How Important is Parallax Adjustment?

[flmason]

Hi All,
   Trying to decide if Parallax adjustment should be a go/no go feature for a buying decision on a scope.

Anyone know just how much effect parallax has in a scope with parallax fixed for 100 yrds... out to say 250 yards? 

I'd guess the magnification maxiumum magnification would be somewhere between 9x and 12x or 14x. Not sure.

Mostly because I have no idea at what point it becomes important.. or how many MOA the parallax can throw the shot off?

[LaOtto222]

Most if not all 9X powered scopes do not have any parallax adjustments. I know if you keep your eye centered with the center of the scope, parallax has no effect what so ever. One way to check parallax is to move your line of sight around in the scope. Does the target move around? If it does the parallax is not adjusted. Further, it depends on your application what the parallax is set at. Most 22 rim fire scopes are preset to 50 yards and rifle scopes are set to 100 yards. Shot gun and muzzle loader scopes are set to 75 or 50 yards. But again if you keep your eye centered in the scope, parallax will have no effect. As the power of the scope goes up, parallax gets exaggerated. That is why most higher powered scopes have parallax adjust of some kind. A 18 X scope will have considerably more than a 9X scope. That is because the movement of the target I told you about earlier is exaggerated. Just center your eye in the scope and you will not have to worry about parallax. Of course If you are looking down a 36X scope any little movement can be exaggerated to the pint of really effecting accuracy, so parallax is really important.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[flmason]

Most if not all 9X powered scopes do not have any parallax adjustments. I know if you keep your eye centered with the center of the scope, parallax has no effect what so ever. One way to check parallax is to move your line of sight around in the scope. Does the target move around? If it does the parallax is not adjusted. Further, it depends on your application what the parallax is set at. Most 22 rim fire scopes are preset to 50 yards and rifle scopes are set to 100 yards. Shot gun and muzzle loader scopes are set to 75 or 50 yards. But again if you keep your eye centered in the scope, parallax will have no effect. As the power of the scope goes up, parallax gets exaggerated. That is why most higher powered scopes have parallax adjust of some kind. A 18 X scope will have considerably more than a 9X scope. That is because the movement of the target I told you about earlier is exaggerated. Just center your eye in the scope and you will not have to worry about parallax. Of course If you are looking down a 36X scope any little movement can be exaggerated to the pint of really effecting accuracy, so parallax is really important.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

Hmm... not knowing any better, I sprung for a Nikon with Side Focus so that I was covered.

One person recommended backing off a little and using the black ring as a sort of ghost ring to get centered on the optics... seems like a good idea, with or without the parallax adjustment.

Having done very little scope shooting over the years, I'm simply stuck trying to evaluate all the info out there these days, with no real good way to go test lots of examples.

Should be an interesting new toy, so to speak.

[Lloyd Smale]

Like was said its not really needed unless your using a scope with a higher power then 10x and isnt really needed until the range gets over 300 yards. On game the size of deer i wouldnt worry about it at any range but still would like it on a scope higher powered then 10x. I think of it as more of a focus then i do a paralex adjustment. Most 12x scopes get a bit blurry when your looking at something out 500 yards. So my recomendation is if you plan to shoot past 400 on big game or even 300 on varmits or want a scope with more magnification then a 10x then i would have to spend a bit more and get one with a paralex adust.

[flmason]

Like was said its not really needed unless your using a scope with a higher power then 10x and isnt really needed until the range gets over 300 yards. On game the size of deer i wouldnt worry about it at any range but still would like it on a scope higher powered then 10x. I think of it as more of a focus then i do a paralex adjustment. Most 12x scopes get a bit blurry when your looking at something out 500 yards. So my recomendation is if you plan to shoot past 400 on big game or even 300 on varmits or want a scope with more magnification then a 10x then i would have to spend a bit more and get one with a paralex adust.

Well... I went with a Nikon 4.5x-14x-40mm with Mil Dot. Chose because it did have the Side Focus as compared to the others I was seriously considering. Didn't realize that it was such an over blown topic. All the "sniper-ish" sites talk about it a whole lot. I thought, "Hmm... better to have it and not need it than other way around." 

It caused me to rule out the cheaper Redfield "Battlezone" which has MOA scale and MOA clicks... whereas the Nikon has Mil Dot + MOA clicks...

