50 yard Parallax Scopes

thebuckhunter

thebuckhunter

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I'm looking for a low magnification 50 yard parallax scope. Looking for something in a 1-4x range, adjustable if possible with no objective bell (straight tube) to put on a Marlin 336 big loop. Everything I've looked at has a 100 yard parallax. It's mainly for bear but may be used as a moose loaner if needed. I'm not a fan of red dots and my eyes can't focus on iron sights without my reading glasses. Budget would be around $350 or so. What's out there for new?
-Thanks,
-Jason
 
I am thinking there is not / were not many centerfire scopes set to be parallax free at 50 yards. That is more like many rimfire scopes. Maybe it is really about "how much" error can you tolerate? I just tried an older Weaver K3 scope - set on a sandbag on my tool chest. Lined up on neighbour's sign post - it is a 2" x 2" square post at about 25 yards (did not measure exactly). So with tip of the crosshair post dead centre, I can just so get it to appear to move off each side of that 2x2 post - with very extreme hard right to hard left view - so that more than half the scope is showing black - so that one I would say has about 1" maximum error at about 25 yards. Maintaining a full view through the scope, not allowing any black to appear, I would guesstimate the error to be half of that. Can see it move - but not much. Would be total crap if trying to put one .22 bullet hole one top of another - do not think it would matter one bit shooting a bear or a deer at that range.
 
The Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire is a regular VX-Freedom (centerfire scope) that's set at 60 yards (55m)

I've tried Vortex's Crossifre-II rimfire and Diamondback rimfire both of which are set at 50 yards and I would recommend neither. These are not good scopes.

Leupold will happily adjust the parallax on any scope you send to them to whatever distance you'd like. I'd suggest buying whatever Leupold centerfire scope you like, and simply having them adjust the parallax to 50 yards for you.

I might recommend the following:
FX 2.5x20
VX Freedom 1.5-4x20
VX 3HD 1.5-5x20

If money is no object, I'd go for the latter.
 
ALBERTA BOY said:
The Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire is a regular VX-Freedom (centerfire scope) that's set at 60 yards (55m)

I've tried Vortex's Crossifre-II rimfire and Diamondback rimfire both of which are set at 50 yards and I would recommend neither. These are not good scopes.

Leupold will happily adjust the parallax on any scope you send to them to whatever distance you'd like. I'd suggest buying whatever Leupold centerfire scope you like, and simply having them adjust the parallax to 50 yards for you.

I might recommend the following:
FX 2.5x20
VX Freedom 1.5-4x20
VX 3HD 1.5-5x20

If money is no object, I'd go for the latter.
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware Leupold did that. Hmmmm. Definitely something to look at.
-J
 
You could always get a 'more powerful' scope that has Side Focus parallax and just use it in the lower magnification. Then you'd also have the option for longer shots with higher mag and adjustable parallax. Like a 4-12X.
 
I run a Leupold Rimfire 2-7x scope on one of my centerfire hunting rifles, mainly because the reticle is nice. I’ve tested it at the range several times at 50y, 100y and 200y. I haven’t found any issue with parallax and accuracy.

I contacted Korth about changing the parallax to 150y, it was going to be $100.31 + tax/shipping. After testing it at the range, I didn’t see the need to have it changed.
 
I have a 1.75-5 vortex now and like it but at 50yards, it's a bit blurry. Since most of this gun's shooting is close up bear and maybe deer and moose I was looking for 50 yard parallax. I contacted Vortex and it's something they can do as well. I'm going to go that route I think. Nothing against Leupold, but I'm kinda partial to Vortex. I own 4 of their scopes and none have ever let me down. Thanks for the input guys, I learned a little more about scopes today. Thanks,
-Jason
 
Maybe a bit more (to learn) - "blurry" is not a parallax issue, that is a focus issue. "Focus" and "parallax free setting" are related, but not the same. Can have crystal clear focus and a parallax error. Is compounded by some makers using a "side parallax adjustment" and calling it "side focus" - I think they move the lenses both at same time to achieve both parallax free setting and focus - but those are not the same thing. You adjust parallax (normally) by moving very front lens in or out; you adjust focus (normally) by moving very rear lens in or out. I think the "side focus" things adjust intermediate lenses that accomplish both. But not the same. Simplest to see on old school straight tube Weaver K 2.5 / K3 scopes - turn rear eye piece in or out to get crystal clear focus - parallax error free was set by factory when that front lens was mounted. I suppose if you have the tools to turn those front lens seats, then you could adjust parallax error setting to your preference - most of us do not have that... Many shooters not aware to check for parallax error by shifting eye from side to side or up and down to check if cross hair appears to move on the target - at any one time a scope can only be error free at exactly one distance - in a lot of cases, especially for hunting, the amount of error does not matter a bit, but it does it you are trying to stack one hole on top of the other on a target..
 
