Eye relief/scope mounting question

[Prof]

When mounting a variable power scope, should you mount the scope using the lowest or highest power? I recently was mounting a Leupold 4-14 scope and didn't notice until I had it all set up that it was on 14x. When I turned it to 4x, I couldn't see a darn thing! The eye relief was all off. Would the same thing happen the other way around? I'm more used to fixed power scopes and haven't had this happen before.

 

[ProCharger]

i believe eye relief remains the same whether power is 4 or 14.......all my scopes are like that...but I do not own any leupolds

 

[dakotasin]

most scopes change eye relief as power changes. zeiss is the first one that comes to mind that doesn't... also, some leupolds don't, either...

you are s'posed to mount them w/ the mag turned up all the way (shortest eye relief) to help ensure eyebrow clearance. i usually mount my scopes using a midway power - around 6x or 8x, since this is the mag range i use most often. if you mount w/ the power turned to about halfway, it is a slight adjustment forwards or back to get the pic, instead of the huge movement that needs to be made when using extremes to mount.

 

[ProCharger]

maybe my scopes do change eye relief.....it has never been enough to notice though...I have always mounted mine far back as the rings allowed as I hate leaning forward on a shot but thats just me.

 

[308win]

Don't know about Leupolds but the difference in eye relief on my Sightron tactical is negligible (on none) between 4 & 16 power.

 

[Hawk]

This was copied from Leupold's web page on the 54690:

Eye Relief (in): 5.2(8.5x) 3.7(25x)
Eye Relief (mm): 133(8.5x) 94(25x)

I didn't know variables were available with eye reliefs that didn't wander until I stumbled across this thread.