I know for sure that the eye relief on all my variable power scopes changes as mag. does. For the Nikon the change is pretty small, maybe 1/2 to 2/3 if an inch.

I think that I was mistaking mirage distortion for an out of focus condition. I' ve never used a high magnification scope before, to mirage has never been too apparent. I noticed that as the day started to cool off the mirage lessened and everything from about 75 yards out was clear even at full power as long as I had properly adjusted the objective. I do love this scope now that I' ve kindof figured out how to use it. It has a 44mm obj. and everything is brighter and clearer at 20X than most of my cheaper 40mm scopes are at 3X. The Nikon Monarch is definately a winner in my book. I' ve shot groups with the Ruger I never dreamed I could. I just shot it at 200 yards (the range max.) today and after getting my technique correct I shot a 1.75" (.9MOA) 5-shot group into one of those 3" shoot-n-see target spots, with my usual three shots in a 0.75" group and two idiot shots to open the group up.

I also had great fun making pop cans dance from 200 yards away! Plinking is more fun when you can' t even see the target with the naked eye! This is turning out to be the most fun I' ve had with a gun in a long time.

Mike