Super stupid question!!

[Big J]

Why ask? Well I don't know so I am asking!

On my big scope there are numbers at the barrel end of the scope on the ring. I believe it is 50 100 150 200 300 400 or something like that.
Now I can turn the end of my scope to line up one of these numbers too the dot on top!
I understand the 9 power end of the scope but what the heck is that end for? Does that have to used shooting 200 300 or 400 yards? Is it for focus at that distance. What the heck is it?
Duh!!!

 

[rdl65]

It's called Adjustable Objective and it is to focus at different ranges just like you thought.

 

[WTM]

its to adjust for parallax. bench rest shooters benefit from it but a waste on a hunting rig. although you could use it to estimate range, but in a hunting situation probably wouldnt have time.

all non AO or non side focus scopes have parallax adjustment built in at 100 or 150 yards.

 

[Big J]

So what should I set it on?

 

[WTM]

set it on 150 or 200 and it will be good from 20 to 600 no problems.

 

[DoeTag]

set it on 150 or 200 and it will be good from 20 to 600 no problems.

Mine is usually set at 200, I will fiddle with it if time allows on a long shot.

 

[Hogbear]

Parallax corrects for eye misalignment. If you have the parallax set at 500 yds and you're looking at something at 100 yds, then moving your eye left or right will move the crosshairs left or right on the target even if the rifle is locked in a vise. With the parallax set to the right yardage, you can move you eye left or right and the crosshair should stay right on the target. Not a huge deal unless you're doing fine target shooting at long ranges.

 

[mr.big]

if its set at 4-500 and something comes in close real quick iy will all be a blurr,,no ao`s on huntin rigs

 

[Plateau Hunter]

I have an ao scope on my squirrel rig. I keep it set on 25 yds which is about right for squirrels. Parallax is more critical at close range for small targets. Also it does affect focus-at least on my scopes that have it. Plateau Hunter

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

if its set at 4-500 and something comes in close real quick iy will all be a blurr,,no ao`s on huntin rigs

exactly

 

[Hogbear]

Changing the parallax on my AO scopes doesn't change the focus at all, that's a seperate ring on the eyepiece. Still should have it set for the proper distance for best accuracy though.

 

[Model70Man]

Changing the parallax on my AO scopes doesn't change the focus at all, that's a seperate ring on the eyepiece. Still should have it set for the proper distance for best accuracy though.

Right on.

I have read what some people do to set the parallax so they don't have to fool around with the adjustment ring. They point their rifle into the sky and then make the adjustment to where the crosshairs are right for them. Then they say they don't have to keep readjusting their setting at different ranges. Many people say it works, but I have never tried it.

 

[ewc]

Changing the parallax on my AO scopes doesn't change the focus at all, that's a seperate ring on the eyepiece. Still should have it set for the proper distance for best accuracy though.

Right on.

I have read what some people do to set the parallax so they don't have to fool around with the adjustment ring. They point their rifle into the sky and then make the adjustment to where the crosshairs are right for them. Then they say they don't have to keep readjusting their setting at different ranges. Many people say it works, but I have never tried it.

Two different things.

Pointing the scope up to the sky and adjusting the eyepiece and parallax are different.

Every scope should be adjusted by #1 (eyepiece) with or without an AO.

Adjust by backing eyepice all the way out and then screwing back in against a neutral background (the sky) until the crosshairs are in focus and TOTALLY black (not mostly black).

Parallax is moving your head side-to side and the crosshairs move. Focus for that separately.

Anyone who says an AO scope can't be used for hunting is wrong.

If your scope is set right, it take less than two seconds to adjust - no matter what your range.

No game on Earth moves that fast.

 

[Plateau Hunter]

Changing the ao range setting does change the focus--it is a side effect. Your are correct that the ao is for eliminating parallax at varying ranges. It seems logical to me that anything you do with moving a lens in a lens system is going to affect the focus somewhat. Per other posts here if the ao is set at 400-500 yards and something comes by at spitting distance why is it a blur? It is because the focus is affected--right? Maybe I am optically challenged? LOL Plateau Hunter

 

[ewc]

It does not change the eyepiece focus.

Eyepiece focus and parallax focus are two different things.

Parallax WILL seem fuzzy, but do not attribute this to eyepiece focus.

I walked outside a minute ago and pointed my AO (adjusted for 200) and there was no way I would miss from 15 to 400 at a deer.

 

[WTM]

how much will parallax error move poi at a target? maybe 2 inches? not enough to miss a deer, gophers at 500 yards, yeah maybe. at lower magnifications, say below 10x, it will be so small you wont even notice. at higher power say 18x, and long range, yeah it will affect it more, but then again most deer are shot less than 150 yds unless you are ewc or meglamanic, and thats your style of hunting.

but for me, id hate to have a bruiser SLOWLY chasing a doe thru the field or woods, rifle on my knee, one hand trying adjust AO and the other trying to keep the rifle steady enough to adjust it, and oops i had my rifle on 16x. better dial that down too. by the time i had all that done, that buck would have that doe chased half way to carrol county. lol

 

[Mountian Man_TN]

The only stupid question is the one you don't ask!
Always ask when in doubt.