Rifle Scopes Running Out of Parallax Adjustment at ELR Distances

[WilsonLover]

After reading extensively on the topic, I wanted to pose my anomaly here and see if I could get some guidance.

I recently acquired a Vortex Razor HD AMG (AMG-5) and went through the normal process of adjusting the diopter.

-Blank light surface
-keeping eyes closed and opening them after slight adjustments to focus the reticle.
-Fine tuning until its perfectly in focus

The problem is that when I'm trying to set the parallax on a target that's 1000+ yards, I can't seem to get the target in razor sharp focus...even looking through the scope and turning the parallax knob, I hit the "infinity" stop and the target isn't fully in focus.

It's about 95% there, but I'm wanting just a couple more millimeters of travel on the parallax knob.

Is this a problem? I tried cleaning lenses thinking it was possibly some type of dirt but cannot find a way to remedy this.

 

[scott5456]

Do you have the diopter set correctly?

 

[WilsonLover]

Do you have the diopter set correctly?

I followed the instructions to a T and the reticle is razor sharp to my eye. So yes.

 

[CoryT]

Zero parallax does not require the target focus to be sharp. The question on parallax is does the target or reticle appear to shift if you move your eye off center of the ocular. It does not set focus, it sets the image in the same plane as the reticle.

It‘s possible the diopter is not actually perfectly set. It is also possible the parallax knob is a bit off from the factory. Possibly the optics are a bit off internally. Make sure you set the diopter with the scope set to infinity. Get a target at mid range and check parallax. When parallax free is the target sharp? If so, now try a target at 1500 plus. When set to infinity, pretty much everything from 1000 to the far horizon will be ‘in focus’ as good as it will be.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Moon?

 

[WilsonLover]

Zero parallax does not require the target focus to be sharp. The question on parallax is does the target or reticle appear to shift if you move your eye off center of the ocular. It does not set focus, it sets the image in the same plane as the reticle.

It‘s possible the diopter is not actually perfectly set. It is also possible the parallax knob is a bit off from the factory. Possibly the optics are a bit off internally. Make sure you set the diopter with the scope set to infinity. Get a target at mid range and check parallax. When parallax free is the target sharp? If so, now try a target at 1500 plus. When set to infinity, pretty much everything from 1000 to the far horizon will be ‘in focus’ as good as it will be.

I totally understand. I’m well aware that the goal is to put the reticle on the same plane as the target. However on every other scope I own, I have no problem doing that at extreme range. My Cronus BTR has WAY more parallax adjustment beyond any target I can see. So this is odd as I can’t seem to quite get to a target 1500+ yds away

 

[MakeSawdust]

Before I relay my experience here, I will say that Vortex has been VERY good to me in the customer service department. I believe this is a common/known issue with the AMG. I will detail my experience and also say that others have posted similar experiences with the parallax on an AMG. I sent the first one I had back 3 times for this issue. It did not have the issue when I sent it in (it wouldn't hold zero, but DAMN the glass was NICE). It came back with the parallax assembly replaced (along with the stuff to fix the shifting zero). It would not go parallax free past 250 yds. I sent it in again and it came back but would not go parallax free outside of 850 yds. I convinced them to send me a new scope and asked that they specifically check for the problem. After receiving the new scope it worked fine. I will also note that the parallax adjustment knob would turn quite a ways past the infinity mark (as my initial sample that was good did).

 

[Glassaholic]

Try working backwards. Setup everything for what you think ought to be a clear image at 1000y, now see if you can adjust your diopter to the point the image is nice and sharp. If it does come into focus, now test your reticle to see if it’s still sharp and of course test your parallax. Now come it to 500y, still good, what about 100y? Then go beyond 1000. If it still looks poor at least you can rule out it was not the diopter set wrong (easy to do).

 

[MakeSawdust]

Good point. I did that when I was having trouble and it took such a massive amount of adjustment that the reticle was a complete blur. I sort of assumed the OP had exhausted all possibilities with my post

 

[Glassaholic]

After doing all that and either one or the other is not in focus, or the image never gets to a point of being clear, it's time to send the unit back to the manufacturer. The good news is Vortex is extremely good at excellent CS and quick turn around. Unfortunately this kind of stuff happens, but it's good to rule out user error.

 

[sinister]

Your parallax may be correct, but at extended ranges you may have hit your lenses' optical limits for clarity and resolution.

The AMG-5 may be the best you're going to get out of a 30mm tube.

 

[Oleshep]

IMHO

It was my understanding that past about 800yds Parallax was basically a non factor, set to infinity and other adjustments not necessary?

Also keep in mind you are looking through a lot of mirage and other types of distortion that may prevent you from getting a crisp image at distance.. That said I do believe that this is where the optical clarity of the scope will show any shortcomings...

 

[MakeSawdust]

In some instances you might be correct. I have had the same experience as the OP. When the AMG is right the glass is incredible for the price. I have not looked through any alpha glass. I have looked through gen 2 razors, xtr3, atacr 5-25, ares etr, bushnell dmr2 and kahles 624i. The only ones that didn't leave me very unimpressed were the xtr3, the atacr, and the kahles. To my eyes, the glass in the AMG was better than any of the above. When the optimechanical components of the scope are right, it is a good scope. Mine have all tracked dead nuts to 20 mils. I have had a lot of mechanical failures with the scope involving the parallax. I would venture to guess he is having a similar issue I and several others have had. As has been stated, Vortex has incredible CS. I would just send it in and have it checked out.

 

[WilsonLover]

Appreciate the input everyone. The challenge is that at ELR distances...mirage becomes a factor. In my experience here with the AMG, I'm saying that my Cronus gets better resolution and I'm able to get it exactly where I want it. With the AMG, I'm turning the parallax knob, getting a clearer picture and when I get 95% there I hit the 'stop' on the knob. Is the target in focus? Yes, but it could be sharper. Is the parallax eliminated? I think so. But the picture isn't crystal clear. After messing with my diopter today trying to focus it on a target at 1500 yards, I was able to improve it a bit. But it's still not to the point my Cronus BTR is...and that seems disappointing to me. It's extremely usable and I could live with it. But given that I bought the AMG for my ELR 300WM rig....it's kind of frustrating and I'm sitting here second guessing my choice.

 

[MakeSawdust]

Send it to Vortex and ask them to fix it. They will take care of you. I will say, a lot of people think scopes are broken that aren't. You need to be persistent in explaining that you have compared to other optics and you don't feel that the parallax adjustment is correct. I have had the exact problem you are describing with multiple samples of the AMG. Vortex was very patient and worked through it with me and made it right. Make sure you are very descriptive when describing the problem. It will help them diagnose and fix the issue.

Obviously, without personally looking through the optic I cannot say for sure that it has the same problem as mine did. It certainly sounds that way in the manner you describe it as well as your comparison to other scopes. In my experience, the turn around time is less than 2 weeks. I have had it be less than 5 days in a number of instances.

 

[alex2x2]

I have the same issues with my Vortex HD Gen 2 4,5 x 27 with H59 reticle.

Can't set parallax out of 800 m