Rifle Scopes Parallax Question

thefiremeister

thefiremeister

Sergeant
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Minuteman
Nov 7, 2009
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#1
How much parallax does a good scope have?

I have a SS fixed 10 power and after getting set behind my rifle the other day I got a good sight picture and then decided to move my head around with out taking my eye off the reticule and the target. The reticule and target went way out of alignment from my original sight picture.


How much parallax is to much parallax? I think zero would be good but I've not had a chance to look through a nice high dollar scope.
 
#3
Re: Parallax Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Usdmgtr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You should be able to dial out all Parallax. </div></div>
...except on scopes without parallax adjustments like the SS 10X.
wink.gif
 
#4
Re: Parallax Question

Fixed power scopes have a range of set parallax. I do not know what that would be on a standard fixed 10x, but try the scope at different ranges. At some ranges, you will experience the reticle movement like you just did, while at others, the parallax is minimized.
 
#5
Re: Parallax Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: modifier</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Usdmgtr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You should be able to dial out all Parallax. </div></div>
...except on scopes without parallax adjustments like the SS 10X.
wink.gif
</div></div>

The SS 10X does have a parallax adjustment, either on a separate turret, or on the ocular housing... so you are way off...
 
#7
Re: Parallax Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: modifier</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Usdmgtr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You should be able to dial out all Parallax. </div></div>
...except on scopes without parallax adjustments like the SS 10X.
wink.gif
</div></div>

Firstly, the OP asked about Parallax on a good scope.

... and you can adjust the SS 10x.
 
#8
Re: Parallax Question

Most scopes with parallax adjustment combine the parallax adjustment with the focus adjustment.

On the surface, this makes good sense, since distance and parallax are related. But there's a problem which appears when the factory assembly process fails to get the two synchronized properly. It's a lot more common than many think.

If your focus can be sharpened perfectly, but reticle/eye movement are present, you've got the problem.

Parallax can be negated by quartering the reticle. By moving they eye left/right/up/down to the points where the edge of the image is shadowed, one can determine the center of the image. A stockweld which find and holds that center places the eye in line with the riflescope's optical center. As long as that alignment is held, parallax has no effect. It's when the eye drifts from the optical center alignment that parallax begins to cause POA shift. POI is altered because technically, you're aiming at the wrong spot.

Alternatively, one can elect to adjust the objective so the eye/reticle movement is eliminated, sacrificing a crisp focus in exchange for properly corrected parallax.

Or, one can send the scope back under warrantee and let 'em know their assemby process quality control is overrated. Good luck with that one.

Fixed parallax scopes have their parallax compensation adjusted to be correct at an arbitrary distance. For most hunting type scopes, this turns out to be 200yd.

Greg
 
#9
Re: Parallax Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Zeroed1983</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: modifier</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Usdmgtr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You should be able to dial out all Parallax. </div></div>
...except on scopes without parallax adjustments like the SS 10X.
wink.gif
</div></div>

The SS 10X does have a parallax adjustment, either on a separate turret, or on the ocular housing... so you are way off... </div></div>
I was being sarcastic (hence the
wink.gif
). The only thing off was my humor.
blush.gif
 
#10
Re: Parallax Question

I have adjusted the reticule using the eye piece or ocular lens. When I'm aiming I use the side focus knob. I can get a good sight picture by doing that.

I know you need to keep everything centered but if I do move my head a bit its hard to tell if your not lined up correctly because there is not a much shadowing until your way off.

So if I had a high dollar scope would I get shadowing sooner so I would know I'm not in alignment?
 
#13
Re: Parallax Question

Shadowing is from the "eye box" this is different that Parallax. Shadowing with increase as you up the magnification and the exit pupal gets smaller.

As long as you have an edge to edge picture you are ok. Then adjust your parallax so when you move your head slightly up or down you crosshairs don't jump. This might not be the same point your scope is in focus.
 
#14
Re: Parallax Question

Any Parallax is too much

What works for me is to get the diopler setting as close as I can. Then I will set a newspaper @ 50 yards and focus in at full power. I find that when most parallax is gone I am still out the focus on the target.I then adjust my diopler again until the print on the paper is crystal clear (this should be a minor adjustment ) . I then focus in again and almost all parallax is gone. When I have this set right Parallax is gone and the target is clear.Parallax can also change as the day goes on so setting it at 8am might not be best at noon. I will also pull my head back and tunnel the sight picture to the cross hairs if I cannot get most of it out

Works for me maybe not for everyone
 
#15
Re: Parallax Question

IF your asking if you have a great scope, that is answered in your ability to hit the target.

Shadowing doesnt increase with the price of the scope. Shadowing will increase with the size of the eye relief. Shadowing is simply caused by your eye being too close or too far from the rear of the scope. Shodowing lets you know that your in the wrong position. Even a $25.00 BSA scope will give shadowing.

As far as parallax with higher priced scopes. It is my opinion and will be my opinion for a long time that price does not guarantee quality. If you spend 3-4 thousand on an S&B, you had better get the best sight picture and parallax adjustment in the business, which is usually the case.

However, you can buy a Zeiss scope and get an excellently focused sight picture and a parallax free sight picture for around $800. The shadoingng will be the same between the two scopes, because they both have an eye relief of around 4". I hope that cleared up a little bit there.

Good Luck
 
#16
Re: Parallax Question

OK, maybe I need to rephrase the question.

How much parallax is in a high end scope? How much parallax should a high end scope have?

On the SS there is a lot. On a Millet I was looking through there was not a lot of parallax because you would loose the cross hairs if you moved your head very much.

I understand you need to be consistent with eye relief and cheek weld but if your off a little on the eye relief and cheek weld on the Super Sniper you will be way off your target.

If your off a little bit on lets say a Night Force with your eye relief or cheek weld will you be way off on your target?

Or maybe the question should just be is there less parallax built into a higher end scope? How much acceptable?
 
#17
Re: Parallax Question

This seems to me that you might not understand completely what parallax is and how to adjust a scope so this condition is minimized.

To be simple ANY scope, regardless of "high end" or "low end" and regardless of how much parallax the assembled scope may or may not create SHOULD be able to correct said parallax at any certain distance and/or magnification.

True that some scopes allow the end user to correct parallax fully and some might not but regardless the parallax MUST be adjusted to as minimal as possible.

As in the case of your Super Sniper scope, its a fixed 10 power scope with a "focus" (aka parallax adjustment) on the rear eyepiece. You should be able to adjust the eyepiece so that there is no apparent movement with regards to the reticle and target while moving your head up and down on the stock.

What procedures are you doing to check for parallax before you shoot with your cheek on the stock and the rifle shouldered?
 
#18
Re: Parallax Question

do ffp scopes have the same parallax issues as sfp scopes? I think that because the rectucile and image are on the same focul plane there should not be an alignment issue. Is this correct or am I way off base?
 
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