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Parallax - while shooting this morning
#6365589
07/11/16 05:30 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,701
603Country
OP
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OP
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I was blasting away with my 223, which is a real good shooter, this morning. Groups weren't as good as usual and were mostly horizontal. I took that to mean 'user error', so I went back into the air conditioning to ponder on the problem. What I finally decided was that it was me (a terrible thought) or maybe it could be a parallax issue (easier for me to live with). Walked back out to the bench and had a look at the crosshairs while moving my head around a bit. Hmmm, mucho crosshairs movement. I adjusted the scope AO till the crosshairs quit moving, which had the scope AO set on infinity. Well, I can live with that. Groups tightened right up.
The scope is an old Leupold VariX III from the early 90's, but was refurbed by Leupold a year or so ago.
Got more shooting and reloading to do today, so I'll see how it goes.
I checked a few other scopes, and they seem fine.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: Parallax - while shooting this morning
[Re: 603Country]
#6365635
07/11/16 06:09 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,951
ChadTRG42
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Yes, I've had several customer rifles brought to me that had parallax issues like this. Generally speaking, the higher the magnification, the more noticeable parallax becomes.
To combat the parallax problem, I move my head back (for more eye relief) on the stock to where the scope sight picture begins to tunnel to a smaller sight picture. I will center up the smaller tunneled sight picture in the center of the cross hairs. This allows your head, or eye, to maintain the same location each shot. It's a band aid fix, and doesn't solve the issue. It just allows you to minimize any parallax issue.
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Re: Parallax - while shooting this morning
[Re: 603Country]
#6365873
07/11/16 09:08 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,522
RiverRider
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I do the same thing when using a non-AO scope. I think it's a pretty effective technique.
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: Parallax - while shooting this morning
[Re: 603Country]
#6367446
07/13/16 01:42 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
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Good that you figured it out!
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Re: Parallax - while shooting this morning
[Re: 603Country]
#6369080
07/14/16 05:32 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,701
603Country
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I tried what Chad and RiverRider suggested. Worked nicely, and so I decided to test whether or not my chosen H335/40 gr BT load was really the best possible load for my rifle. I had a lot of reloading of 223 to do, so now was a good time to decide if that load was the best or not. I found a better load, or call it a better node, with a higher powder charge. Put 4 in a ragged hole and put the "dreaded 5th shot" a 1/4 inch out. I hate that. It was me, not the rifle. I knew it when I pulled the trigger. Maybe I should see a Shrink about that 5th shot.
Anyway, the new load prints exactly where the old load did. Surprising, but pleasing. I do think that the reduction in parallax error is what allowed me to find that new load so easily.
And, just to mention it, I finally had to clean the barrel prior to the load work ups. Major amount of carbon fouling, but practically no copper fouling. After cleaning, groups shrank noticeably, even before I found the new best load. Probably had 100 rounds or so through it since it was cleaned last, though I don't count rounds fired.
Last edited by 603Country; 07/14/16 05:36 PM.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: Parallax - while shooting this morning
[Re: 603Country]
#6369668
07/15/16 01:50 AM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,522
RiverRider
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"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: Parallax - while shooting this morning
[Re: RiverRider]
#6369673
07/15/16 01:55 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
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Achieving group shooter peace is overcoming the fifth shot self psych-out.
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