Adjustable objective??? Yea or Nea ???

G

GRS

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I was particularly interested in a Leupold VXIII 4.5-14 without the adjustable objective. The scope is for my 22-250 for coyote hunting, and I was wondering if I should worry about the objective or not. Is the adjustment good for long range shots or shouldn't I worry about it and just go with a non adjustable objective??
Thanks for any help or opinions on this matter.
Gord
 
I would say "YEA"...

The AO helps you focus out parallax... which can become a factor should you be presented with a long range shot.

I don't think it's needed as much on a big game rifle, as the boiler room on deer-elk-moose, etc is much larger than on a coyote/bobcat/fox... on a varmint rifle, I think it's a necessity. At least, I wouldn't set up a varmint rifle without a scope with an AO. Maybe that's just me though.
 
I have a L-VXIII, 3.5-10 and the AO is easy to turn, like a rub on your clothes while walking. I think that has been corrected on the newer ones.
Where I have used it most is on very close shots into very small brains of grill sized pigs.
With 14X, I would say, Yes.
 
I think the question is, what range are you most often shooting at? If all your shots are at 200yds or more, than yes go ao. If part of your shooting is at 100 or less than no. Yes you can adjust down to whatever with a ao, but the problem i have had twice this year is that there wasn't time to do that.

This is a lesson i have to keep relearning, two less dogs for me because of it, so once again, back to the 3-9x50 for most of my work. blue
 
Most of my "better scopes" have AO. AO is very helpful with shots under 100 yards and over 150 yards.

Besides the parallax correction it allows better focus at shorter ranges. That statment is not one of the things it is supposed to do but in my experience it is one of the things it seems to do.

You can check the parallax of any scope by sighting an object at normal shooting distance (not indoors), by moving your eye side to side (then up and down), as far as you can, keeping the target object within the field of view. The apparent movement of the reticule in relation the target is parallax. This is best done on a bench. The apparent movement of the cross hairs is the amount of possible error you will experience on your shot placement.

So my answer to your question is YEA.
 
I don't like AO's but since the scope I have has one I put it on 250 and thats where it stays. the other end of the scope stays at 5 power.

t/c223encore.
 
Quote:
I prefer the new side focus over AO. Much faster to switch than the AO.



I do like my Nikon with the Side adjustment, it is still an AO but easier to do without moving your head off the stock so you stay lined up as you adjust.
 
Adjustable focus is a great option, otherwise you are stuck on a focus of 100 or 150 yards.

I hate the side focus, and I think that it is a marketing fad. I have both the side and front focus, the front focus has much more adjustment for a finer focus. The Side focus is real touchy on all scopes that I have tried it on.

Remember the first side focus with the large wheels? That was to give a finer adjustment on the focus.

What will the public want next?
 
Im not a fan of the side focus either but I also like the front lens ajustment. Maybe its just because I started that way but to me it seems sharper and easier to do. Most the time I leave mine set on 100 yards but if I have the presence of mind or the time I will fine tune before I shoot. Its pretty helpful when shooting prairie dogs but not real useful for coyotes.
 
I just looked at a Nikon over the weekend and it had the side AO adjustment that pushed in to lock and pulled out to adjust. The other nice thing was the dial was marked with yardages on it so if you ranged an animal you just dial in the yardage then bring it up for the shot. My VX-III does not have the range on it so you have to hold on target and adjust the side focus.
 
I also have a side focus scope. Used AO scopes for quite afew yrs. AO scope's I used had more cripser/finer focus, than the side focus scope. But on the other hand. I like the side focus a tad better. As it offer's less movment of my arm for adjusting. While a coyote looks my way.
 
Ok, here's a different opinion -- I think AO parallax correction is for prarrie dogs and target shooting.

Most big game scopes are set parallax free (focused) at 100 or 150 yards. everything from there to infinity is focused as well as the optical resolution can physically handle. So parallax is really only an issue for shooting under 100 yards, IMHO.

Scopes are normally mounted 1.5 inches above the bore of the rifle, and that is your Maximum parallax problem. If your scope is mounted higher this will change.

At any reasonable shooting range, knowing the distance and trajectory is so much more important than parallax that for me spending more money on a scope with AO and spending the time to use it in the field is a waste.

Shooting very small targets or shooting groups at the range is the only place you'll notice any real improvement with an AO scope.

Have a good time with this one! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Quote:
So parallax is really only an issue for shooting under 100 yards, IMHO.




I agree, I have AO scopes on my guns that I use for closeup work, pest control, thick woods, etc on .22LR and .22 hornet guns, beyond 100 yards go for a non AO scope, 1 less adjustment to be be in the wrong position at the wrong time.
 
I have the exact same scope on my Tikka in 22-250. When I bought the rifle the scope was on sale. I have only shot the gun to 300 yards and it is a consistent sub-moa shooter no matter how stupid I get. With that being said, all my varmint/predator scopes since then have AO and I wouldn't buy another for that purpose without it. I am also very guilty of overscoping (is that a word?) every rifle I own!

Chris
 
When I'm hunting predators the last thing I want is one more thing to screw around with when I'm trying to make the shot. No AO for me, thanks.

I do have an AO on my target rifle, tho.
 
I have a Zeiss conquest 3.5-10x44 rapid Z800 with no AO but it is factory set parallax free to 300 yds. I like it real well.
Paul
 
This is what I don't understand about the standard factory parallax setting of 100 yards: if everything past 100 yards is within focus, why do they not set the parallax closer? Like rimfire scopes set at 50 yards?

My maximum range is going to be roughly 65 yards on coyotes.
 
Quote:
What will the public want next?



How about a scope with a laser range finder that sets the parallax adjustment automatically and dials in the elevation so you don't have to hold over? Compensate for wind drift while you're at it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Under 18 ounces and $600 or less. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 


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