Target shooting typically only requires a rimfire scope for optimal success, as these lower-powered optics make it easier for shooters to hit targets at center and improve accuracy.
These scopes are typically constructed out of plastic and cannot handle high levels of recoil. As a result, they often become misalignments after each shot that needs re-zeroing after firing.
Parallax Adjustment
Parallax adjustment is a feature that can greatly increase accuracy with rifle scopes, particularly higher-powered scopes used over long distances. This feature involves moving both of the lenses on either side of an ocular lens until they appear as one plane in an eyepiece – to eliminate optical illusions when these lenses don’t line up correctly with each other and to eliminate optical distortion caused by misalignments between them.
When the reticle and target are on different planes, aiming points are off center or slightly out of alignment with where they should be, an easy mistake for new shooters to make and often result in missing the target altogether or placing shots far off target.
Rimfire scopes with fixed parallax settings may be fine for plinking or hunting small game, but for precise target and bench rest shooting it will not provide enough accuracy to hit 14 to 1/2-inch bullet placement. An adjustable parallax setting offers increased accuracy needed to achieve precise shot placement on targets.
An effective way to demonstrate parallax is through actual demonstration. Set your scope up in an easily stabilized mount or on a sandbag and aim it toward an obvious aiming point, like an orange dot on cardboard (Hornady’s peel-and-stick targets are ideal). Adjust the side focus until the reticle is in perfect focus and without movement relative to the target, then use the parallax adjustment ring or turret on the objective bell to bring both reticle and target into alignment with one another. Most turrets or rings come equipped with distance markings that help a shooter quickly find the ideal parallax setting to eliminate optical illusion. While it may take several attempts before your customer understands how to setup their rifle for precise aiming and hit their target each time, your customers will leave your store knowing how they can set up their rifle correctly for more accurate shooting and increased odds of hitting their mark every time.
Shorter Eye Relief
Eye relief is one of the most critical features of any rifle scope, providing the optimal distance between your eyes and eyepiece to view a complete image without being blocked by its reticle. Good eye relief allows you to see targets at full magnification without the scope obstructing your view or bumping against your eyebrow with recoil – something which becomes particularly crucial when used on high-recoil guns like varmint rifles or muzzleloaders.
Rimfire scopes usually have shorter eye relief than centerfire riflescopes, as rimfire scopes are intended for low-recoil weapons. However, if you wish to use your rimfire scope with high-recoil weapons instead, adding an extension tube or buying an eye relief extender could extend its eye relief further – these extensions come from multiple manufacturers and attach directly onto your scope tube with accordion-style padding designed to absorb recoil from firearms while protecting eyes.
Rimfire scopes typically feature shorter eye relief due to rimfire ammunition’s reduced recoil. When coupled with higher-recoil guns, however, misalignment occurs after every shot and this becomes an issue when plinking and hunting small game where shooters often need to relocate the scope by shifting their cheeks to realign it with each new shot.
Short eye relief in rimfire scopes can also be detrimental in low lighting environments. When shooting in darkness, shooters may struggle to easily locate their reticle. Thankfully, some rimfire scopes come equipped with advanced reticle options which allow quick and accurate windage/elevation adjustments at higher magnifications.
Fixed Parallax
A rimfire scope with fixed parallax allows its user to focus the target image and reticle onto one focal plane, eliminating the floating reticle seen when shifting your head or eyes while looking through it, which can cause missed shots. To test for parallax, set up a clear target that stands out well against its background, mount your rifle securely in its rest, look through its highest magnification setting then continue aiming at said target while making adjustments; observe whether any off-target movement occurs as you change position – an indication that needs further adjustment for parallax adjustment in order to achieve maximum effectiveness!
Older scopes may require using an adjustable objective to remove parallax and create a crisp image, while newer models often come equipped with side focus adjustments to do just that. Simply turn the turrets until your sight picture is sharp without any movement of either target image or reticle when changing positions.
Sightmark offers an ideal budget rimfire scope. Though less powerful than full-sized spotting scopes, it still offers long-range target identification, making it suitable for National Rifle League (NRL) and precision target shooting. Featuring a second-plane BDC reticle that supports bullets up to 2,000 fps dropping velocity drops, exposed oversized turrets for simple field adjustment and MOA crosshairs/windage references along with zero stop for quick return to zero without tools required – perfect!
Sightmark’s Rimfire Scope is designed for shooters looking to advance their game with the use of rimfire ammunition. Featuring a second-plane BDC and MOA reticle with drop and windage reference marks, 10-yard to infinity focus, windage/elevation parallax adjustment, 100-yard zero and windage/elevation parallax adjustment it is ideal for target shooting, small game hunting and plinking; training competitions; as well as variable power variant with second plane BDC/MOA reticle offering higher magnification capacities for higher magnification capacities if desired.
Side Focus Adjustments
Older scopes often had adjustable objectives to help eliminate parallax and provide a crisp target image, while newer ones typically do not feature this feature due to shorter objectives. Instead, some may feature side focus adjustments that allow reticle and target images to come into focus by moving a lens between objective and first focal plane in both directions – an expensive yet precise method than using an adjustable objective (AO).
Rimfire scopes with side focus must still be calibrated for their intended distance to ensure parallax is eliminated. The third turret or knob often features distance markings which allow shooters to easily make adjustments and see results on target, with measurements given either in yards or meters.
Adjusting a rimfire scope for elevation requires using very minor corrections to ensure both target and reticle are in focus at close range. A good way to test this is having someone hold up one of Hornady’s peel and stick targets about one foot in front of your scope while you close your eyes for several seconds and hold onto the gun, then slowly turning your turret up or down until your eye can move freely from left to right without noticeably altering either target or reticle position.
Adjusting for windage works similarly, except with the goal of shifting your bullet left or right to account for strong winds which could alter its impact point from where it should be. Most rimfire scopes come equipped with both elevation and windage adjustments.