Hunting scope: AO or no?

DiRTY DOG

Well-known member
I'm trying to decide on a scope for a new 17 Rem rifle that will be used for predators mostly and a roaming ground squirrel gun sometimes out to 300 yards. Not a bench gun or range gun.

I've decided on a new Leupold VX-3 in 3.5-10x40 or 4.5-14x40 with or without AO. I will send it in to get the fine LRV reticle.

The 3.5-10x fits my needs as a predator gun, but the 4.5-14x would be better for ground squirrels. Problem is I don't want to mess with an AO on a calling gun, period. I don't shoot past 300 yards very often so I doubt an AO will really benefit me. The accuracy nut inside me says otherwise... Advice?
 
People make AO more complicated than it really is.

I like AO on anything over 10x. Unless I'm dialing long range stuff, I normally set it at a standard distance(150) and leave it.
 
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkePeople make AO more complicated than it really is.

I like AO on anything over 10x. Unless I'm dailing long range stuff, I normally set it at a standard distance(150) and leave it. +1
 
Problem with setting it at 100 or 150 and forgetting it- is that you'll have a shallower field of focus. The reticle will be fuzzy closer and further, moreso than a fixed parallax scope.
 
Its only a problem when zoomed in on high power. For calling i leave mine on 100-200 and between 6-9power no problems. When i go to 16 then i have to adjust paralax. Its only fuzzy on groundhogs when they are at 5yds!! But i still make the shot.
 
On rimfires I've used some Pentax Gameseekers in the 4-12x fixed, they have a great range finding reticle.

I also tried their 4-16x, but it was slightly blurry at around 25yds, the 4-12x stays clear way closer.

Considering they can be found for somewhere around $120 online they are a steal for decently nice glass.

As a qualifier I am a scope junky, I hate high magnification cheap glass.
 
Originally Posted By: DiRTY DOGProblem with setting it at 100 or 150 and forgetting it- is that you'll have a shallower field of focus. The reticle will be fuzzy closer and further, moreso than a fixed parallax scope.

I set the reticle focus on a new scope using the diopter adjustment on the ocular, with the parallax knob at the "infinity" setting, and the magnification adjustment at maximum.
The reticle focus never changes after that. The image focus changes with parallax adjustments, but not the reticle focus.


Originally Posted By: Widow maker 223Its only a problem when zoomed in on high power. For calling i leave mine on 100-200 and between 6-9power no problems. When i go to 16 then i have to adjust paralax. Its only fuzzy on groundhogs when they are at 5yds!! But i still make the shot.

Me too.
The image always stays in focus for me when the parallax is adjusted on the lower end of the magnification range.
 


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