Aimpoint and parallax question

[ejewels]

I installed my new comp ML3 today and have been testing it out. I searched around, but couldn't find a clear answer. Basically, I was looking through the scope attached to my rifle and wanted to test this whole "no parallax" thing.

My rifle was on a bipod, and I was prone. I was in my living room, and focused on an object 4 feet away. If my head moved, so did the dot. It didn't stay on the object. Now, when I did the same thing about 18-20 feet away, it seemed to stay put for the most part. It still moved a little bit tho. Is this all normal? The distance come into play with the whole parallax thing? I'm hoping my scope is OK...

[ballsout]

Your probably good i believe the manual says past 25ft for it to be parallax free.

[ballsout]

Your probably good i believe the manual says past 25ft for it to be parallax free.

Think i found it. True parallax past 50m. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimpo...edirected=true

[TehLlama]

They set them up to be effectively parallax free at 50m. Beyond that the difference is going to be totally negligible, but up close you will notice a tiny bit.

That said, if you're shooting at a typical target (6" or so) that difference will really not be big. The offset height will make a much bigger difference than the head position anyway.

[ejewels]

Interesting. The manual it came with wasn't really even a manual. Just quick directions. Thank you for that link tho. I noticed that at 2 feet away, it doesn't even work parallax-wise, it moves all over the place, but at 20 feet, it is much better. There is limited info on this all on the net, so any responses much appreciated.

[ejewels]

is this something that people have witnessed? At very close ranges, such as a few feet away, the parallax thing doesn't work. However, out over 25 feet or so, it seems to be fine, or at least getting better. Why does this even happen if its OK? Something with the lenses?

[JSantoro]

Yeah, it's something with the lenses, and it exists across the board with any optic that doesn't have a parallax adjustment.

Every time light passes through a lens, you will get parallax to one distance or another. Depends on a lot of stuff to do with the lens (shape, quality of medium, color, imperfections, etc.). Multiple lenses? Hoooo.

Lenses can be (and are!) shaped to mitigate the effect without ever truly getting rid of it, though it will cease to be apparrent past X distance (device-dependent). Parallax-adjustable scopes exist, but are pretty exclusively for precision shooting and are therefore $$$$.

You didn't get a precision optic, you got a "point" optic. What you are seeing is not a flaw in either the optic itself nor it's design. Instead, it's:

[ejewels]

interesting. I'm just trying to make sure my optic is OK. Its funny that aimpoint conveniently doesn't seem to say that the parallax free thing doesn't exist in close ranges...

[ucrt]

interesting. I'm just trying to make sure my optic is OK. Its funny that aimpoint conveniently doesn't seem to say that the parallax free thing doesn't exist in close ranges...

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Just wondering, are you trying to do precision shooting at 4'?

I just did a quick check with my T-1 and my red dot movement at 6' stays in about a 2" circle. That's not bad for a "point" device.

But maybe it's just me...

[ejewels]

I just did a quick check with my T-1 and my red dot movement at 6' stays in about a 2" circle. That's not bad for a "point" device.

Yeah, that sounds about right. The point is that the dot still moves. I was under the assumption that parallax free was parallax free and the dot just wouldn't move no matter what. Guess only past about 25 feet...