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March vs NF

Yeah, let's not get carried away and impugn the reliability of SFP zoom scopes in one fell swoop. In olden days, the POA shift could sometimes be detected in zoom scopes when you massively changed magnification. I have only detected it once, on a different brand of optics. It was about a half-inch high at 50 yards using a very accurate 22LR that was on a rest. It was repeatable, exactly the same way going from top mag to bottom mag. But this needed a target that was very close and very small, something that I could reliably hold the reticle on, regardless of the magnification. In real life in a match, you will drop from highest mag down to something a little lower. For example, the 8-80X that @Appalachian was taking about, if you go from 80X to 40X, the internal change is minimal, and you would not see any shifting. It would require something more drastic, like going to 16X, for this to show, if it was even there. The problem with that is that it is more likely that the aim is not as precise at 20X, as it can be at 80X.

Unless you can detect, and reproduce every time, for example going from 80X to 20X and seeing the exact same shift in POI, you have nothing. In other words, it won't be random. At least that has been my experience and understanding and then again, I've only been able to reproduce is with one riflescope, many years ago.

And like everything else, this issue can occur on one sample and not another for the exact same riflescope.

This is why I used the words "with an ironclad guarantee of absolutely no shifting of POA navigating the zoom," to qualify the use of the EPZoom riflescope. What @Alex Wheeler says about not shifting the power in a match is very right for benchrest shooters, where even the slightest jiggle will be of consequence. When it comes to F-class and long-range stuff, you simply cannot use an FFP scope for high precision, the reticle at 60X or 80X will obliterate the target and will produce more shifting than whatever POA shift may exist in your high mag, high dollar SFP riflescope. Also, I don't ever remember going from 80X to 20X in the middle of a string.
 
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Most all 2nd plane scopes will shift poi when changing power. @tom tested many of the different models and would remember if any stood out as better or worse. 1st focal planes and the ep zoom dont have this issue. You should never adjust the power of your scope during a match.

Thee original notebook was in my map pocket still, remind me later to look those notes up!

20251201_061646_copy_567x1008.jpg

Tom
 
Thee original notebook was in my map pocket still, remind me later to look those notes up!

View attachment 1717056

Tom
I'd be really interested in seeing your results Tom. I'm not shooting BR, but I would really appreciate the information so I can see what you discovered. Even if the only result is me explaining away a 'flyer' if I have to change magnification during a match.
 
@Appalachian @FTR_Mojo

What models are you interested in, I will see if one or more was in my book?

Tom

On an entirely off topic note: this must have been around the time there were some claiming that muzzle velocity was drastically changed by holding the rifle vs free recoil. Being the dumbass that I am, I chronographed while checking multiple scopes, and forming brass one day - see below

20251201_183239_copy_567x1008.jpg
 
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@Appalachian @FTR_Mojo

What models are you interested in, I will see if one or more was in my book?

Tom

On an entirely off topic note: this must have been around the time there were some claiming that muzzle velocity was drastically changed by holding the rifle vs free recoil. Being the dumbass that I am, I chronographed while checking multiple scopes, and forming brass one day - see below

View attachment 1717178
I own the march 8-80 (not majesta) and the 10-60 hm. so I am particularly interested in those. However, i am interested in your findings generally too. I always suspected that a point of impact change was happening with zoom changes but never actually tested it.
 

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