Apparent cross hair movement

[jankovig]

I have a Zeiss conquest 3.5-10x, w/z600 reticle. When I place the rifle in the shooting rest and try to take aim, moving the head slightly side to side/up or down causes the cross hairs to shift in the opposite direction, throwing off my point of aim. Scope power is set to min.
If I pick up the rifle and aim with it, then there's no cross hair movement. This is my first time trying to shoot from the bench rest, so I was just wandering if I'm doing something wrong or if there's anything wrong with the scope?

 

[Ruffed Grouse]

That is paralax. No scope (without paralax adjustment) is without paralax, except for one particular distance at which it is set to be paralax-free, often 150 or 200 m. There is no substitute for good shooting form, even with a scope.

But on most scopes the effect should be very small. If it is more than an inch or so (should be much less at most reasonable ranges), I would see if any of the documentation that came with the scope says what the maximum amount of paralax should be at any given range, and if not, inquire from the manufacturer. Excessive movement could be a symptom of a number of malfunctions.

RG

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[jankovig]

I just had a quick look at the manual and it says parallax free 100yds. Does this mean it's parallax free to 100 yds or after 100 yds, because I'm seeing parallax way before 100yds.

 

[jessekf]

I just had a quick look at the manual and it says parallax free 100yds. Does this mean it's parallax free to 100 yds or after 100 yds, because I'm seeing parallax way before 100yds.

At 100 yards it will be parallax free. At longer or shorter distances you will have more error. The further you get away from 100, the more error you will have. A good scope will have be ALMOST error free for a large distance on either side or 100.

The only time I notice parallax error is when I am cleaning my rifles. If I aim it at the tv sitting 10' away the hairs move around, but if I look out the window through the scope they are rock solid.