Just put on a Nikon Monarch and it's very hard to have a clear focus on the reticle

[777funk]

I've got a Monarch 3-9x40 with the BDC Reticle and so far I hate to say it but I don't care for it. I've noticed three issues...

1. I cannot set it on 9 power for close shots. I'm one that likes to shoot at 10-20 yards at times... I tend to dual purpose my rifle scopes on my 10 yard indoor target air rifles during the off season. It's nice to be able to crank up the magnification for stacking pellets in the bullseye. I can do this well with my scopes with Adjustable Objective (Centerpoint 4-16x40)... not so with the Nikon. Anything past 4 power the focus really suffers.

2. The reticle itself is strangely out of focus if I look at it for more than a second or two. The instant I put my eye on the scope, it looks crisp, but a second later it's out of focus and I can't get my eye to focus on it. I don't have this problem with the Centerpoint or the Bushnell Elite 4200. I also noticed this another Nikon I viewed in a store.

3. Parallax issues... If I move my head at all with the Nikon, the crosshairs wander all over the target. I understand consistent Cheek Weld is critical and obviously this will accentuate any issues there. But beyond a scope enforcing proper practices, I appreciate equipment that's optimal even when I'm not.

I'm trying to figure out if any of these issues are user error, or if I just don't get along with the Nikon for my uses. I'm guessing that this is the case, but want to make sure since the Monarch seems to get great reviews.

Believe it or not, I actually prefer the $79 Centerpoint 4-16x40 scope. Although I've had one or two that zero tended to travel (were replaced under warranty by the company). But I liked them because they had none of the issues mentioned above.

 

[kwg020]

I don't know of any scope that will focus at 10-20 yards on 9 power. You maybe should have opted for a 1-6.
kwg

 

[gotigers]

9X at 20 yards? Why?

Parallax issues, at what distance?

 

[777funk]

This is all from 10 yard indoor range testing today (before putting the new scope on anything with powder). I have a Co2 .177 that's more accurate than most .22LR's and works great for scope testing.

And yes 10 yards. The cheap Centerpoint looks great even on 14x magnification at this distance (adjustable objective/focus). I prefer high magnification since I can just about narrow in on a piece of dust at this point. Not only is the high magnification nice for indoor target, but it's also nice for squirrel head shots. The CP works well on the 22LR as well. Once you've used the high mag for close target or fun (squirrel) shots, it's hard to go back.

But in any case, the parallax issue is a big one. I could probably live with the other two issues without effecting POI accuracy.

 

[Inebriated]

I'm not a scope expert, but it sounds like you need a rimfire or airgun scope.

1, you don't need 9x to stack shots. Match your target to your reticle. A 4x with a target pattern that works with the reticle will produce excellent accuracy. Give it a try.

2, did you focus the eyepiece properly?

3, parallax is a factor of having your target on the same plane as the scope's focus. Like I said, I'm not an expert, I don't know the technical words, but the quick of it is, you need to be able to focus the objective to the target. Most centerfire scopes can't focus at 10 yards. If the CenterPoint does, just keep using that? Centerfire scopes are generally designed for centerfire ranges.

 

[blarby]

9X for ten yards is about 8X too much.

I'm surprised you can even clearly see the whole target, to be honest.

You can adjust the eyepiece as had been suggested. If you think the scope is defective ( parallax issues at 10 yards .... not a defect, btw, thats not how it works) Nikon has a bulletproof warranty. they can be reached at 1 (800) 645-6687, or support.nikonusa.com

 

[eastbank]

you need a scope with EFR, here,s a leupold 3x9 EFR that goes down to 10 meters. i,m sure other scopes makers make them also. eastbank.

 

[777funk]

I shoot 1" diamond targets. So it's nice to get the diamond in the viewfinder. Definitely not necessary... just preference. I'm sure I can shoot close to as accurately at 3x.

But... it magnifies the aim point which I like. Aim small, miss small.

 

[jmr40]

Have you tried to focus the scope? It is adjustable. Nikon isn't my favorite scope, I really don't like their BDC reticle, but the Monarch is a good scope. I think all of your issues are user error rather than scope problems.

The reticle should be in focus at any range. Getting the target focused at 10' is unrealistic, but you should be able to at 10 yards, maybe even 5 yards.

 

[readyeddy]

You need an adjustable objective scope.

