle against a blank background (white building, slightly cloudy sky- don't look at the sun) look through scope and make minor adjustments to the eyepiece, then look away for a moment and then repeat until you are comfortable with the reticle being in focus.
Go to range and try what GB213 said using the towel, if you still have the same issue then try to refocus the eyepiece at that distance still looking at the target, if it does become clearer there is a chance the erector colimation is not correct. Manufacturers all have different specs as to what is acceptable and generally this process is done by a human and there is the possibility that it is a little out of spec. That might allow for the reticle to be slightly out of focus but will cause the target to also be slightly out of focus, then as you try to become parallax free it will cause even more focus problems.
This usually only appears on cheaper scopes but as I said this job is done by humans who can suffer eye fatigue so it also must be considered.
Good Luck.
Paul

 

[mouse07410]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

A naive suggestion - no insult meant - but are you adjusting Parallax as you switch to a new target/distance? (I second Gunfighter's recommendation.)

And yes the target should be as sharp throughout.

 

[ghorsley]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

Thanks for the ideas. I will recheck adjustments per NF instruction book.

I start a long distance school this week so will get another set of eyes to check it out. I'm sure its something that I'm not adjusting correctly.

Thanks again.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

Assuming your vision is fine, I will bet scope adjustment is the culprit.

 

[sniperaviator]

Re: Target at recognition at 200 vs 100

With my Nightforce I chose a far away target (like 10 miles). With the parallax at infinity, I focused the eyepiece (diopter) by turning the piece nearest my eye. Pick a bright point (I have snow covered glistening mountains) and bob your head up and down and make sure you have little or no parallax.

After that, I choose a target at any distance or magnification and focus the scope by adjusting the parallax.

Sometimes it is odd, the parallax knob is not where I think it should be logically. This is why Nightforce didn't put distance marks on the parallax knob. They keep changing due to which magnification you choose, which distance you are looking at.

Anyway that is how mine works.

As for seeing your bullet holes. It depends on the background, white target with dark bullet holes is easiest to see. A black target sucks imo, except for the shootnsee which turn bright green when you shoot it. Don't be too suprised if you can't see your bullet holes. They are hard to see sometimes.