Thread: Desirable features of an all round NZ hunting rifle

Originally Posted by 6x47

Some "interesting" preferences/opinions there that would vary markedly from many of us. Not sure how Swarovski is inferior to Leupold VX3 or Vortex.

BTW, parallax adjustment is nothing to do with ageing eyes

What are your preferences, @6x47 ?
A lot of the features I listed above are just my own opinions for almost any rifle, although some like weight, scope size and cartridge were meant to span the most common big game hunting scenarios for NZ.

Perhaps I was a bit harsh on the Swarovski. It's the wobbly ballistic turret on the Z5 I don't like, and the need to have a series of round number (200m, 300m, 400m) zero ranges to use the coloured ring system. The scope has superb optics and is nice and light and would perhaps be great with capped turrets. It was on my shortlist of scope for the allrounder a few years ago. Swaro is the recreational hunter (sport & jagd) line and Kahles is the professional heavy duty line from the same company. Either would be desirable on an all rounder hunting rifle.

For parallax, the need for geometrical correction is minimal in an all rounder hunting situation, more critical for long range >500m I understand. I was referring to the limited depth of focus in large objective, high power scopes (over 40mm and 10x). This is just annoying in a short / medium range situation. Young people can focus down without thinking about it and see close targets sharply (although the reticle goes a bit out of focus) but from age 50 onwards, the lens in your eye hardens up and it gets more and more difficult to focus up close. If you are starting to need reading glasses then you will benefit from being able to focus the target, using the parallax knob.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

..

Perhaps I was a bit harsh on the Swarovski. It's the wobbly ballistic turret on the Z5 I don't like, ..

For parallax, ... I was referring to the limited depth of focus in large objective, high power scopes (over 40mm and 10x). ....

Agree on the Ballistic Turret- both of mine immediately went and were replaced with an MOA labelled cap. I feel these are more future-proof than true custom (distance labelled) caps, eg a simple change of projectile forced by unavailabliity.

As for parallax and "focus" issues, I think you need to do a bit of reading. These are not same. Young eyes with maximum "accommodation" ( the tech term for ability to adjust focus with varying distance) cannot overcome parallax issues. Parallax causes aiming errors which become important obviously at longer ranges where there is far less leeway for error, esp in wind. You need everything going your way. I'm also a F-Open shooter so am acutely aware of these things.

BTW, the amount of parallax error at any given magnification does not vary with the objective diameter. If your 18X scope has a 40 or 56mm objective, there is no difference in that variable.

Originally Posted by 6x47

... Parallax causes aiming errors which become important obviously at longer ranges where there is far less leeway for error, esp in wind. You need everything going your way. I'm also a F-Open shooter so am acutely aware of these things.

BTW, the amount of parallax error at any given magnification does not vary with the objective diameter. If your 18X scope has a 40 or 56mm objective, there is no difference in that variable.

Thanks 6x47. I guess parallax isn't central to the "all rounder" topic but I'm curious, if you've looked into it a lot.
Is there a formula for the amount of aiming error due to parallax ?
I'd sort of intuitively thought it would be something like:
Aim error in mRad is proportional to (Target distance / Parallax set zero distance) x (distance of sighting axis from optical axis of scope)
I'm not sure where magnification would fit in, if at all.

So, I had assumed that if the exit pupil is larger, there is more potential for your eye to be further away from the optical axis of the scope.
Certainly good technique, centering your eye on the scope, is a traditional basic for long range shooting.

Originally Posted by 6x47

Agree on the Ballistic Turret- both of mine immediately went and were replaced with an MOA labelled cap. I feel these are more future-proof than true custom (distance labelled) caps, eg a simple change of projectile forced by unavailabliity.

As for parallax and "focus" issues, I think you need to do a bit of reading. These are not same. Young eyes with maximum "accommodation" ( the tech term for ability to adjust focus with varying distance) cannot overcome parallax issues. Parallax causes aiming errors which become important obviously at longer ranges where there is far less leeway for error, esp in wind. You need everything going your way. I'm also a F-Open shooter so am acutely aware of these things.

BTW, the amount of parallax error at any given magnification does not vary with the objective diameter. If your 18X scope has a 40 or 56mm objective, there is no difference in that variable.

Important to note as well that if your head is always in the same position (optimally, eye looking dead centre into the ocular lens) then you will never have a parallax POI shift.

However, I do like the image and reticle being focused into the same plane.

Good article here: https://www.rifleshootermagazine.co....ined-1-6617150

However, no need for a fancy adjustable stock (easily adjustable also means can easily go out of adjustment...).

Just use pipe insulation and duct tape, add a low profile stock pack for extra security and a little storage.

Perfect.