Scopes for noobs

vancouverbc

vancouverbc

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I am relatively new to the scope world (mostly a pistol guy). But I would like to get a good short to medium range rifle set up, 200-500 yards, and maybe once a year I'll go hunting for moose or deer. I'll be shooting mostly 30-06 and/or 308.

So I did some research and ended up putting new Nikon Monarch 3 4-16X50 on my Xbolt. Did not like the picture sight at all. Hard to get clear focus at 100-200 yard targets and the reticle did not focus either. My eyes were getting sore just looking down this scope. Maybe it's only meant for longer ranges? Had side focus tweaked as well and still felt like I had to strain to see my targets clearly.

Long story short, I buy my wife a Savage Axis XP .223 with a Burris 3-9 for $409 (rifle and scope together cost less than the Monarch 3) just to get her plinking and into guns. Well, I was very surprised. This presumably $25 scope gives me crystal clear target picture at 100 yards. She's shooting holes in holes all day long with that thing.

So this begs the question, what the hell am I missing here? Why do some of the cheaper scopes feel much easier on the eyes and give clearer picture? Monarch 3 has reasonable reviews... I understand its no Leupold VX-6..... but surely it should be loads better than the little 3-9 Burris.

:HR:
 
Did you adjust the focus at the eyepiece end? Screw it in all the way then look at a white background (or sky) and adjust until the reticle is the clearest. Then try again.
 
tried everything with that scope. It has me cautious about spending $500-900 on a scope for my new FCP-K. Guess I'll start over and hit the store instead of ordering online - trying out all scopes before buying another. Just curious if anyone else had a similar experience.
 
I've had problems getting my new nikon retical to show up too. The older ones I have are better IMO. I checked a few others at the store and won't be buying another anytime soon.
 
Sounds like you won't buy another Nikon:p Joking aside, it sounds like it is probably your parallax adjustment giving you the grief. It's the dial on the scope opposite your windage turret. Make sure that is adjusted for the range you intend to shoot at. Also as others have mentioned double check the focus at the rear of your scope.
 
Put the scope at the highest power, and turn the parallax to the infinite range and look at a white wall with it. Are the crosshairs blurry? If so the reticle needs to be focused. Now keep in mind if you look through it for more than a few seconds, your eyes will focus the reticle. You do not want that! So look away and back through the reticle, do this a few times, if its still blurry you have to adjust it. I am not to familiar with the Nikon scopes, but on the eye piece it will either spin in, or out to focus it. Play around with it to get it focused. Once again, you need to look away from the scope and back in it cause your eyes will focus on it no matter what. Let us know how you make out.
 
I have many, many, many, monarchs. My 22's even have monarchs. I have never had this problem. Check your parallax setting, adjust the focus ring, and also check to make sure that your scope is mounted to correspond with your cheek weld so that you have the proper approximate 4 inches of eye relief. If non of that fixes the issue I would contact nikon for a replacement the 4-16x50 is a great scope. And nikons warranty is pretty damn good.
 
Rotaxpower said:
Put the scope at the highest power, and turn the parallax to the infinite range and look at a white wall with it. Are the crosshairs blurry? If so the reticle needs to be focused. Now keep in mind if you look through it for more than a few seconds, your eyes will focus the reticle. You do not want that! So look away and back through the reticle, do this a few times, if its still blurry you have to adjust it. I am not to familiar with the Nikon scopes, but on the eye piece it will either spin in, or out to focus it. Play around with it to get it focused. Once again, you need to look away from the scope and back in it cause your eyes will focus on it no matter what. Let us know how you make out.
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This is pretty much exactly what I would type, feel free to fire me a PM if you're still having issues. Worldwide we've got less than a 1% failure rate, if none of the above works maybe you got one and PM me and I'll arrange to get it swapped for you.
 
Nikon Travis M. said:
This is pretty much exactly what I would type, feel free to fire me a PM if you're still having issues. Worldwide we've got less than a 1% failure rate, if none of the above works maybe you got one and PM me and I'll arrange to get it swapped for you.
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Thank you very much. Can't argue with that kind of customer service.
 
You can't compare shooting .223 at 100 yards to 30-06 IMO.

I am curious though - what type of hunting do you plan to do with 4-16x50? The higher the power, especially in zoom and long scopes, you run into parrallax issues. I got an 30-06 Xbolt with a Vortex 3-9x40. Im a new hunter with 2 seasons under my belt and I find I never use 9x in the bush because I want a wider FOV and the deer is usually running by the time am ready to shoot. As a new hunter, I don't expect to be making shots over 300 yards anyway.

I am not familiar with the Nikon Monarchs, might be your relief, eye piece focus, or parallax adjustment.... or just a lemon. It happened to me on a hunting trip, new Bushnell didnt hold zero and it cost me a big buck. Got the Vortex instead.
 
triplepete said:
The higher the power, especially in zoom and long scopes, you run into parrallax issues.
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i believe the nikon we are talkin about has parallax adjustment from 50 yds to infinite. my 4-16x50 monarch does. while i agree that a 4-16x50 may be slightly overkill for hunting... i have used one for 3 yrs. i don't really use the magnification past 5x, but handy for bench days and what have you.
 
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