I’m back! The complexity of gun ownership comes with so much new knowledge I am finding myself getting carried away with topics. I came across a pretty common problem that rifle owners tend to deal with. Parallax Optics. Throw those words around in conversation and you’re sure to impress.

What exactly is Parallax Optics? The concept was originally brought up to me before I knew that it could be an issue. So as I started my research I realized there were a few things I needed to dive into before I could properly understand Parallax Optics and the issue that it presents for rifle owners.

So before we dive into Parallax Optics I really want to understand the Ocular Lens. This piece is placed at the end of the riflescope and it's actually closest to your eye. As you turn the entire assembly in or out the lens is used to focus and hold a clear image. When you mount and align your scope on your rifle the Ocular Lens is what gives you that clear image you're looking for.

Still with me so far? Now we are going to look at how this works with Parallax. Parallax is what we call when the image we see as our target isn’t focused correctly on the reticle. Since your Ocular Lens is used to focus and hold the clearest image of your target, when mounted correctly the Ocular Lens actually reduces Parallax. Checking for Parallax is really simple. With your rifle in a solid rest, keeping your eyes on the image in the scope, you move your head back and forth, and up and down. If there is parallax, the position of the crosshairs will move. If there is no parallax, the crosshairs will remain on the target. Accuracy is based on point of aim, so the more that Parallax is present in your scope the lower your accuracy.

Parallax is the most common problem with riflescopes that I could find, however, it can be eliminated at specific distances. You can always look into adjustable-objective scopes or even hunting scopes that usually have a parallax correction fixed at a specific distance. However, it is all based on preference so make sure to check your scopes before you actually buy them. You can even shoot (no pun intended) a few questions to the team at MSR Arms. They will be happy to help you pick the scope perfect for you.