Adjustable Objectives

[Sniper66]

I have 2 Leupolds with the AO feature, a VX II 4-12X AO and a VX III 4.5-14X AO. In both, I am disappointed in the usefulness of that feature. The yardage markings are mostly worthless. I did some p-dog shooting this weekend and was reminded of the AO shortcomings. The sight picture is good for both scopes, but not improved with the AO feature. As I say, the focus is good, but not very good and certainly not excellent. On a 10-pt scale the focus is about a 7-8. What reminded me of this issue was that I also have a new Leupold VX 3 in a 3.5-10X and took it to the field for the first time. It is a superb scope and pure joy to look through. On the same scale compared to my AO scopes, it's a 10.
So...my question...what is your experience out there with the AO feature? I came back with the thought of selling the 2 scopes and upgrading to better ones. If I do that, what scopes would you recommend that have a very sharp sight picture? Would you recommend a fixed power vs an adjustable? What brand and model? Thanks for your help.

 

[WALKERs210]

I never thought I'd give complements to this brand of scope, it is a CentrePoint, but in all honesty it has the best optics that I have ever had. Close in 25-50 yrds simple adjustment and it dead on.

 

[taliv]

AO are usually better than side focus, but i never pay attention to the markings. they're off on almost every scope

 

[rcmodel]

Initial focus for your eye is not adjusted with the AO.

It is adjusted with the rear eyepiece.

First set the AO to infinity.
Then pull the gun up and quickly look at the bright sky.

If the crosshairs are not clear, adjust the rear lens one way or the other and pull up and look through it again until it is.

Do Not try to adjust the lens while staring through the scope as your eye will attempt to adjust to the out-of-focus scope faster then you can screw the lens in or out.

rc

 

[Sniper66]

Hey remodel...I owe you a drink!!! I took both of my rifles out on my patio and by following your recommendation, the sight picture cleared immediately. Your location indicates eastern Kansas, which is where I am. I'll send a private note with my location in case you want to cash in on that drink THANKS A MILLION.

 

[rcmodel]

Great!

Glad that's all it was!

rc

 

[DM~]

I'm always amazed how many folks thing that AO is to "focus" a scope!!

DM

 

[taliv]

well, it kinda is, unless you want to get overly wrapped around semantics.

"focus" is a verb that means you're putting the primary image and the reticle in the same focal plane. the purpose of that is to eliminate parallax. but it could be argued that the phrase "adjusting parallax" is only strictly accurate if you've named the knob 'parallax' and what you're really doing is "adjusting the focus" or "focusing".

feel free to educate me if i've misstated that. i'm certainly not an expert on the physics of optics

 

[rcmodel]

It doesn't help any that the scope manufactures call scopes with three dials on the turret "side-focus", when in fact they are talking about side-parallax adjustment just like the AO scopes.

The thing is, the side or AO parallax adjustment also does adjusts focus at very close ranges.
A high magnification air-rifle scope used at 10 meters is a good example.

But, even that won't focus right if the primary focus for your eyesight hasn't been adjusted with the rear eyepiece adjustment first.

rc