'eyebox' opinions

[the varminator]

Hi guys. I can't readily get to see many scopes so I need some help.
I'm looking to get a scope for short to mid range varmint work and want to know specifically which scopes have the biggest eye box/ most forgiving eye relief/ most non-critical eye relief(whatever you want to call it)....coupled with a good field of view.

So far I'm thinking maybe something like the Zeiss conquest 4.5-14x50 z800 reticle. Maybe weaver super slam 3-15x50?

 

[Grimstod]

I wouldn't consider the weavers a good choice. The NForce may well be but I haven't looked through that particular model yet. Leopold has a new range of scopes that are suppose to be gret for these requirements except they may not be the best for varmenting. Look them up.

 

[NateHaler]

I'm looking to get a scope for short to mid range varmint work and want to know specifically which scopes have the biggest eye box/ most forgiving eye relief/ most non-critical eye relief(whatever you want to call it)....coupled with a good field of view.

Search for the scopes' specs online. Start reading. Much of what you want to know is subjective. Some people think eye relief of X is "generous". Others think the same eye relief is a recipe for needing bandaged eye relief after recoil. Lower magnification = bigger FOV.

 

[medic727]

Part of the eye box equation is the exit pupil. Size of the objective divided by the power setting.

56mm obj ÷ 42 power = 1.33 mm

Inc exit pupil = Inc obj dia or dec scope power
Dec exit pupil = Dec obj dia or inc scope power

 

[fredhorace77]

Here's my 2 cents. Over the years I have come to favor Leupolds view thru the scope. I once looked thru a swaro and noticed your head had to be perfectly inline behind the eye piece or you would loose sight picture. This can be a good thing or bad thing depending on your needs and likes. Having to keep your eye/head in a smaller area helps ensures you get a consistent cheek weld and helps rule out problems with parallax. This is great and important for target shooting or varmint hunting off of a bench. But if you are predator hunting and or game hunting i perfer a scope thats alittle more forgiving because im usually having to move around to get set for a shot. Leupold's eye relief is not constant and changes as the power is adjusted. higher power allows your eye to get closer and lower power allows you to move your eye away from the eye piece. I never understood why so I called Leupold and asked them why they design thier scopes to do this. I was told by tech. support that the reason they do this is because when a shooter lays prone it causes the head to move forawrd towards the scope so they made the scope to allow your head to move closer and still get a full sight picture in a higher power. And likewise on lower power your eye can be further way which usually is the need for shooting standing and most often standing shots are taken on lower power. The way Leupold sees this is that most often when shooters are using higher power they are either laying prone or off of a bench which causes the head to move closer to the scope. And when shooting on a lower power, it is most often used when shooting standing or with a less stable rest and when standing the head has a tendency to move back away from the scope. I know this may not be very encouraging, but what you really need is to be able to look thru several scopes to determine what you will like the best. Its definitely not a one size fits all type of topic. I treat my scopes like I do handguns. I try to pick what I feel will fit my needs the best and order it. When it comes in if I look thru it and don't like it I just return it or sell it. Most companies will allow you to return a scope as long as you haven't mounted it to a gun. I have been thru a lot of different brands of scopes and like handguns, I try them and if I end up not liking them they get sent on down the road. The Weavers that I have owned in the past have been great scopes but to me they always appear that your looking down a paper towel roll and I personally don't like a lot of black edges around the sight picture. This is why I have settled on the Leupolds for me. A friend of mine absolutely hates how Leupolds eye relief changes. It doesn't bother me at all. Each his own..So don't be afraid to purchase scopes and have to sell them cause they don't fit exactly how you want...Ive always said I wish there was a custom scope company that would build you a scope exactly like you want. Mine would be a 2-10x-40 with Leupolds Varmint hunter reticle and VX-3 glass...Night force turret system in a hunter profile and illumination in a 1 inch tube with the weight of a Leupold ultralite...Oh yea and priced in line with tasco...LOL...but that will probably never happen