Parallax is more or less an optical illusion. The Parallax Error relates to the range at which the object is from you. It occurs whenever your eye changes position (side to side/up or down) in the field of view (F.O.V), which adversely affects the point of aim. Maximum parallax error occurs when your eye is next to the edge of the exit pupil. Most of the rifle scopes, which don't have a parallax adjustment, are created to be parallax-free at 100 yards to ensure the point of aim remains the same at that distance - whether or not your eye changes position.
Perhaps the most common blunder and invalid assertion is that parallax and focus are the same thing. To be very clear, they are entirely different from each other. You already know that your scope could be changed to become parallax free at certain ranges however, at times the picture can be obscured. This indicates that your scope is either unfocused or maybe the image of the target is not in the same focal plane like the reticle. In this case you must focus the image using the eyepiece and this is why fast focusing eyepieces are very useful. So the next time you hear another person refer to parallax by using words such as side focus, you know it's totally incorrect.
With regards to precision, parallax error is acute at distances less than 100 yards. If you are hunting/shooting frequently at 100 yards or less, especially using rimfire rifles, then you might as well select a scope without an adjustable parallax. Its worth stating that rimfire along with shotgun scopes are generally set to be parallax free at around 50 yards. Furthermore, should your intended target be bigger game, it may be wise to choose a scope created for that sort of hunt because those scopes are parallax-free at 100 yards. Since big game is huge and also visible at these distances, the parallax is going to have a smaller amount of impact on your point of aim. In case you are moving past 100 yards to hunt smaller game then the need for parallax adjustment is even greater. Bear in mind that if you observe lots of parallax error at 100 yards, chances are you won't be placing accurate and effective shots. As long as your sighting is right in the middle of the scope, or close to it, parallax error will not have an effect on accuracy in any hunting scenario.
Any type of scope that comes with an Adjustable Objective will enable you to set the distance from which they are parallax-free. In most cases you will see words such as side focus (SF) in the manufacturer's description of the scopes that are designed to have these adjustment features. Carefully note the settings however, seeing that some adjustments aren't entirely precise. When a scope's magnification adjusts from one setting to the next, this could affect the adjustments. The single most overlooked factor in scopes is usually the hunter themselves - in particular their vision. If you suffer from vision problems (e.g. Astigmatism), this could easily have an impact on what you see in the field of view (F.O.V) based on the extent of the ailment. In this case you should remember to set the parallax first then simply use the eyepiece for aligning the target. You know what you'll get when purchasing a high-end scope but an affordable scope turns out to be valuable if it has the capacity to effectively adjust the parallax error at various distances while aiming.
The concept of Parallax Error and Parallax Adjustable rifle scopes shouldn't be considered a confusing topic. Since the majority of shots are at the 100 - 150 yard range, you could buy a fixed powered scope or set the parallax on a variable powered scope for 100 yards and leave it there. Both are great choices. Possessing the ability to adjust the parallax for a variety of distances during hunting or target shooting is quite valuable and gives you great assurance in your shot.
Perhaps the most common blunder and invalid assertion is that parallax and focus are the same thing. To be very clear, they are entirely different from each other. You already know that your scope could be changed to become parallax free at certain ranges however, at times the picture can be obscured. This indicates that your scope is either unfocused or maybe the image of the target is not in the same focal plane like the reticle. In this case you must focus the image using the eyepiece and this is why fast focusing eyepieces are very useful. So the next time you hear another person refer to parallax by using words such as side focus, you know it's totally incorrect.
With regards to precision, parallax error is acute at distances less than 100 yards. If you are hunting/shooting frequently at 100 yards or less, especially using rimfire rifles, then you might as well select a scope without an adjustable parallax. Its worth stating that rimfire along with shotgun scopes are generally set to be parallax free at around 50 yards. Furthermore, should your intended target be bigger game, it may be wise to choose a scope created for that sort of hunt because those scopes are parallax-free at 100 yards. Since big game is huge and also visible at these distances, the parallax is going to have a smaller amount of impact on your point of aim. In case you are moving past 100 yards to hunt smaller game then the need for parallax adjustment is even greater. Bear in mind that if you observe lots of parallax error at 100 yards, chances are you won't be placing accurate and effective shots. As long as your sighting is right in the middle of the scope, or close to it, parallax error will not have an effect on accuracy in any hunting scenario.
Any type of scope that comes with an Adjustable Objective will enable you to set the distance from which they are parallax-free. In most cases you will see words such as side focus (SF) in the manufacturer's description of the scopes that are designed to have these adjustment features. Carefully note the settings however, seeing that some adjustments aren't entirely precise. When a scope's magnification adjusts from one setting to the next, this could affect the adjustments. The single most overlooked factor in scopes is usually the hunter themselves - in particular their vision. If you suffer from vision problems (e.g. Astigmatism), this could easily have an impact on what you see in the field of view (F.O.V) based on the extent of the ailment. In this case you should remember to set the parallax first then simply use the eyepiece for aligning the target. You know what you'll get when purchasing a high-end scope but an affordable scope turns out to be valuable if it has the capacity to effectively adjust the parallax error at various distances while aiming.
The concept of Parallax Error and Parallax Adjustable rifle scopes shouldn't be considered a confusing topic. Since the majority of shots are at the 100 - 150 yard range, you could buy a fixed powered scope or set the parallax on a variable powered scope for 100 yards and leave it there. Both are great choices. Possessing the ability to adjust the parallax for a variety of distances during hunting or target shooting is quite valuable and gives you great assurance in your shot.