change fixed focus point on fixed focused scope w/out wrecking parallax?

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jdanvers

jdanvers

Member
Jul 7, 2019
951
375
South Central Upstate NY, United States
Readers digest - I posted in here a couple of weeks ago about a dumb move I did re: having purchased a scope. I didn't do my research and somehow or another saw only what I wanted to see - good price, great optics, ffp, illuminated, nice reticle . . . etc ... somehow or another I missed "parallax - fixed". It's right there, plain as day on the vendors web site. https://www.blackhoundoptics.com/product/genesis-1-8x28-ffp-moa/

So anyway - I've posted it for sale here in the classifieds and at one or two other places. I've yet to get any nibbles or inquiries on it although I have gotten some feedback / suggestions re: the above subjected. Looking at the scope and it's specs via the link to it above - it doesn't specifically state that the focus is fixed at 100 yards - but I'm guessing it is. This is WAY to far for what / where I typically shoot my airgun - max is usually 70-80 yards - with the bulk being in the 20-50 yard range.

If I can't sell this thing it's going to become a $400 paperweight. ( I don't own any actual firearms which is, apparently, what this thing is actually meant for ). I've been kicking it around though - I get to help a couple of local farmers out from time to time clearing out rats and birds (pigeons / starlings) from their barns. *IF* I could get the focus point on this thing changed to - say 15-20 yards - it'd be a killer little close quarters scope on my .177 m-rod for just that task.

Not having a real strong understanding of optics - I'm guessing that there is most likely a close tolerance relationship between the various elements up front that determine the focus point and (I'm assuming) whatever piece that has the reticle etched into it. They may have to be "moved" / adjusted in tandem - ie; one is not necessarily independent of the other?

It'd be a shame to get the focus point moved way back into "air gun range" ( from 100 to 20 ) only to have a useless ("wandering") reticle that you couldn't get a consistent poi with.

Does ^^ that make sense? Is it doable? I e-mailed the vendor asking this very question and so far - crickets. I'm giving the benefit of the doubt - could be 'issues' right now (covid, they're shut down, etc ... who knows ). A lot of you guys are (I believe) pretty knowledgeable though so . . . asking the gang in here. What think?
 
It's pretty simple to find where the parallax setting is. Mount the scope solid. Aim the scope at targets at various distances. Move your head left and right while looking through the scope at the target. You will note the distance where the crosshairs do not appear to dance around. It will be more evident at 8x. 

If you adjust the objective lens I'm pretty sure you will lose your infinity focus at 6x-8x. I tried this on a 6x fixed power compact Leapers scope once. Didn't work. 

I've seen Blackhound scopes sell on eBag

I shot a heck of a lot of squirrels with a scope set up like that as a young man. Back then there weren't as many scope choices as we have today. 1 inch tube scopes were all for centerfires at that time. The "hot " setup was mount one of those on your squirrel gun. Like a Weaver K4 or something. Very few squirrels escaped me. In my circles anything other than a headshot was considered a miss. I still go by that standard.

A good rifleman ALWAYS keeps his eye centered in the scope. Then under 100 yards parallax error means VDL. With your eye perfectly centered in the scope there is no error.
 
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I have done this to Leupolds and Redfields with success. Some manufacturers secure the locking ring to the lens carrier so you have to make sure when you remove the locking ring that the lens carrier isn't turning with it. If you totally remove the carrier you will break the seal and lose the gas. To go from 100 to 20 yards you will probably need to go between 1 and 1 and 1/2 turns ccw. Also you will have to recheck zero whenever you do this. Keep in mind that if you adjust parallax to 20 yards you will be out of focus beyond that and parallax error will be greater that it otherwise would have been. I only do this for indoor winter shooting and adjust down to 12 yards. While this is ok for shooting close ranges when going outside to shoot you will be at a disadvantage because you will have to turn your magnification lower as the yardage increases or the image will be blurred.
 
