Rifle Scopes Why are windage knobs on the right side of scopes?

[Mod Zero]

Hi All,

Why are windage adjustment knobs on the right side of most scopes? If you could build a custom scope from the ground up...would your inclination be like mine to run the windage knob on the left side to be easier to see and operate with the support hand (shooting as a righty).

I haven't given it much thought until today. This is coming from my education that your trigger-finger containing hand should always be on the rifle and ready. Is this opposite for precision, fieldable rifles, that may always require your support hand to hold the gun?

Thanks!
-Luke

 

[308pirate]

When shooting with a sling, the left arm is bound up and can't be used to operate any of the rifle's controls. The right hand has nothing to do until it's time to press the trigger.

When shooting with a bipod and a rear bag, the left hand is around the bag and supporting the back of the rifle helping to keep it on target while the right hand has nothing to do until it's time to press the trigger.

Seems to me the windage knob is exactly where it needs to be.

 

[dirthead1]

Kahles came out with a left side windage K624i a couple of years ago. Great scope, but in reality I'm not sure that it makes that much difference. Like Birddog said, parallax is adjusted constantly. Windage not so much. With the Kahles, parallax is under the elevation turret, so you can adjust both windage and parallax with the left hand. I rarely adjust the windage turret, so left side side adjustment really isn't something I worry about.

 

[stello1001]

I do a lot of hunting. With that said, I do prefer windage on left and parallax on right. However, I shoot right handed rifles lefty. Considering that, when I am aiming down my scope at some does waiting for the big buck to come on behind them (or whatever the case may be), I personally do prefer to keep my left hand on the trigger ready so my right-hand is free to adjust parallax. That's just me, I usually never mess with my windage.

 

[Mod Zero]

Thanks for the feedback all. Sound logic all around. Hadn't considered parallax adjustment priority

 

[Thumper580]

Because the majority of people are right handed...

 

[Rerun7]

I adjust my parallax with my left hand constantly, where it's easier to see and operate with the support hand.

I rarely touch my windage.

This... I always hold for windage but need to adjust parallax anytime transitioning between distances.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I adjust my parallax with my left hand constantly, where it's easier to see and operate with the support hand.

I rarely touch my windage.

^ This