How To Adjust The Parallax Settings On Your Rifle Scope

!±8± How To Adjust The Parallax Settings On Your Rifle Scope

What the heck is Parallax? I asked the same thing when I first started looking to upgrade from iron sight to a good rifle scope. This guide should give you some insight into getting the best focus out of your Bushnell scope, or any other adjustable parallax scope for that matter.

Have you ever looked through a higher power scope and noticed that if you move your eye off center to the edge of the exit pupil, the reticle seems to move across the target? Well, that shift happens when the parallax setting is not properly adjusted for that distance. Some have mistaken the parallax adjustment as a focus or even a range finder, but it is neither of these. The parallax adjustment, when set properly will insure that the reticle is positioned correctly on the target; as though your crosshairs are a part of the target, unmoving, as if they were painted on, just for you. Of course if your scope is not a "target" or a "varmint hunting" rifle scope, you probably don't need to be concerned with adjusting the parallax setting. In most hunting scopes the parallax is negligible, in fact I have a good friend that hunts regularly and he didn't even know what I was talking about when I asked him. I don't hunt, but I love to spend a Saturday at target practice. So to me, any small increase in accuracy is defiantly welcome.

Most of the higher power scopes, with a power of 12 or more, will have an adjustment ring at the end of the Objective bell (the end closest to the target). Usually the parallax adjustment ring has the suggested settings printed on them, so you can just dial in the range you're shooting from. The problem is these suggested settings are rarely as accurate as they could be. So why should you go through the trouble of getting yours "just right"? Why not just use the suggested setting? Even if you're a great shot, you could easily shrink the size of your groups by as much as 30%, just by taking the time to properly set the parallax adjustment on your scope. Many shooters don't even realize that even with a few adjustments they could greatly affect their shooting performance. Let's face it, the documentation that came with your scope isn't a real blessing when it comes to learning how to use it, they just assume you already know.

Now that you have an understanding of what parallax is, it's time to fine tune your scope for increased accuracy. I'm going to assume you have already zeroed in your scope and that it's properly sighted in. You will need to set up your rifle so it is securely positioned on a bench. A shooting rest with a vise would be best. Dial in the suggested setting on the parallax adjustment ring for the range that you're shooting from. Now, look through the scope and shift your eye back and forth, left and right so you can see if the crosshairs seem like they are moving across the target. Experiment with the adjustment ring until you have eliminated the illusion that your crosshairs are moving. When you think you've got it perfect, take a little white-out liquid paper and make a mark on the parallax adjustment ring so you'll know where to adjust it later. Some people paint their mark or score it into the metal, but to start with I prefer something that's not so permanent until I'm absolutely certain about the position. Next, go ahead and take three to six shots and see how your grouping has improved. Nice, huh! Don't stop there, move your target 50 yards back and repeat the process. You might as well find the perfect settings for all the ranges that you typically shoot from in 50 yard increments.

If you're in the market for an affordable rifle scope that will really go the distance I can recommend two models from the Banner series of the Bushnell Scopes line of rifle scopes. The 1st is Bushnell Scopes Banner 6-18x50. This is a long range target scope that is also great for varmint hunting, and it's parallax focus can be adjusted from 10 meters to infinity. The 2nd is Bushnell Scopes Banner 6-24x40. This long range target and varmint scope features a mil-dot reticle which is my preferred style of crosshair. Both can be purchased for around 0.00, so they won't empty your wallet. To view these and other Banner series Bushnell scopes please visit my Bushnell Scopes page.

Happy Hunting,

How To Adjust The Parallax Settings On Your Rifle Scope

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Setting Up Your Long Range Scope

!±8± Setting Up Your Long Range Scope

Repeatability is the feature that is totally indispensable for a long range riflescope. Most scopes claim repeatable shooting. That being said, you shouldn't rely solely on their allegations. A meticulous analysis of your scope's results for repeatability is a must. A scope that does not meet the high requirements that you need for a long-range job will have to be rid of.

Scope repeatability issues have to deal with windage and elevation adjustments. That is why, you will have to test both adjustments to see whether or not the results they produce are repeatable.

Zero repeatability

This test will help you to ensure that the scope you are using is consistent when it comes to its 'zero' starting point.

First of all, make sure you are using an accurate rifle with a cool barrel. This is essential if you don't want to dump a fair scope and be left with a lousy rifle.

Mount the scope according to manual instructions. Take extra precautions to ensure that the rifle is stable. For that purpose, rests and a firm bench can be used. You won't need any wind here, as it may distort the results, so only conduct this tests on a calm, windless day.

Zero the elevation turret and make a shot. Then turn the elevation turret a few times through the entire range and get it back to zero. Shoot again. The two shots should fall in the exactly same hole, no deviations acceptable. Then randomly spin the elevation knob through several rotations and dial it back to zero. Make another shot and check if it's repeatable. A good scope should have no problems here.

Do the same test with the windage turret. Naturally, windage adjustment is very important at longer ranges, so you'll have to make sure it's as solid and reliable as the elevation adjustment.

At the final stage of the test, play with both the windage and elevation turrets. Change the adjustments randomly and then zero both knobs and shoot. All the bullets should again fall in the same hole. If this doesn't happen and what you see looks more like a sieve, the scope is useless. If the results are fine and you see only one neat hole, than pass on to a more serious repeatability test.

Linear repeatability

Now we have to make sure the readings on the elevations and windage turrets really mean what they say. The turret may seem reliable when doing the zero repeatability test but turn out complete rubbish if we try to observe some of the specific adjustment results that the knobs produce at MOA clicks.

To begin with, install a target at some 50 yards before the rifle. Zero the elevation turret and shoot. Then rotate the knob one full time and shoot again. Repeat the procedure a few times until you reach the upper adjustment limit. The trick of the test is to

a) see whether each rotation stands for equal MOA intervals and

b) confirm the stability of the horizontal windage adjustment.

What you should be able to see at the end of the test is a straight vertical dot line with equal distance intervals between the holes.

The same test is perfectly applicable to check the windage repeatability, only this time, what you will eventually get, will look like a straight horizontal line with several holes on both sides of the dead centre, neatly aligned at equidistant intervals.

Repeat the test several times to be sure that the selected scope is repeatable. Then scale down to using 1/2 revolutions instead of a full one. An ideal scope should run no problems with this.

Finally, complicate the test by checking both windage and elevation accuracy at the same time. The result will look like a nice diagonal line beginning from the dead centre.

At last, the repeatability of your scope is confirmed. Now that you are sure that the manuals are not lying, we can proceed to other, more particular and sophisticated adjustments.

Setting Up Your Long Range Scope

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