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4.5-14x40 VX-3 Parallax Adjustment |
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Sandracer
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/11/2009 Location: Eastern Oregon Status: Offline Points: 141 |
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Posted: August/03/2009 at 13:03 |
How do they get away with the lack of this on Leupolds 4.5-14's? I see they are sold both ways, it seems to me 14 power would need the adjustment.
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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It may or may not be pushing the limits above 12x, but parallax doesn't affect a scope for big game as much as small game. I have a 3-12 with AO and never really use the feature for predator and varmint hunting out to reasonable ranges. I leave it set at 150 yards.
The AO would be of benefit for smaller targets are varmints. I think Leupold is giving hunters a choice not to have another adjustment to deal with. There are other shooters around here that do quite long range shooting that can hopefully chime in. |
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Jon A
Optics Journeyman Joined: March/14/2008 Location: Everett, WA Status: Offline Points: 670 |
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It will be a compromise, but it can certainly work. A nice thing about Leupold is they can set it for wherever you want. Set the parallax for 300 yds or so and there will be very little error at extended ranges (likely an acceptable amount for big game vital zone sized targets at the ranges you'd likely be interested in). The downside of that is it may be a bit more difficult to shoot tiny groups at 100 yds. Setting it closer will make 100 yd groups easier to shoot but increase error at extended ranges. Like I said, it's a compromise but one that can be manageable for big game hunting while giving the advantage of everything being in focus all the time, not having an extra dial adding bulk to the scope, etc. However, if one is willing to take big game at extended ranges, I highly recommend they don't do it without a lot of practice first. Much of this practice while actually keeping track of group sizes and challenging yourself may show that while a fixed parallax scope can "get the job done," a scope that allows you to dial out the parallax at all ranges ends up being a "better tool for the job." Another advantage of high powered side-focus scopes when shooting long range is the shorter depth of focus allows you to see the mirage at different distances more easily which aids in judging the wind. That can be a big help. If your ranges are limited, you won't have enough parallax error to worry about when hunting so there's no reason to worry about it. |
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Dale Clifford
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: July/04/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5087 |
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AO and side parallax focus are a bit different although they accomplish the same , ao referring to the movement of the front or objective lens, in side focus the correcting element is behind and different from the objective lens, so technically they are different things. as far as leo having both, its nice to see a company that can do both, but I think it has a lot more to do with the price difference between the two. Also the ability of the shooter to resolve a small target or a place on a large target decreases with power, as does the need to have a parallax setting for the lower powers.
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Sandracer
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/11/2009 Location: Eastern Oregon Status: Offline Points: 141 |
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I went with ths Leupold 4.5-14x40 with A.O. parallax adjustment and standard duplex for now. I may send it in for the turret style adjuster later, but I have been getting away without this stuff for many years. At 2 1/2 " high at 100 yards I can shoot out to 300 yards at elk without any real adjustment. At 400 yards I just put the crosshairs at the point where the skyline and the top of the back meet. After 400 is where it gets interesting, but this is where people can wound game and not even realize it. I came to the decision I wanted a Leo because they have always treated me right, are made in Oregon (maybe lenses are made elsewhere), have good and quick service, plus the fact they have improved them in the vx-3 this year! I also like the idea that I can lock the reticle focus and count on it being there. There is just something about a Model 70 (or 700) with a good Leupold in elk camp that mixes with the smell of camp coffee and burning wood on the fire plus the whisle of a bull elk in the draw next to camp that still exites me at 61 years young!
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