Problem with blurry target.

uncledillers

uncledillers

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So I have this problem were when Iam shooting the target sometimes gets blurry. The scope is a sightron 3 FFP Mil/mil. The reticle stays crisp, and the parallax is set right. Usually happens after a couple shots say at 200m and I'm at high magnification ( 24x). I will be focusing at a fine point of aim like the tip of a 1" triangle and as Iam getting read to shoot, the target will get blurry. I try looking away and then back, or try aiming at something else then go back but nothing really sorts it out with any regularity.

All I can think is its mirage off the barrel, or I have something funny with my eye?
 
Could it be that your eyes are being strained while focusing on the target. I sometimes get that after trying to concentrate on the target. Especially when I'm tired.
 
Its a long shot, but is your scope tight in the mounts. Sometimes they can come loose and move a little causing problems.
 
Did you adjust the diopter?

Your brain can correct some things, but I find that with most scopes, unless the diopter and parallax are perfect my image is funky too.
 
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Could be any of 3 things. Eyestrain, eyestrain, or eyestrain. When you look away (correct) you're only giving your eyes a short break. Try not to get to that point of strain before looking away. Shift your eye regularly and don't try to focus when you look away, just let your eye relax. I'm getting old and it happens faster now than several years ago. I just keep shifting, no problem.
 
If you've shot enough to warm the barrel up, it could absolutely be mirage. When I shot my .204, I could only stay at maximum magnification (25X) for a couple groups before I had to start dialing back power or resting the rifle, to lessen the blur effect.
 
GD7 said:
If you've shot enough to warm the barrel up, it could absolutely be mirage. When I shot my .204, I could only stay at maximum magnification (25X) for a couple groups before I had to start dialing back power or resting the rifle, to lessen the blur effect.
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Yeah, exactly that. I find it to be particularly noticeable when shooting in cold weather, like about this time of year, haha.
 
Do you wear glasses? Are they bifocal/progressive? I was having problems and ordered a pair of single-vision glasses for shooting. Problem solved. The only thing - make darned sure to bring you progressives to the range, or you'll have problems doing all the other stuff like reading, adjusting stuff, etc.
 
Thanks for the replies every one. Ill just address the simple stuff first. Scope was not fogged up haha. Parallax was adjusted by looking through the scope and adjusting until there was no reticle movement when I introduced eye movement ( I dont think I have ever even looked at the markings on the paralax knob.) Diopter was adjusted properly .

So that leaves two options, eye fatigue and mirage. The easiest to trouble shoot will be the mirage. Next time I go out shooting I will shoot until I notice the problem ( and I will actually pay attention to when the focus problem arise) then when it starts, I will swap the scope onto a cold rifle and see if it still happens.

I really hope it is mirage.
 
Maybe instead of swapping the scope you could place a towel or something else over the barrel to block the heat and see if it's still blurry?
 
uncledillers said:
Thanks for the replies every one. Ill just address the simple stuff first. Scope was not fogged up haha. Parallax was adjusted by looking through the scope and adjusting until there was no reticle movement when I introduced eye movement ( I dont think I have ever even looked at the markings on the paralax knob.) Diopter was adjusted properly .

So that leaves two options, eye fatigue and mirage. The easiest to trouble shoot will be the mirage. Next time I go out shooting I will shoot until I notice the problem ( and I will actually pay attention to when the focus problem arise) then when it starts, I will swap the scope onto a cold rifle and see if it still happens.

I really hope it is mirage.
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I would bet it is mirage. Really simple to test... obviously when you start, the image is clear. Then you shoot a bit and then you get distortion. Just blow over the barrel and quickly look through the scope. Did the blurriness change?

I bet it did and then it came back.... that would be barrel heat induced mirage. If you are shooting where there is any breeze going over the barrel, this problem doesn't occur. If shooting in a covered range, you may not get much air flow and in cold damp weather, you can really get some muddy results. I even set up a USB (12V) fan to blow over the barrel and that resolved that problem.

A mirage shield will also resolve this and why it is very common on target rifles.

Good luck...

Jerry
 
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