Here's my shot at explaining them. They are actually vaiable magnification scopes, around 2x to 4x. The magnification or speed ring is graduated in fps rather than 2x, 3x, 4x, ect. Once you sight the crosshairs in at 20 yds, you shoot at longer ranges, 30 ,40, or 50 yds using the appropriate aim point under your crosshair.Each of the three are for an additional 10 yds.These aim points are small triangles on the verticle hair. You turn your speed ring up or down to adjust the elevation of your poi. The speed ring adjustments have nothing to do w/ your 20 yd sight in and crosshairs. The only way your 20 yd will change is if you make the mistake of trying to tweak your longer distance poi's by adjusting w/ sight-in turrets, i.e. up or down, left or right. The graduations on the speed ring are approximate, not precise, so don't think you can use your V-zone or L-zone as a chrony, lol. if you can set up at 40 after 20, and get the poi on there, your 30 and 50 will be so close to dead nuts you won't believe it. You will notice a triangle on your horizontal hair on each side where they narrow down. These are aim points for walking deer at 25 yds, pesonally, I don't shoot at moving deer. There is also one on vert hair above horizontal hair. It's for 10 yds, the first range you should try after mounting scope. Pyp will tell you all about that sooner or later, he has it down to an artform, lol. Use your xhair at 10 yds to make sure you are close, not the 10 yd aim point, that's for hunting and a 10 yd shot. You will also find if you range a target or deer at odd number ranges like 25 or 35, bracketing them/it w/ triangles puts you spot on. Good luck!!