Living up to my name! I've got scope adjustment questions

[FNGprobably]

So bear with me I'm at the range just slapped my vortex hst 4-16x44 and got a good 100yd zero shooting some junk168gr bthp out of an 18"308win. I've never had these mil turrets to mess with before so I'm sitting here unsure when I turn the elevation one full mil( 10 small clicks) to show 4 it drills the 200yd shouldn't it be when I turn from zero in the direction listed up to show 1 that it would move point of impact up? Are my turrets some how backward? Or a I just uneducated on this?

 

[lash]

Okay, now I’m confused. What exactly does this mean?

when I turn the elevation one full mil( 10 small clicks) to show 4 it drills the 200yd

If you turn one full mil, shouldn’t it show 1? Or is your 100 yard zero currently at 3 on your turret?

And what does it mean when you say that when you turn one mil it drills 200? Does this mean that it takes 1 mil of elevation from your zero at 100?

I am only trying to understand what it is that you are doing and asking.

 

[Tnc]

Your thinking is correct. Have no clue why it would be the other way though

 

[lash]

Okay, re-reading your post. Another question. What direction are you turning your turret? Clockwise or counterclockwise?

 

[Tnc]

I think he’s saying he dialed “down” to the 4 in order to hit at 200. Not positive though

 

[lash]

Another close up look at you pictures. You are turning your turret in the wrong direction. Notice that the arrow to the right of the word “up” is pointing to the right (or counterclockwise). That it the direction that you should be turning your turret to raise your point of impact. If you turn the turret to the right ten clicks, your turret will read 1. As it should. You will then be dialed “up” one mil from your zero.

 

[AIAW]

The drop between 100 and 200 yards is only like 3 inches typically. Depending on the target size you could even "subtract" a MIL (MIL below zero) and still easily get an impact.

 

[phantomskittles]

Definitely turning the turret the wrong way. Most scopes outside of Europe you turn counterclockwise to go up. What size target are you shooting at at 200? Like AIAW said if you are shooting a large target at 200 yards you could easily hit it at 1 mil down. How sure are you of your zero?

 

[FNGprobably]

Another close up look at you pictures. You are turning your turret in the wrong direction. Notice that the arrow to the right of the word “up” is pointing to the right (or counterclockwise). That it the direction that you should be turning your turret to raise your point of impact. If you turn the turret to the right ten clicks, your turret will read 1. As it should. You will then be dialed “up” one mil from your zero.

That's what I was thinking as well however if I start at my zero and hold dead center of the target I impact about 3" low at 200 turn so I then turned the turret in the direction it says up and it then showed a 1 but I am then almost 6" low then at 200 yards but if I turn it opposite of the up arrow it shows 4 and my impact is almost dead on at 200 ? I shoot regularly with my hunting rifles and my redfields and Nikons I would turn with the up arrow to go up and this one has resettable turrets this is opposite I wasn't sure if this was a 'tatical' thing or not

 

[FNGprobably]

Definitely turning the turret the wrong way. Most scopes outside of Europe you turn counterclockwise to go up. What size target are you shooting at at 200? Like AIAW said if you are shooting a large target at 200 yards you could easily hit it at 1 mil down. How sure are you of your zero?

It was a 15"x20" piece of poster board with a small sticker in the center. When I held it dead on at with my turret at 0 I hit about 3" low so I moved it in the direction of up and the turret showed 1 and then I was barely cathing the bottom of the paper about 6 or so inches but if I moved from zero backwards to show 4 on the turret it would be just about dead on. It seems to be a good zero and I kept going one shot at 0 at 100 then 1 shot at 4 on the 200yd target and it was very consistent. It's very odd much different than my capped redfields and Nikons on my hunting rifles just wasn't sure this is my first resettable zero scope with turrets.

 

[FNGprobably]

Will video clips upload on this forum?

 

[phantomskittles]

Just to check something. When you are able to can you set up your rifle with bipod/rest and bag as solidly as possible with it aimed at a definite point and dial up 1 mil and tell us what direction the reticle moves?

 

[FNGprobably]

Just to check something. When you are able to can you set up your rifle with bipod/rest and bag as solidly as possible with it aimed at a definite point and dial up 1 mil and tell us what direction the reticle moves?

So I did this ? I mounted it to a block of wood with bolts to level it and that to a spare tire pretty solid setup and then measured out exactly 100yds with a tape. Leveled a target that was measured out 1mil inciments at 100yds. When I tried to dial up in the direction the arrows points the reticle moved down.... On the bright side it tracks quite well with only 1/10th mil off at 9mil just in reverse it appears. Think vortex would warranty it? I just got it on Wednesday.

 

[wade2big]

So I did this ? I mounted it to a block of wood with bolts to level it and that to a spare tire pretty solid setup and then measured out exactly 100yds with a tape. Leveled a target that was measured out 1mil inciments at 100yds. When I tried to dial up in the direction the arrows points the reticle moved down.... On the bright side it tracks quite well with only 1/10th mil off at 9mil just in reverse it appears. Think vortex would warranty it? I just got it on Wednesday.

