More scope question.

[vega]

I took my Marlin 22 LR with Tasco 3-9X32 scope to the range this morning and put some holes in the paper. When I sighted and zeroed this before I used the lowest magnification. How come when I use 3x my groupings are good at 50 yds but when I put it to 9x I was all over the place. Does it have something to do with the scope being cheap? Would Leupold also have the same result.

Do I need to re-zero it again and use 9x?

TIA,

vega

 

[powderific]

I think I might have the exact same scope as you on my tricked out ruger 10/22 and i can't say that i've had this same problem. You say that you put it to 9x and you were all over the place, do you mean your groups opened up like mad or it threw your zero off? I don't know why your groups would open up, but if it just started hitting in a different area i would say it's just because it is a crappy scope. I definately don't have this problem with my leupold on my deer rifle, or a nikon on my varmint rifle. That said, i don't have this problem on my tasco either.

 

[vega]

At 50 yds with 3x mag, my shots are within 1" grouping. But if I use the 9x mag its about 2" grouping.

Did you use the highest mag when you zeroed your scope?

vega

 

[powderific]

Because of the way i shoot i have zeroed my rifle at different magnification settings and never had your problem. At one point in time i had left the clear scope covers on while sighting it in, and that really threw my groups. When your rifle isn't grouping well, are you doing kentuky windage or anything like that? Or just holding it in the same spot and shooting for groups? I can't imagine what would make the scope group worse at full magnification besides some weird defect. One thing to consider is that the image quality on these cheap scopes isn't exactly the best, expecially at full magnification. Maybe the poor image quality is throwing off your shooting? I guess it's kindof baffling to me as well.

 

[vega]

powerific - I just hold it at the same spot. This might help, I wear corrective lens and the cross sight at 9x is not as clear as the 3x.

vega

 

[powderific]

I can't say for sure, but i would guess that the crosshair being blurry is the culprit here. Did you try zooming it in as far as you could without making the cross less clear? I know with mine i almost never zoom it in all the way because i can't see the target or the crosshairs very well at all.

 

[vega]

I could very well see the target but the crosshair is not as clear when I zoom out but I could still see it very well.

vega

 

[powderific]

If that's the case i can't imagine what it would be. I do know that i do not have any scopes that do this. Perhaps it is defective? Im not even sure what would have to be screwed up for this to happen.

 

[redneck]

Are you shooting from a rest or offhand?

Personally, I can't shoot as well with a scope at higher power offhand as I can at low power or with iron sights. The magnification makes each little wobble look huge and it totally kills my concentration.
Maybe I'm backwards but I like the target (bullseye) to appear just big enough that I can tell whether I'm on it or off of it.

 

[tbige]

Actually a fairly common problem with lower quality scopes. I was lucky enough to have a store tell me one I'd bought as a combo was changing zero before I ever fired a shot. Got rid of it pronto!

 

[vega]

I was shooting from a rest that I made but not as steady as sand. I can't imagine that's the reason since I got good grouping with 3x. I'll be getting my 700 ADL this week and I'll see if my Leupold will have the same problem.

vega

 

[tbige]

vega: Don't hold your breath -- it won't.

 

[vega]

I was breathing normally.

vega

 

[tbige]

vega: lame attempt at humor. What I meant is the Leupold is NOT going to exhibit the same problem.