Geez I hate names like "BuckMaster" and "Battlezone" on a scope... LOL! Marketing departments... LOL!

All this imagery that has crept into this stuff in the last decade(?) or so. Can't we just call it, you know "The model 3" or something?

Where did all this "zombie apocalypse" stuff get started anyway?

[LaOtto222]

I think you made a good choice. I have a Nikon Buckmaster 6 X 18 setting on a 22BR for longer range varmints. I consider it one of the better scopes I own. If they did not cost $350, I would have a few more. A good 14X scope will give you a good sight picture way out there. And the 4.5X works good at 50 yards or less. I want a parallax focus on my scopes starting around 12X or so. I do have an old Bushnell (made in Japan) that is a 10X (no variable) with the focus on the end of the scope, which most are. It was my first "varmint" scope and I think I paid a handsome price of $125 30 years ago.

I am not sure how the "Zombie" craze got started, but I like the cheap Zombie bullets, when you can get them.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[flmason]

I think you made a good choice. I have a Nikon Buckmaster 6 X 18 setting on a 22BR for longer range varmints. I consider it one of the better scopes I own. If they did not cost $350, I would have a few more. A good 14X scope will give you a good sight picture way out there. And the 4.5X works good at 50 yards or less. I want a parallax focus on my scopes starting around 12X or so. I do have an old Bushnell (made in Japan) that is a 10X (no variable) with the focus on the end of the scope, which most are. It was my first "varmint" scope and I think I paid a handsome price of $125 30 years ago.

I am not sure how the "Zombie" craze got started, but I like the cheap Zombie bullets, when you can get them.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

Was in the LGS yesterday and there was a Browning bolt gun there with a Bushnell of some sort on it. First time I ever tried to check a scope for parallax. Have to admit, it definitely was more noticable on the short distances.

Well... if the rule of 1 power for every 25 yards really holds... 14x gets me about 350 yards... more than I ever expect to use.

Didn't really feel the need for high power really. I'm happy with iron sights for the most part. What I really like is the Mosin type configuration.. you can use scope or irons at any time with no changes.

[bilmac]

It's a gimmic to sell scopes. Shooters have been doing fine without it until just a few years ago, now everybody's gotta have it.

[Lloyd Smale]

dont know about that! I have a weaver on my 22250 that is at least 25 years old and has a paralex adjustment on it. I know leupold has sold the 4x12s for at longer then that. Hardly something new and hardly a gimic to sell scopes. Take a 4x12 or a 6x20 out in a field and look through it at the lowest setting then the highest at a target about 600 yards away and one at a 100 and youll see that the longer range target is out of focus. Might be a gimic to a guy whos never shot game past 250 yards but to a long range shooter its mandatory.

[bilmac]

Just how far away do you shoot at game that you need a 20X scope?  We occasionally shoot at 400 - 450 yards here in wide open Wyoming, but that is rare because we like to be humane and not leave a lot of wounded animals around. You can kill any big game you want at 450 yds with a 4X  fixed power. The 9X variables are nice because they let you check out heads to meet legal requirements, but not necessary to make a shot.

All the big knobs and other do-dads are just something to get busted or hang up on the brush.

[FPH]

I have old Weaver 3x9 scopes on all my hunting rifles.  I usually keep them set on 6X.  I never have worried about paralallx.  My longest shot in years has been 365 paces, usually less than 100 yds.

[flmason]

OK, so clearly it's really a question of, "How small is your target, and how far away".

Sounds about fair. I guess we could call it a refinement then.

[Lloyd Smale]

no doubt it can be done but ive shot enough deer at long range to know that they look pretty small at 450 using a 4x scope. Is 9x mandatory? heck no but its sure an advantage. When the range gets that far, personaly i like my 4x12s. Ive been in a few situations where i thought to myself I wish i had a little more power in a scope but to be honest never have been in spot where I felt a 3x9 set on 3x was to much.

Just how far away do you shoot at game that you need a 20X scope?  We occasionally shoot at 400 - 450 yards here in wide open Wyoming, but that is rare because we like to be humane and not leave a lot of wounded animals around. You can kill any big game you want at 450 yds with a 4X  fixed power. The 9X variables are nice because they let you check out heads to meet legal requirements, but not necessary to make a shot.

All the big knobs and other do-dads are just something to get busted or hang up on the brush.