How much parallax is typical for a low power scope (no AO) at 100 yards?

[Corn-Picker]

I was at the range earlier today with my 1.25-4x24 Bushnell (http://bushnell.com/hunting/rifle-scopes/elite/elite-1-25-4x-24-4a-w-illum). I set my rifle on a rest, and without touching it I moved my head around to gauge the parallax error (at 4x power). From one extreme to the other (i.e. moving my head until the center of the reticle disappeared into the blackness), the reticle moved across my target by about eight inches at 100 yards. That was very surprising to me as I assumed the parallax would be set to zero at 100 yards from the factory. I had a series of targets set up at 50 yards, 100 yards, 200 yards, and 300 yards. The parallax error was always off in the same direction; if I moved my head to the right the reticle moved to the right, at all ranges between 50 and 300 yards. As I understand it this must mean that my parallax is either set at less than 50 yards or greater than 300 yards, correct?

I want to make sure I'm not missing something stupid before I send this off to Bushnell for a fix (assuming they can). This scope has no AO, just elevation/windage adjustment, fast-focus eye piece, and power selection ring.

 

[TTundra]

Not a parallax issue there. Parallax in scopes deals with the correction from 2 lines of sight to one. Meaning, your eyes naturally correct for it because you have two of them, now going to 1 being that's its a monotube scope, you need to correct for that, or really, the scope needs to correct for that. Parallax errors appear as a wondering cross hair even when your head and cheek rest position is still. parallax errors are more noticeable at extreme close distances, this is especially important for air gunners who shoot these close ranges, and help at longer ranges as well.

 

[Laphroaig]

I've been wondering the same thing myself.

My optic is a Leupold 1-4x24 Mark AR. Leupold tells me the parallax is set at 150 yds for this scope. The User's manual states the following: "our 4x hunting scope has a maximum error of only 8/10ths of an inch at 500 yds." They go on to say at 100 yds. the max. error is only 0.2"

I just mounted one on my AR15 Service rifle. I haven't shot it in a match yet, but noticed while sighting it in at 100 yds. my POI changed about 3 inches (high) when I shot sitting after sighting it in prone. Parallax is the only thing that I can figure due to a different head position between those shooting positions. I never had that problem with irons.

Laphroaig

 

[Grumulkin]

Not a parallax issue there. Parallax in scopes deals with the correction from 2 lines of sight to one. Meaning, your eyes naturally correct for it because you have two of them, now going to 1 being that's its a monotube scope, you need to correct for that, or really, the scope needs to correct for that. Parallax errors appear as a wondering cross hair even when your head and cheek rest position is still. parallax errors are more noticeable at extreme close distances, this is especially important for air gunners who shoot these close ranges, and help at longer ranges as well.

I don't think so. From Wikipedia:

"In optical sights parallax refers to the apparent movement of the reticle in relationship to the target when the user moves his/her head laterally behind the sight (up/down or left/right),[31] i.e. it is an error where the reticle does not stay aligned with the sight's own optical axis."

I learned something interesting lately. Just because you have parallax corrected for the vertical cross hair by moving your head from side to side until movement stops, it doesn't mean that parallax for the horizontal cross hair has been corrected. In a scope I've been using a lot recently, a Nightforce, it's nigh impossible to completely correct for both cross hairs at the same time at least at closer ranges like 100 or 200 yards.

 

[jmr40]

My optic is a Leupold 1-4x24 Mark AR. Leupold tells me the parallax is set at 150 yds for this scope. The User's manual states the following: "our 4x hunting scope has a maximum error of only 8/10ths of an inch at 500 yds." They go on to say at 100 yds. the max. error is only 0.2"

I've seen the same. I doubt if a Bushnell scope is significantly different.

The complete manual can be seen here. The info on Parallax is on pages 25 and 26.

https://www.leupold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Tactical_Scope_Manual.pdf

 

[Walkalong]

http://www.6mmbr.com/parallax.html

 

[243winxb]

We covered the eye piece adjustment with your other scope, so i guess its not that. There may be a problem if the windage or elevation adjustments are at or near the maximum travel/adjustments. One or both. When installing a scope, its best if adjustments are centered. Then use shims or a base mount with windage adjustments to get very close to zero. Then fine turn with the adjustment knobs.