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At 100, everything is crystal clear. Crosshairs and target. Bdc is correct at 100 as well. My sf scopes do what they're shpposed to do. Was mainly looking for a durable scope with a small objective to mount as low as possible to the gun without any ao or sf. This is for close in quick shooting without wasting time dickering around before taking a shot. All my target and range guns have sf and i have time prior to taking a shot. My hunting guns all have 100 yard paralax as welĺ.
-Jason
 
Iff'in yewse find sunting t'uther than a Leupold, I'd gift Phil @ Trace Scope Repairs a call.
He may be able to set Weavers'n such to closer parallax awf yer like'n.
 
thebuckhunter said:
I have a 1.75-5 vortex now and like it but at 50yards, it's a bit blurry. Since most of this gun's shooting is close up bear and maybe deer and moose I was looking for 50 yard parallax. I contacted Vortex and it's something they can do as well. I'm going to go that route I think. Nothing against Leupold, but I'm kinda partial to Vortex. I own 4 of their scopes and none have ever let me down. Thanks for the input guys, I learned a little more about scopes today. Thanks,
-Jason
Click to expand...

Sounds like one of your Vortex scopes has already let you down. No way in hell should it be "blurry" at 50 yards. Sounds like your scope is broken. That's absolutely not normal.

The only thing parallax affects is a change to point of impact if you don't have a great cheek weld and your eye is not perfectly in line with the axis of the scope. If you have a proper cheek weld, parallax doesn't matter. Personally, I shoot fixed parallax scopes between 50 and 500 meters without issue. It doesn't affect clarity at all. Sounds like your scope is broken.

Your stated reason for wanting a 50y parallax (close in work on bears) tells me you'll be fine with a longer parallax. If you get a scope with a 100yard parallax and shoot a bear at 50 yards, even if your head was completely off the stock, the parallax error would be so small as to not matter.

Also, as someone who shoots a marlin 336, I must caution you about mounting a scope low on it. The ocular bell will interfere with the hammer (yes, I know there's a spur). Vortex scopes are particularly bad for this given their comically large ocular bells. Did you know that the Vortex Defender flip up cap for the 40mm objective fits the ocular bell on vortex scopes?!! That's outrageous! Clown scopes.

My recommendation to you is to do what I did. Install a williams FP-336 and be done with it. absolutely adequate out to 200m and ideal for close in work with the inner aperture removed, making it a ghost ring. A aperture sight is essentially a scope without magnification and with 100% light transmission. It also won't mess with your hammer and will still allow you to carry a lever in the normal fashion.
 
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I cannot shoot with open sights, period. I have already mounted the Vortex on my Marlin and neither the hammer or the spur come anywhere close to the ocular bell. Even with gloves on, I can operate the hammer just fine. I have been shooting competetively on and off for the last 30 years (archery and firearms) and am more than familiar with proper cheek weld and position. My scope has not let me down. I have tried many scope brands in the past and all but the rimfire specific scopes have been slightly out of focus at 50 yards or less. I called Vortex and they will be doing what I want done to this scope with a less than 1 week turnaround. That is customer service. I'm just waiting for an RMA number and off she goes.
-Jason
 
It is not all that difficult to adjust the parallax to whatever distance you prefer on most scopes particularly the cheaper ones. Take off the objective bell and/or lock ring and turn the objective lens mount to your preferred distance while looking thru the scope. If one is the least bit handy with tools its fairly straight forward.
 
Dogleg said:
Its not that hard to adjust the parallax on a most non AO scopes if you know how.
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So how is this done in a principle ? It's another skill many of us could use and since we know the technical aspect of guns and ammunition/reloading, why not learn another subject, especially when often deeded.
 
Vortex is going to set the parallax to 50 yards for me, re tighten the lock ring and purge the scope. I'm more than happy to pay for it as it's not something I want to fail in the bush on a paid hunt.

-Jason
 
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