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AO or Not to AO the ???

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tracker12 View Drop Down
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    Posted: February/17/2009 at 11:21

Over the years I have used scopes with AO.  But to be honest I am not sure they are all that needed on a hunting scope unless shooting under 50 yards.  Anyone else feel the AO is overrated. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/17/2009 at 11:34
I don't think it is over rated just more to fiddle with on a hunting scope. I have a AO scope on one of my hunting rifles, but the rifle is used mainly for fields. If I were stricly woods hunting it would be more in the way than a help.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bugsNbows Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/17/2009 at 11:43
I don't like them on my regular hunting scopes. 
If we're not suppose to eat animals...how come they're made of meat?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucytuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/17/2009 at 11:55

None of my scopes have an A/O, but none of my hunting scopes are over 12x.  I can possibly see the usefullness of an A/O on a scope in 14x and above range or for 400 yard shooting, which I am unlikely to do, but I do believe they have a purpose, its just not the purpose I'm likely to use.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dougedwards Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/17/2009 at 12:54
 You see more and more new scopes with the side focus now even though they may not be of high magnification range.  In my opinion it is marketing but not needed at all on anything 14x or less.  Heck, my Kahles CL 3-9x42 has side focus and that is exactly what malfunctioned on it.  I appreciate rifle scopes with a wide magnification range and the AO feature is probably needed on my Bushnell 6500 4.5-30x50 but other than that it seems it is just simply one other mechanical part of malfunction.  Now for target shooting it might have more of a useful application.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kingsbery Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 09:10
I don't care for a AO on my centerfire big game hunting rifles. However I do like them on a good rimfire if you like to use that particular gun for both hunting and target shooting. And on a varmint rifle they are nice, but I have shot a lot in the field without one and never thought twice about needing one. Its usually when I am at the range shooting between 100-200-300 yds without a AO looking at the target that you think about that fine tuning. I can't ever remember in my 44 years of hunting having a nice buck in the cross hairs and thinking I need a AO.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tracker12 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 09:48
Exactly.  I picked up a Zeiss 4.5 X 14 X 44 with AO.  It was a very nioce scope but I found myself wanting to fiddle with the AO.  I sent it back in exchange for a 3.5 X 10 X44.  In the long run I think I will be muck happier.  I recall doing the same thing with a Luepold V-III I had with AO a long time ago.  Now I remember with I sold that scope.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 300S&W Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 10:20
  I've got a Vari-XIII 3.5-10x40AO I've had for 25+ yrs. When using it as a big game scope I would set the AO at 150yds and leave it. No problems at all. I wouldn't pass up a deal on a scope that has either an AO or SF just because they are so equipped.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote John Barsness Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 11:13
The only reasons to have an AO (or side adjustment) on any scope is for shooting accurately at very close range (as with rimfires) or for shooting at longer ranges at over about 10x. In both cases parallax tends to be a problem, though some 12-14x scopes have been offered without parallax adjustment of any kind.
 
I have tested some of these, however, and found with many that there is considerable parallax at higher magnifications. One 5-15x scope (a very expensive one from Europe) had over a foot of parallax at 15x.
 
If you don't need more than 10x, then you don't need an AO or side-focus. Both are also something else that can go wrong on rifles of higher recoil.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Staedy Aim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/19/2012 at 08:35
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bugsNbows Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/19/2012 at 10:34
Wow. Dredged up from Feb. 2009. 
If we're not suppose to eat animals...how come they're made of meat?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Staedy Aim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/19/2012 at 11:08
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Staedy Aim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/19/2012 at 11:10
oops. meant to post links on different topic. sorry
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/19/2012 at 11:35
-Matt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rustic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/19/2012 at 13:23
AO just another bother. Maybe for stand/blind hunting... maybe. Target bench is what they seem to be made for. For the average joe type of hunting another bell to and to the whistles.  
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