Twisting Turrets-Backlash
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BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
When you are screwing your turrets clockwise, you are pushing the erector tube with what is in effect a jacking screw, against the resistance furnished by one or more springs. On the other hand, when turning counter clockwise you are backing the screw away from its previous protrusion, and counting on the pressure of the spring to make the erector tube follow closely. It is in this situation (making an adjustment that involves turning a turret counter clockwise) that it may be advisable to overshoot your intended adjustment by a few clicks, and come back to it turning clockwise. I got this information, a number of years ago, from the late Dick Thomas, who owned and ran one of the most prominent scope repair and modification services, Premier Reticle.
jonbearman
I live in new york state,how unfortunate !
Boyd,you are right on.I know that claims by companys making fine optics claim it isnt needed is not always true. Listen to Boyd,he nailed it.
Luckily this is not near as common as it used to be and honestly is very rarely seen on today's scopes, especially on scopes that are designed to have the turrets turned on a regular basis.
It is actually fairly easy to check for though. The ideal way to check for backlash is on a collimator , but obviously not everyone has one just laying around as they are relatively expensive. That being said, the Leupold magnetic boresighter will allow you to test for backlash as it is a collimator of sorts. No, it wont be as easy as using a full size bench top collimator, but it should show you what your looking for.
Best Regards
Scott
It is actually fairly easy to check for though. The ideal way to check for backlash is on a collimator , but obviously not everyone has one just laying around as they are relatively expensive. That being said, the Leupold magnetic boresighter will allow you to test for backlash as it is a collimator of sorts. No, it wont be as easy as using a full size bench top collimator, but it should show you what your looking for.
Best Regards
Scott
It certainly should be as long as the scope is of decent quality and doesn't have any underlying issues.expiper said:
Scott
I over-adjust a couple clicks & back, among other things I don't consciously think about anymore.
Just habit.
I also post adjust snap the scope body just behind the turret with a finger.
Using Mk4s & NXS it's hard to know that its needed.
But if I didn't, and my first shot missed the four to follow, I'd just never know,, would I?
Just habit.
I also post adjust snap the scope body just behind the turret with a finger.
Using Mk4s & NXS it's hard to know that its needed.
But if I didn't, and my first shot missed the four to follow, I'd just never know,, would I?
BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
The point that I was trying to make is the over adjust and back is only appropriate if your intended direction of adjustment involves turning the turret counterclockwise, for the reasons that I gave, which were from a scope authority.
I run into this do it for all adjustments thing all the time, but you should try to visualize what is happening inside the scope. Clockwise your are pushing the tube, counter clockwise you are hoping that the spring is strong enough to make the erector tub follow the retreating screw tip, with no slack. For that reason you should only go past and come back when the adjustment is counter clockwise.
Another thing that helps is to "exercise" the turrets by taking them to their limits, side to side, and up and down. This smooths out the machined surfaces, wears them in, and actual tests, before and after, using a collimator showed better tracking after doing a lot of reps. (PS article).
I run into this do it for all adjustments thing all the time, but you should try to visualize what is happening inside the scope. Clockwise your are pushing the tube, counter clockwise you are hoping that the spring is strong enough to make the erector tub follow the retreating screw tip, with no slack. For that reason you should only go past and come back when the adjustment is counter clockwise.
Another thing that helps is to "exercise" the turrets by taking them to their limits, side to side, and up and down. This smooths out the machined surfaces, wears them in, and actual tests, before and after, using a collimator showed better tracking after doing a lot of reps. (PS article).
scott_at_vortex said:
In my opinion, this product is not sensitive enough to do what you are suggesting. Bought one, tried it, didn't work, sent it back. Just my personal experience. :
Regards,
Paul
www.boltfluting.com
boltfluter said:scott_at_vortex said:
In my opinion, this product is not sensitive enough to do what you are suggesting. Bought one, tried it, didn't work, sent it back. Just my personal experience. :
Regards,
Paul
www.boltfluting.com
It can certainly be a little more difficult with lower powered scopes, but it works relatively well/easy for higher powered scopes(15x and up) in my experience. If anyone has any questions on how to do this I would be more than happy to help.
Best Regards
Scott
Backlash is a part of manufacturing, tolerances make backlash. We have $300,000+ Mori’s At the company I work for and brand new out of the box none of them will have zero backlash with a ball bar test. How much will affect a scope? I don’t know, but I imagine adjustments made on Swiss Lathe’s like citizen’s are a lot more consistent than made on conventional lathes. A lot easier to hold .0003’s on a Swiss than a conventional lathe.
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
Dick Thomas knew his stuff. If he said it is Golden in my book.
D-4297
Gold $$ Contributor
Old habits die hard . I was taught to do this as a teen , back in the 60's dark-ages . The habit is still with me today . Backlash is created by tolerances within machined parts . Are those parts better machined today , than 40 - 50 years ago ? Absolutely ...But they still have tolerances , or they would not be moveable parts . I subscribed to what Mr. Allen has stated in his posts . Old rule was simple . Turn down ....Turn past ! Come back up ! Places equal loading on the spring . Understand what is inside your scope , and you'll grasp why some shooters do this , regardless of the manufacturer . The super high dollar scopes are made with greater quality , but nothings "perfect" , far as I know .
I know what you're saying but backlash would be from wear or loose tolerances. Lack of movement may be from lube, a bad spring or it might be from just the opposite of loose tolerances and/or wear, and be from being tighter than spec, rather than loose. This may in turn, give better repeatability from shot to shot. Just something to think about. A couple of taps on a scope is not a big price for better repeatability, if that is the case.
That's all I've ever done is tap the scope turret with my finger after dialing. Odd habit I was taught by my grandpa to "settle the scope".
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