 

[Corn-Picker]

I just finished printing my postage online, the scope will be on its way back to Bushnell tomorrow. I checked the elevation/windage, they were approximately within the center of their adjustment range. I'm not even sure how a scope gets this "off," eight inches of parallax error at 100 yards for a 4x scope seems extreme. In any case, I'll update the thread after I receive my scope and have a chance to test it again.

 

[JDGray]

Usually a "22" scope is set up at 50 yards, rifle at 150. You can have them set it for any distance you want, give them a call.

 

[Grumulkin]

I just finished printing my postage online, the scope will be on its way back to Bushnell tomorrow. I checked the elevation/windage, they were approximately within the center of their adjustment range. I'm not even sure how a scope gets this "off," eight inches of parallax error at 100 yards for a 4x scope seems extreme. In any case, I'll update the thread after I receive my scope and have a chance to test it again.

I'll be interested in the response you get from Bushnell. If you read their "Bullet Proof" guarantee, it's full of weasel words. I believe it also says it can take 6 to 8 weeks to process.

Some years ago I had a Bushnell "Recoil Proof" handgun scope that I mounted on either a 460 or 500 S&W Magnum. The scope broke and Bushnell said it had been "abused" and wanted to sell me another one at the discounted price of eighty some dollars. I'll admit, the recoil with those cartridges is memorable but their scope was a handgun scope and "Recoil Proof."

Anyway, between those two cartridges I then broke 2 Thompson/Center scopes both replaced promptly with new ones the last one being a step up in model. I also broke a couple of Leupold scopes and both were repaired and returned within 2 or 3 weeks at no charge.

 

[pjeski]

http://www.6mmbr.com/parallax.html

Thanks for the link. That'll save me some explaining in the future.

 

[Corn-Picker]

I'll be interested in the response you get from Bushnell. If you read their "Bullet Proof" guarantee, it's full of weasel words. I believe it also says it can take 6 to 8 weeks to pprocess

Six weeks later, and I finally got a scope back from Bushnell. One problem; it's not my scope. :banghead:

They sent someone's 1.5-6x Bushnell tactical scope with BDC retcile to me instead of my 1-4x. Someone over there really has their head up their butt. It was especially surprising since they returned the scope with the printout form I sent them, which contained the scope model number and serial number. I'm going to send them an email tonight, we'll see how they respond.

 

[243winxb]

Could it be a new scope? I sent one in for repair. They returned a new better grade one.

 

[Corn-Picker]

Could it be a new scope? I sent one in for repair. They returned a new better grade one.

Could be, but I doubt it. The scope I sent in was a #4 German reticle that you can clearly see on a cloudy day in the woods at dusk. The new one is some hairline BDC reticle that would be invisible in the woods at anything but max magnification. The scope they mistakenly sent me is more expensive and higher quality, but not something I want. If this is a replacement, I'll probably sell it on eBay and buy something else.

 

[Corn-Picker]

I talked to Bushnell this afternoon, the scope they sent me is indeed a replacement for my scope. They said that my scope had been discontinued, and they couldn't fix it, so they sent me an upgrade. I looked at the scope in more detail last night, it has an inch or less of parallax at 100 yards, so I've no complaints on that of front.


To summarize my experience with Bushnell's warranty service:

Pros:
+ They did send me a replacement scope, which was a significant upgrade. I sent in an Elite 4200 and received an Elite 6500 in return.

Cons:
- Poor communication on their part. When they sent the scope back to me there was no explanation of why I received a different scope.
- Turnaround time was six weeks.

The scope they sent me really isn't equivalent to what I had, but I won't fault them too much because a) they don't make a low power scope equivalent to mine anymore and b) the scope they sent me is a significant upgrade.

At this point I'll probably eBay the Elite 6500 tactical they sent me and buy a cheaper low power scope with a hunting reticle. The scope they sent me would be perfect for a battle rifle, but I don't own a battle rifle. Maybe it's a sign that I should buy a Colt 6920

 

[Hookeye]

Laph,

Your impact difference is due to shooting position, not parallax.
The gun and shooter are a system, prone has you moving less in recoil.
Sitting upright on the bench could have your shots going high.

Need to change your bench form.

More pronounced the difference, on stuff that kicks more, and has slower projectile.
People using sleds and vises to zero deer slug guns, often missed or wounded high when shooting afield.

Seen too many hunker over some device (or just a bag) trying to "zero" at the bench.
Seen some crappy benches too.