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Quoted from Shooting Times

"Fortunately, parallax error is rarely great enough to spoil an otherwise well-executed shot in the field. Furthermore, the human eye has a proclivity for centering itself well with respect to apertures through which it is viewing, such as a scope eyepiece, so extra care when mounting the firearm will help, too."

Read the article

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/optics_parallax_040307/99307
 
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Yo . . . . yeah -- thats how I discovered that it has no adjustable parallax. I put the battery in it (illuminated reticle), mounted and leveled it, setup a target at 25 yards to zero it and when looked through target was pretty blurry (not surprisingly). I reach for the parallax adjuster and . . . . 

. . . couldn't believe the stupid mistake I'd made. I unmounted it, pulled the battery out and back in the box it went. :( The thing is BRAND new - mounted on my m-rod once. Thats it. :(

Its quite blurry / out of focus at anything under 40 yards. Still somewhat blurry at 50 - 52 which is the limit of my back yard. For my shooting needs - I simply can't use it.

I've since taken it out of the box (earlier today actually) and looked at it based on what others had said re: move the front element but . . . 'eh - nah. No can do. I don't want to invalidate any warranty on it, 'ef it up, turn it into a brick (as we say in the I.T. world when we kill a piece of gear), etc . . . . it's a beauty of a scope. Back in he box it went.

I'm willing to trade with someone . . . for real. You got a decent illuminated reticle scope, FFP with 30mm tube ( and ADJUSTABLE PARALLAX!!! lol ) that for some reason you don't use or like? Wanna try this Blackhound? Yours has got to be for / compatible with AIRGUN use. This Blackhound is not - I don't own a firearm which it is apparently designed for. If I did I'd likely have it mounted and be using it but I don't so . . . . it's just sitting in its box. Collecting dust. {sigh}


 
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I think your scope may be defective. It's a close quarter combat scope correct? SWAT teams and special forces use these for close quarter combat it's ridiculous to have a 40 yard minimum clear picture. I had my share of high end tactical scopes and none had exhibit what you are describing that's just plain nuts! Have you tried adjusting the eyepiece too? I really think you got a defective scope. YO! 
 
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1587260126_9230663765e9baade93f894.53315628.png

 
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Check it while in your house if it's already dark outside. You should be able to see clearly at least at the lower 1-4x settings if you adjust the eyepiece at close distances. It's a close combat tactical scope. If it's blurry outside tomorrow even after adjusting the eyepiece then definitely defective send it back. YO!
 
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Description RAPID SHORT RANGE . . .
Click to expand...

Dude . . . actually you may be onto something here. Thank you. I will pursue this with the vendor. I do have the eyepiece (ocular) set to my eye - I do wear glasses and admittedly my vision isn't great BUT . . . . Setting the ocular as you, and most everyone in here knows, is ONLY to get the reticle focused - it's pretty much a one and done thing and frequently unique to individual shooters. It should not (does not) have any effect on what you see through the front (objective).

How is "SHORT RANGE" defined? I'll pull it out of the box again tomorrow and diddle around with it / look to see if perhaps I missed something ( is there somewhere else where I can adjust focus? ) I'm guessing not on the latter BUT . . . . who knows. Assuming not - I'll be calling the vendor on Monday to get their definition of "short range". The way they describe it as you point out from their own web site makes it sound as though it would be mounted on a short stubby weapon used by . . . I dunno Jack Bauer and CTU (lol - from tv series called "24") when they raid a terrorist cell in some run down motel. Short range - urban - room to room. Not 100 yards.

Hmmmmmmmm . . . . .
 
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Why are you even putting a 1-8x on a Marauder??? I can see if you got a 357 Benjamin Bulldog ok for pig hunting but it's pretty low magnification for an M-Rod. Since you mention your eyesight isn't the greatest and all... If it were me in your shoes I would buy the Jefferson State FFP 4.5-27x50 illuminated for $275.00 it beats many scopes selling for at least double that price and some even triple yes triple the price. You can thank me later... YO!
 
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