| What the heck is Parallax? I asked the same thing | | | | documentation that came with your scope isn't a real |
| when I first started looking to upgrade from iron | | | | blessing when it comes to learning how to use it, |
| sight to a good rifle scope. This guide should give you | | | | they just assume you already know. |
| some insight into getting the best focus out of your | | | | Now that you have an understanding of what |
| Bushnell scope, or any other adjustable parallax scope | | | | parallax is, it's time to fine tune your scope for |
| for that matter. | | | | increased accuracy. I'm going to assume you have |
| Have you ever looked through a higher power scope | | | | already zeroed in your scope and that it's properly |
| and noticed that if you move your eye off center to | | | | sighted in. You will need to set up your rifle so it is |
| the edge of the exit pupil, the reticle seems to move | | | | securely positioned on a bench. A shooting rest with |
| across the target? Well, that shift happens when the | | | | a vise would be best. Dial in the suggested setting on |
| parallax setting is not properly adjusted for that | | | | the parallax adjustment ring for the range that you're |
| distance. Some have mistaken the parallax | | | | shooting from. Now, look through the scope and shift |
| adjustment as a focus or even a range finder, but it | | | | your eye back and forth, left and right so you can |
| is neither of these. The parallax adjustment, when | | | | see if the crosshairs seem like they are moving |
| set properly will insure that the reticle is positioned | | | | across the target. Experiment with the adjustment |
| correctly on the target; as though your crosshairs | | | | ring until you have eliminated the illusion that your |
| are a part of the target, unmoving, as if they were | | | | crosshairs are moving. When you think you've got it |
| painted on, just for you. Of course if your scope is | | | | perfect, take a little white-out liquid paper and make |
| not a "target" or a "varmint hunting" rifle scope, you | | | | a mark on the parallax adjustment ring so you'll know |
| probably don't need to be concerned with adjusting | | | | where to adjust it later. Some people paint their |
| the parallax setting. In most hunting scopes the | | | | mark or score it into the metal, but to start with I |
| parallax is negligible, in fact I have a good friend that | | | | prefer something that's not so permanent until I'm |
| hunts regularly and he didn't even know what I was | | | | absolutely certain about the position. Next, go ahead |
| talking about when I asked him. I don't hunt, but I | | | | and take three to six shots and see how your |
| love to spend a Saturday at target practice. So to | | | | grouping has improved. Nice, huh! Don't stop there, |
| me, any small increase in accuracy is defiantly | | | | move your target 50 yards back and repeat the |
| welcome. | | | | process. You might as well find the perfect settings |
| Most of the higher power scopes, with a power of | | | | for all the ranges that you typically shoot from in 50 |
| 12 or more, will have an adjustment ring at the end | | | | yard increments. |
| of the Objective bell (the end closest to the target). | | | | If you're in the market for an affordable rifle scope |
| Usually the parallax adjustment ring has the | | | | that will really go the distance I can recommend two |
| suggested settings printed on them, so you can just | | | | models from the Banner series of the Bushnell |
| dial in the range you're shooting from. The problem is | | | | Scopes line of rifle scopes. The 1st is Bushnell Scopes |
| these suggested settings are rarely as accurate as | | | | Banner 6-18x50. This is a long range target scope |
| they could be. So why should you go through the | | | | that is also great for varmint hunting, and it's parallax |
| trouble of getting yours "just right"? Why not just | | | | focus can be adjusted from 10 meters to infinity. |
| use the suggested setting? Even if you're a great | | | | The 2nd is Bushnell Scopes Banner 6-24x40. This long |
| shot, you could easily shrink the size of your groups | | | | range target and varmint scope features a mil-dot |
| by as much as 30%, just by taking the time to | | | | reticle which is my preferred style of crosshair. Both |
| properly set the parallax adjustment on your scope. | | | | can be purchased for around $120.00, so they won't |
| Many shooters don't even realize that even with a | | | | empty your wallet. To view these and other Banner |
| few adjustments they could greatly affect their | | | | series Bushnell scopes please visit my Bushnell Scopes |
| shooting performance. Let's face it, the | | | | page. |