Rifle Scopes Side focus on hunting rifle optic? Or go simple?

[JelloStorm]

Help me out guys. I'm on pins and needles here. Not sure if I want the Nikon Monarch 3-12x42SF or the 2.5-10 without parallax adjustment.

I want the variable magnification of the 3-12, but it has a side focus. Not sure if this is something I want to fuck around with when trying to aim at a deer.

Any whitetail deer hunters in here use them without issue? Is it a nuisance or an extra hassle when hunting?

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: Side focus on hunting rifle optic? Or go simple?

depends on where you plan on taking a shot. if you are in heavier cover set it for 75 yds and forget it. out in more open areas 125, out in fields if your planning to go longer, you'll generally be ok to move the amount it'll take to get it focused perfectly.

although while hunting we should all strive to take the best shot we can, Minute of Vital area shouldn't be affected too much if the scope isn't focused perfectly. i'm not saying it should be blurry, but if need be 10 or 20 yards out of focus under 200 yards shouldn't be a problem.

as far as identifying game, making sure of a clear / safe background, etc. i like the side focus alot. plus it gives (although rough) an idea of a general range for those that are not reticle savy or have a rangfinder on them. for those that are good at judging range "on the fly", you can get a rough focus distance dialed in even before the rifle is shouldered and get a decent image.

i'm left handed, and in my case, there's not much movement involed adjusting the focus, which is an added bonus to the "backwards" shooter.

 

[tipper]

Re: Side focus on hunting rifle optic? Or go simple?

2.5-10 without parallax adjustment.

 

[flyrodder]

Re: Side focus on hunting rifle optic? Or go simple?

I lean towards simple on hunting gear.

 

[tylerw02]

Re: Side focus on hunting rifle optic? Or go simple?

I don't understand why so many people worry about adjusting out parallax. It isn't rocket science and takes only a few moments.

 

[Jon A]

Re: Side focus on hunting rifle optic? Or go simple?

I've used them almost exclusively for quite a few years now. It's not the issue some make it out to be.

With most SF scopes when you have them on the lower powers it doesn't matter where the SF knob is--you can just point and shoot like any other scope. They'll work just as well as a fixed 3X, 4X, 6X, etc. It's only when you crank it up you need to mess with it--and if you have time to crank up the power another second on the SF is no big deal.

That's with most SF scopes--I haven't used the Nikon Monarch specifically.

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: Side focus on hunting rifle optic? Or go simple?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> don't understand why so many people worry about adjusting out parallax. It isn't rocket science and takes only a few moments. </div></div>

I don't know about this. It really depends on where you're hunting. I'm in south Louisiana and although I haven't hunted in a while, when I did hunt it was usually in places where the longest shot would be 150 yards or so. I like to keep things simple. In response to the above quote, a few moments is often two moments more that you have to make a clean shot.

Like I said, I haven't been hunting in a while, but my 30-06 has a 2.5-10X32 on top of it.

 

[tylerw02]

Re: Side focus on hunting rifle optic? Or go simple?

The 2.5-10x is a great scope.

However, keeping it simple is as simple as setting it on 75 or 100 and calling it done when you're hunting thick cover. The error from fixed parallax is much, much greater at longer range than improperly setting it at short range. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[Chopperguy]

Re: Side focus on hunting rifle optic? Or go simple?

I do a lot of hunting for game from varmints to African plains game. Have made clean kills to near 500 yards on game and varmints.

My hunting scopes are in the 2.5-10, 3-9 or 3-12 range. None have SF option.

Never been ann issue, but I wouldn't turn down a good deal on one if it had the SF.

My long range target guns and prairie3 dog rigs do have SF options and I do use them on the range or fields of critters.

Don't feel cheated if you don't have it for deer hunting.