 

[murf]

sounds like your ocular lens (eye piece) isn't focused correctly for your eyes.

murf

 

[777funk]

I cranked it down to 3 power and the crosshair sharpens right up. Actually everything is fixed EXCEPT the parallax moving as I move my head.

I put the Centerpoint back on because I didn't think I'd noticed as much of this parallax issue with it and sure enough, no noticeable crosshair movement.

I wouldn't bet my life on the CP's reliability to hold zero on my deer rifle permanently through rough handling and conditions, but at least for the indoor range it's a better fit. The glass is sharp and plenty bright indoors and I can focus to 10 yards high power. But... due to the question on reliability, I'll only use it for indoor airgun practice. Bye bye to the Monarch. I don't like the parallax issue and lack of focus at close range. But that's just me. I spend a lot of time with quality air guns. I have a Co2 tank that's dual purpose (MIG welder and the airgun) and gives about 10k-20k shots per $20 charge. Tons of fun in the off season and peanuts to shoot vs centerfire or 22LR (which is almost as expensive as CF these days).

 

[MEHavey]

A. You need a scope with an Adjustable Objective if you intend to run high power at short ranges.
B. Nothing in life it free. AO* costs (more) money.
C. The actual reticle (crosshairs) on any scope (AO or not) is brought into its own focus separate from anything else. (Rotate the eyepiece in/out until sharp)
See Rifle Scope Reticles 101



*aka "Extended Focus Range/EFR"

 

[777funk]

Thank you MEHavey. All good points.

In this case, the eyepiece is all the way screwed in and backing it out only makes the reticle focus worse (at high power... at lower power settings it's fine) for me.

I noticed the same thing at the store when trying Nikons. Maybe they're just not right for my use.

This scope is obviously not meant for close range high magnification.

 

[JDGray]

Does it have side focus for parallax?
Everyone uses scopes for different reasons, sounds like you need a dedicated target scope with parallax adjustable from 10 yards to infinity.

 

[HKGuns]

This is beyond ridiculous, I'm not at all surprised you favor the $80 scope.

9x at 10 yards and air rifle? This can't be a serious post.

 

[cdb1]

This is beyond ridiculous, I'm not at all surprised you favor the $80 scope.

9x at 10 yards and air rifle? This can't be a serious post.

Troll? It is my understanding that air guns tear up scopes that aren't rated for them so maybe your scope is already broken?

 

[eastbank]

the spring type air guns may recoil differently than the Co2 guns, but i have ran leupolds on both types with no problems at all. i can,t see any air gun recoiling more than my 375 H&H mag. eastbank.

 

[MEHavey]

Spring guns spring both backward (as the heavy piston goes forward) and then smacks sharply forward as the piston hits the stop.
It will tear up the retical on a "non-springer" rated scope in short order.

PCP'rs on the other hand, have (nearly) no recoil at all.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

2 and 3 are related. Look at the reticle on max mag against a featureless background like the sky and use the focus adjustment at the eyepiece to focus the reticle, then tighten the locking ring.

Then look up the zero parallax range of your scope. Might be 50ys, 75ys, 100yd. You will have issues inside of this. For dedicated .22LR scopes, it is usually 50yd--usually further for centerfire scopes.

Mike

 

[Swampman]

I've got an awesome 3-9 Centerpoint that I'll trade you for that crappy Nikon.
It's brand new and in perfect condition (in fact, it's so new that it's still in the box at Wal-Mart ).

Lemme know soon, I can't keep an offer like this open forever...

 

[gamestalker]

I'm not a fan of Nikon, but in this case, I wouldn't be faulting the optic.

Trying to focus at 10 or 20 yards on 9x isn't what the glass is intended nor capable of accomplishing. I can get that to happen on 3x or 4x maybe, but nothing beyond that power setting.

As for paralax, if the eye piece has been properly focused, and the quality of the optic is anything near mid grade, paralax should be very solid out to at least 200 yards on a 3x9. I run a lot of 16x 18x optics with adjustable paralax, and once I have everything dialed in correctly, image shift is almost zero at 500 yards, and that's with a budget $700 Vortex optic. The good stuff is much better, but it still requires knowing how to dial things in correctly.

GS

 

[readyeddy]

This belongs in the air gun forum. Shooting at 10 meters on high magnification is common for airgun shooters, and there are many well known air gun scopes with adjustable objectives. Got to www.straightshooters.com for airgun optics and other airgun stuff.