Looking to purchase a scope for a varmint rig and going to try out a Minox. The 1 in question is a 3-15x42. They can be had without a side focus on the smaller objective or with a side focus on the 50mm one. Not sure on wich one to get. I will not be target shooting much with it after it is sighted in. When you have it cranked up on high power and look at stuff at different distances will the clarity suffer not having the side focus? Just wondering because i have never had anything without a side focus when i have the higher power scopes. It is only 100 bucks more for side focus but do i really need it if i will be shooting rarely past 400 or 500 yards?
Side focus or not?
- Thread starter dtucker
- Start date
I really like the side adjustment for parallax on my varmint rifles. I rarely use the adjustment when it is on the objective except at the range due to the fact that it is not convenient in the rush to set up and get a shot in the field. I use the sf as soon as I get into shooting position. Just my 2 cents. Tom
For me, the side focus feature is a MUST!!!! I do lots of prairie dog shooting in the summer and fall and coyote calling in the fall and winter. I also do some target shooting, but only when I'm trying to figure out a new load or get my point of aim and point of impact in sync.
For prairie dogs it isn't unusual to have a shot at 50 or 75 yards and the next shot will be out at 200 yards. I have short arms and the AO out on the objective end is just not convenient. I would be forced to take my eye off the scope, reach way out to the objective end of the scope and crank on that, but with the side focus I keep my eye on the target, move the side focus knob until the sight picture is clear and then squeeze off the shot. The side focus is fantastic for me. Even when out coyote calling, I find I will often use the side focus if I have a coyote hanging up on me out at 200 to 250 yards or so.
I'd suggest purchasing the scope with the side focus.
For prairie dogs it isn't unusual to have a shot at 50 or 75 yards and the next shot will be out at 200 yards. I have short arms and the AO out on the objective end is just not convenient. I would be forced to take my eye off the scope, reach way out to the objective end of the scope and crank on that, but with the side focus I keep my eye on the target, move the side focus knob until the sight picture is clear and then squeeze off the shot. The side focus is fantastic for me. Even when out coyote calling, I find I will often use the side focus if I have a coyote hanging up on me out at 200 to 250 yards or so.
I'd suggest purchasing the scope with the side focus.
I kinda wish at times that the windage and the side focus was on the same side.. for me that would be the right side.
This scope either has a side focus on the 50mm or on the 42mm it has no side focus or on the objective bell. Its paralax is set at 100 yards. I am just curios as to how much advantage their is having it shooting at distances that are rarely going to exceed 500 yards and they are going to be a lot closer than that here where i live hunting. A fellow member that i talk with has just bought one and he seems to be really liking the scope and seems to be impressed with it some. He has some high end scopes and says the glass is pretty good.
Bottom line,
Adjustable Objective is just another feature. Simply put, sometimes you won't have time to adjust it and it's just like another scope without AO.
If you've never had an AO scope, try one. In situations where you can use it, it's nice to have, it's like a fine focus.
I have just one scope with AO and like I said it's kinda nice, but if I don't have time to adjust it,, it's really not a make or break deal for the shot.
It's always tough buying a new scope with all the features they have now-a-days. If you can afford it try the extra features. But alot of game has been harvested through the decades with just plain jane fixed power scopes.
Adjustable Objective is just another feature. Simply put, sometimes you won't have time to adjust it and it's just like another scope without AO.
If you've never had an AO scope, try one. In situations where you can use it, it's nice to have, it's like a fine focus.
I have just one scope with AO and like I said it's kinda nice, but if I don't have time to adjust it,, it's really not a make or break deal for the shot.
It's always tough buying a new scope with all the features they have now-a-days. If you can afford it try the extra features. But alot of game has been harvested through the decades with just plain jane fixed power scopes.
jonbearman
I live in new york state,how unfortunate !
Who makes minox,in another words are they japenese or german???
I have a Sightron SII 4.5-14x-50mm without the AO. I have it on a 17HMR I use for sage rat hunting. I consider it a better setup than a similar scope with AO because sage rats are often shot at 40 yards and then at 150 yards back to back. (Guess I should say shot at.....) I don't have time to mess with an AO and if the AO is set at one distance the other will be radically out of focus. This is the only situation I would buy a higher power scope without AO.
The downside of this setup is there is noticable parallax on high power at 50 yards and anything beyond 125 yards. No AO is a compromise in a higher power scope although I've never considered it a deal breaker for hunting. If you ever plan to use the scope for target shooting get the AO.
The downside of this setup is there is noticable parallax on high power at 50 yards and anything beyond 125 yards. No AO is a compromise in a higher power scope although I've never considered it a deal breaker for hunting. If you ever plan to use the scope for target shooting get the AO.
Parallax error, whether caused by not fine focusing an AO or SF or shooting at a distance far outside the set parallax distance of non-adjustable scopes, can result in significant shift of intended POI...enough to make you miss anyway...
I own both AO and SF and SF is way easier to use. With a bit of practise you should be able to correct for parallax on follow up shots within a few seconds otherwise, it's not worth taking the shot IMO.
I own both AO and SF and SF is way easier to use. With a bit of practise you should be able to correct for parallax on follow up shots within a few seconds otherwise, it's not worth taking the shot IMO.
