New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

I am in the market for a new scope. It WILL be either a Leupold or Nikon Monarch. I have never used an Adjustable Objective before! What exactly does an AO do, and is it worth any extra $$$ in and of itself? Thanks!

RE: New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

It allows for the adjustment ofparallax so that the target is always perfectly in focus. I've never had a scope with parallax adjustment so I don't know how critical it is for hunting purposes. My feeling is it's probably not real critical for normal hunting distances and applications.

I did shoot my buddies rifle that had an adjustable objective. I wasn't that impressed, it's just one more knob to fiddle with when you probably have more important things to worry about when lining up a shot.

RE: New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

I have one on my 22-250. Honestly, I can tell a difference but only mess with it when I'm bored. I've never drawn on a yote or target and thought "dang, I'm out of parralax!" I could set it at 100yards and forget about it. You can tell a difference when you adjust it, but I've got a shotgun scope w/o AO and I've never missed it there. (I've shot 20-120yards)

Sooooo...all that to say this: It's not needed, but its a nice little feature. Only you can decide if its worth the extra $$$ and slightly more weight if you're one of those who concern yourself with how many ounces your gun weigh.

RE: New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

Here is an article that will explain all about it if you’re interested... www.snipercountry.com/Articles/Parallax.asp :eek:

RE: New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

Thanks guys! I thought the AO had to do with paralax, but I wasn't sure. If I remember right, scopes without AO are set for 100 Yds. I am also assuming (I know what happens when you "assume") that since most scopes DO NOT have AO, it is not REALLY a critical feature for a hunting scope at most hunting ranges.
I don't know, but it sounds like something else to screw up!!!???
I guess I'll just have to weigh the benifits vs. the liabilities! Whats your thoughts?

RE: New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

Generally scopes without adjustable objectives have the parallex set for 100 yards or 150 yards.I see no use for an adjustable objective for big game hunting,but I do use them for target and varmint shooting.

RE: New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

I have several scopes with the AO. I don't use it much for general big game hunting and usually leave them sey at 150 yards. As Stubble said, for long range varmit shooting it can be pretty handy,

RE: New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

Many of the high powered scopes come with AO. I have an AO on my Burris 6-18x, and I set it whatever distance I am shooting, when I am at the range. When I am hunting, I set it to 150 yards and leave it alone.

An AO comes in REALLY handy on a rimfire. Some models you can set for distances as close as 10 yards. A local indoor range only goes as far as 25 yards, so being able to focus the scope at such a clost range is a very nice feature. There are a few folks that shoot their centerfire rifles, with cast bullets at reduces velocities, in the indoor range. Many of them use a scope with an AO.

RE: New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

Ditto...

RE: New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

I have it on a Zeiss and use it to fine tune to my eyes and then don't touch it. For my type of shooting it isn't something I use. I do wear glasses and find that the center mark on the scale brings the picture in sharp so it really doesn't benefit me.

RE: New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

They are nice for varmint hunting and target shooting where you have time to dial it in and need the precision of a parallax free shot.

Another advantage they have is when target shooting with a pellet rifle or rimfire you can use a much higher power at a closer range because you can focus the scope for any distance. With a normal variable, like say a 3-9 power scope you can't really use the higher powers at distances closer than say 50 yards or so.

With an Adjustable Objective you can shoot very high powers at close distances like 10-25 yards (depending on the scope). My scope on my 17HMR can be shot at 10 yards on 20 power if I want to.

An A/O scope really isn't needed for normal hunting. Maybe if you were out west and making really long shots, but you probably wouldn't need it then for the size of game you would be hunting. In most cases a scope with this feature will be heavier, and the objective will be slightly larger, unless it's a side focus model. And usually they have less eye relief, that is not a given though, and has nothing to do with the fact that it has A/O. Just normally high powered target scopes have less eye relief is all. I have seen a few with decent relief though, like say 4 inches. They are also more parts in them which means more stuff to break or get out of alignment.

Not to mention price. Prices being equal the more simple the scope the better optics it will usually have. Say you wanted to spend $200 on a scope for your deer rifle. A nice 2-7 or 3-9x40 will usually look better than a 6-20x50 A/O scope for the same money. The simple scope with the fixed parallax will be cheaper and easier to make, so the price difference usually goes into the optics and coatings. In most cases you would need to spend about twice the money to get a high powered target scope with the same quality optics.

Next time you are at a shop take a look at a mid priced hunting scope and then compare it to a cheap target or varmint scope, set at the same power of course. And then crank the big scope up and see what happens;). After that look at an expensive varmint scope and you should see the difference for sure.

You can hunt with a A/O scope, I have done it. Just turn the power down and set the parallax in the middle of what you think your range will be. I set mine for 75 yards. This is normally plenty accurate and gives a clear picture out to 100 yards or so on large game.

Paul

RE: New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

Ditto.

Mo simple is mo better, especially when it deals with hunting and its related equipment. The 5 or 6 seconds it is going to take you to crank that knob around is the 5 or 6 seconds you could have been squeezing the trigger and watching that buck go plummph right before your eyes.

RE: New Scope! Adjustable Objective???
 

They really are nice but can get you in trouble. I was hunting a long sendero and had it set way out there. Well I started doing some stalking on the senderos, I had two foxes come out within 30 yds, I raised my rifle to take one and allI saw was a blurrrrrr. Doh !