The reticle should move down in the scope when you dial up. With that being said, the rest of your story doesn’t fit. I’m sure the scope is fine. Has to be the man on the trigger is pulling his shots.

 

[FNGprobably]

The reticle should move down in the scope when you dial up. With that being said, the rest of your story doesn’t fit. I’m sure the scope is fine. Has to be the man on the trigger is pulling his shots.

Good to know I'll hit the range again Sunday to test some more but it seems far to consistent as operating in the opposite direction. To be a fluke on my part nearly 40 shots trying to figure it out I have my hunting rifle shooting out there and that was sending shots down with quarter sized groups and this was grouping just as well just in the wrong areas. I know a guy who knows a guy who works at the local long range rifle shop maybe I can get him out to the range with me.

 

[FNGprobably]

Good to know I'll hit the range again Sunday to test some more but it seems far to consistent as operating in the opposite direction. To be a fluke on my part nearly 40 shots trying to figure it out I have my hunting rifle shooting out there and that was sending shots down with quarter sized groups and this was grouping just as well just in the wrong areas. I know a guy who knows a guy who works at the local long range rifle shop maybe I can get him out to the range with me.
[/QUOTE

Laying in bed racking my brain thinking logically you are right but all my other shots were just fine just this new scope with resettable turrets and what could be different and thought of the parallax! This is a new knob I've never had before. would the parallax have anything to do with this? Turning the knob from 100 to 200 when dialing in a shot or if I didn't change the parallax when shooting out another 100yards ?

 

[phantomskittles]

The good news is the scope is moving the right direction. The bad news is it isn't the elevation turret that is messed up. Incorrectly adjusted parallax could affect your impacts though I wouldn't have thought by that much. Did you adjust the focus the way they recommend? It has been a while since I owned my PST but I think you adjust parallax to infinity, look through scope at a plain wall or the sky and adjust the ocular focus till the reticle is as crisp as possible. Definitely think having another guy try it might help especially if they are experienced.

 

[lash]

Phantom skittles is right in that when you dial up elevation, the reticle should move down in the scope picture with all else staying the same. Think about it a minute. If the reticle moves down one mil when you dial up elevation to one mil, that means that in order for you to put the reticle back onto the point of aim, the barrel (and thus the scope) has to move up one mil. This brings your point of impact up one mil to match where your reticle is now aiming (centered). Is that as clear as mud?

I am interested to hear about your results from today.

 

[FNGprobably]

Phantom skittles is right in that when you dial up elevation, the reticle should move down in the scope picture with all else staying the same. Think about it a minute. If the reticle moves down one mil when you dial up elevation to one mil, that means that in order for you to put the reticle back onto the point of aim, the barrel (and thus the scope) has to move up one mil. This brings your point of impact up one mil to match where your reticle is now aiming (centered). Is that as clear as mud?

I am interested to hear about your results from today.

No it makes perfect sense what you are saying just seemed so odd why in would make near dead center shots when dialing opposite direction. I'll read up on what the parallax is/does before I head out next instead of turning it to 100 mark for 100yds and 200 for 200 yards. More I see about it sounds like the numbers on the turret are just marks and don't actually mean that distance. thank you for dealing with the FNG and his questions.

 

[b6graham]

No it makes perfect sense what you are saying just seemed so odd why in would make near dead center shots when dialing opposite direction. I'll read up on what the parallax is/does before I head out next instead of turning it to 100 mark for 100yds and 200 for 200 yards. More I see about it sounds like the numbers on the turret are just marks and don't actually mean that distance. thank you for dealing with the FNG and his questions.

is the turret at 0 at 100 yards? the 1, 2, 3, etc dont mean 100, 200, 300 yards. that you have to figure out for your load

 

[Snuby642]

I don't think you have grasped what it takes to zero a scope, any scope.
Not trying to belittle you but want to save you frustration and ammo.

You do not yet have a 100yd zero.
The scope came with instructions.
There are a million videos on line to help.

Shoot at 100yds until you hit zero , then set turret to zero without moving it. Vortex has instructions.

This will now be a legit zero.

In simplest terms, 1 mil of adjustment will move your impact 3.6 inches at 100yds. Each 1/10th mil will move it 0.36 inches.

There are many videos that explain mils. Watch a few.

An hours worth of video will save you a lot of ammo and in your case it appears frost bite. Lol

http://www.vortexoptics.com/video/how_to_set_the_rzr_zero_stop

Vortex Optics - How To Sight In Your Riflescope

 

[FNGprobably]

Boom I hit the range again after talking to my buddy and reading through all of this he suggested taking everything apart, take the zero stop out and start all over and since I normally shoot off my pack and to lose the bipod. While I was setting it up again in the warmth of my kitchen I found a little bit of pipe insulation made the cheek weld alot nicer and shooting off my hunting pack seemed more comfortable. I am pleased yet embarrassed to announce all is well thank you for bearing with me. Here's the 200yd its not precision but I ran out of ammo after the 10 I threw at the 100yd target to zero and put the zero stops back in and confirm it still was zeroed. I shot these 10 at the 200yd and used the scope in the direction it lists to walk up the target. Again thank you for your time and yup I got a high one always that high one