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Dan,
I think all the advice given here is sound with swt5's being my thought almost exactly. I have thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of AO top shelf scopes that I have no intentions of replacing however when buying new ones I have been buying side focus and like them a lot, however when I am br shooting the AO scopes are just fine, prone shooting and the SF is very nice, when hunting at various longer ranges I want a scope with a AO or SF, when hunting point blank to say 300 yards or so a plain jane old 3-9 or 2-7 Leupold works just fine for me. Dan if your shooting off hand and off sticks I don't think it will matter much, if your shooting prone off short bi-pods I think you would be better off with a SF or no Parallax adjustment at all!
Wayne.
P.S,...most outfits selling scopes have a stock with rubber mounts to hold a scope, see if they have one of these and go outside and try bot out both in different positions and different distances,..just my $.02 worth.
I think all the advice given here is sound with swt5's being my thought almost exactly. I have thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of AO top shelf scopes that I have no intentions of replacing however when buying new ones I have been buying side focus and like them a lot, however when I am br shooting the AO scopes are just fine, prone shooting and the SF is very nice, when hunting at various longer ranges I want a scope with a AO or SF, when hunting point blank to say 300 yards or so a plain jane old 3-9 or 2-7 Leupold works just fine for me. Dan if your shooting off hand and off sticks I don't think it will matter much, if your shooting prone off short bi-pods I think you would be better off with a SF or no Parallax adjustment at all!
Wayne.
P.S,...most outfits selling scopes have a stock with rubber mounts to hold a scope, see if they have one of these and go outside and try bot out both in different positions and different distances,..just my $.02 worth.
Side focus is a convenience. If your varmint shooting involves widely different ranges (ours can be anywhere from 50 feet to 500 yards plus) it is a nice feature. Without disturbing your gun in the rest, you can dial in the focus for the shot you are about to make. The markings on the dials are usually pretty meaningless, best method is to put the crosshairs on your target and adjust the focus until moving your eye back and forth behind the scope does not produce any paralax. Good luck!
Lets get this straight. what the scope in topic offers is,
"Side Focus Parallax Adjustment"
This is NOT the primary occular focus, the primary is still at the occular lense and is a fast adjust twist like most of todays scope.
The, Side Focus Parallax Adjustment, is the same thing as the Adjustable Objective up front on other scopes. It adjusts parallax, meaning it places the retical in the same focus as the object of view(target/game).
"Side Focus Parallax Adjustment"
This is NOT the primary occular focus, the primary is still at the occular lense and is a fast adjust twist like most of todays scope.
The, Side Focus Parallax Adjustment, is the same thing as the Adjustable Objective up front on other scopes. It adjusts parallax, meaning it places the retical in the same focus as the object of view(target/game).
I recently bought a SIII Illuminated 3.5 X 10 X 44 30mm scope for my model 7 Remington 308. I had a Leupold VXIII 2.5 X 10 X 36 on it.
The new Sightron SIII does not have a conventional cross hairs. The reticle is etched in glass. There is a very small dot (Illuminated by restat)and both vertical mil rads. It has Target style turrent knobs(1/4 min clicks) and a side focus. The occular lens has a paralax focus. So far this scope has exceeded my expectations. The fine lines take some getting use to and they (with out the illuminated dot) would rule out any moving shots.
Tracking has been superb during the sigh in process.
I would never buy a scope without the ability to focus and adjust for paralax.
Nat Lambeth
The new Sightron SIII does not have a conventional cross hairs. The reticle is etched in glass. There is a very small dot (Illuminated by restat)and both vertical mil rads. It has Target style turrent knobs(1/4 min clicks) and a side focus. The occular lens has a paralax focus. So far this scope has exceeded my expectations. The fine lines take some getting use to and they (with out the illuminated dot) would rule out any moving shots.
Tracking has been superb during the sigh in process.
I would never buy a scope without the ability to focus and adjust for paralax.
Nat Lambeth
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Now I am 100% confused?? Parallax and Ocular are two different things altogether. Ocular ajustment is done with the eye piece, it is where you focus the cross hair and focus, Parallax is adjusted by the bell of the scope or with a side knob if the scope has parallax adjustment to start with.Rustystud said:
Parallax occurs when the image rays from the object being viewed do not fall precisely on the reticle plane. Since a gap exists between the two planes, moving your eye off center to the edge of the exit pupil will produce an apparent movement of the reticle in relation to the target. If the eye is not moved off center in the exit pupil, parallax error cannot be discerned and there will be no POI (point of impact) shift in firing.
When a scope is free from parallax, it is also at its best focus.
@ least this is my take on it.
Wayne.
"The ocular i thought was for focusing it to your eye."
Right, but if you play with the occular(eyepiece) focus, you can adjust it so you can see the retical clearly OR the target clearly at any given range.
Set paralax scopes are usually for 100yrds and both retical and target will be in focus,, at 100,,
change that distance and you will only be able to get a true sharp focus on one or the other,,not both.
With Side focus paralax/AO you now have the ability to use the eye piece to focus on the target,, then,, focus the retical to that same distance, like I said before in laymens terms it's best described as a "fine tune focus".
http://www.6mmbr.com/parallax.html
Right, but if you play with the occular(eyepiece) focus, you can adjust it so you can see the retical clearly OR the target clearly at any given range.
Set paralax scopes are usually for 100yrds and both retical and target will be in focus,, at 100,,
change that distance and you will only be able to get a true sharp focus on one or the other,,not both.
With Side focus paralax/AO you now have the ability to use the eye piece to focus on the target,, then,, focus the retical to that same distance, like I said before in laymens terms it's best described as a "fine tune focus".
http://www.6mmbr.com/parallax.html
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