Parallax.....a Video Explanation
There are several things that affect our ability as shooters. First of all, we have to contend with the elements such as wind, and extreme heat or cold. It is seldom that we have the perfect shooting day, and learning to cope with the different temperatures we find ourselves shooting in just makes us a better shooter.
Next, there are equipment issues. Today's blog entry deals with an issue that comes to the forefront when we elect to use a scope. For many, the scope is the sighting device of choice, and using it brings an issue to the table that many don't know how to cope with.....parallax.
Parallax can be a shooter's nightmare if you aren't aware of how it works and how it affects your shooting. Simply put, parallax is an optical issue, or phenomenon, that can mean the difference between hitting and missing our target. Just as water can bend the light rays and make underwater objects appear where they aren't, parallax can put your crosshairs off the target, even though it may appear that you are on target.
Here's a good way to test your scope to see if it is experiencing parallax. Place your crosshairs on the target, then move your head side to side without moving the gun. If the image wavers, and the crosshairs travels, then you are experiencing parallax. Perhaps a better way of demonstrating this is to give you the following link that gives a brief video of parallax:
http://www.vimeo.com/2142332
Watch how the crosshairs travel, even though the gun isn't moving around. It's all an optical illusion that can cost you a bullseye, or a game animal if you are hunting! The best way to eliminate parallax issues is to have a consistent hold, with a consistent cheek-weld (where your face meets the rifle stock) that places your eye in the same position relative to the scope for each shot. That way you are repeating the same sighting procedures, and are less likely to experience parallax and its ill effects on your targeting.
Of the scopes that you find here at Airgun Depot, many come with an AO (adjustable objective), which greatly aids in eliminating parallax. Check out the great scope selection and take advantage of the built-in aids for eliminating parallax. If you are a hunter, then you owe it to the game you are hunting to be as precise as possible, and understanding parallax will help. If you are a target shooter, then being able to more precisely home in on your bullseye will bring added joy and satisfaction to an already enjoyable past time.
