can adjusting variable powered scopes throw off your zero

scoutman · 11-30-2007, 12:28 PM

i was told by my dad who was told by a rifledealer that know lots about guns said that adjusting the variable power on variable powered scopes can throw off your zero. he said that once you sight in the rifle using a certain power you are should leave it at that power.
Is this true if it is does this problem afect any certain brands of scopes

jashoffa · 11-30-2007, 12:31 PM

I have never heard of this and I have never seen this.

jmp8927 · 11-30-2007, 12:38 PM

I rarely say never, so I would say that with a really cheap scope it's possible. But I've never heard of it.

LiveToShoot · 11-30-2007, 12:44 PM

Scoutman... And, Sam Walker encouraged and helped Sam Colt to do so...

risk_3715 · 11-30-2007, 01:11 PM

Well, scoutman, the salesman is partially right. In the past with far less superior scopes, it may have changed the zero a tiny bit. However, men using those scopes still made very accurate and precise shots with them.

Today, our scopes are far far far superior and more reliable and accurate. True the low end scopes are still pieces of junk, however, most midgrade to highgrade scopes are still safe to use with variable power.

Last of all, remember that when you say 'the zero changes' it's very very small and hardly noticeable. Only a very very skilled marksman running top of the line equipment would tell. Which in cases like you and I- doesn't even matter.

lefty o · 11-30-2007, 01:39 PM

some scopes will move POI when changing powers. this is more common with lower end scopes. keep changing power as you shoot, and you'll find out if you scope changes POI.

Johnny_Revolver · 11-30-2007, 01:44 PM

Years ago, I had a 3-9 variable Weaver, the POI was the variable part, but that was an early ( first brand I ever saw in a variable were the Weavers ) scope of this type.

I own variable scopes now, but they are either all the way up and shooting from a rest, or all the way down and I` m walking. I`ve fired the rifles at the range from a rest at both settings and it seems okay to me.

nathangdad · 11-30-2007, 01:59 PM

It absolutely does happen. If you change your power it is a good idea to go to the range. Even the most expensive scopes have some degree of wander. It would be a good idea to sight your rifle in at one power and check each power change out at the range.

samuel · 11-30-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathangdad

It absolutely does happen. If you change your power it is a good idea to go to the range. Even the most expensive scopes have some degree of wander. It would be a good idea to sight your rifle in at one power and check each power change out at the range.

That only happen when you drop your gun while adjusting the power and it lands on a hard object directly on the scope. sam.

.22guy · 11-30-2007, 03:52 PM

I've had 2 scopes that have done it.

rfc357 · 11-30-2007, 06:26 PM

It does happen, but should not be serious enough to affect hunting accuracy.

Here is a scenario I see every fall when my club opens its doors to the unwashed masses. A guy sights in his rifle with the scope set at 9x. Then he cranks it to 3x, and the group (if there is one) is in a different place. Not off by much. What may be happening is the better picture at 3x is allowing the nimrod to hold a better sight picture. I have never seen this phenomenon result in a change that would affect the ability to hit a deer or elk, unless there was something else obviously wrong with the scope.

risk_3715 · 11-30-2007, 09:32 PM

I state again. Even though it may change, it won't matter too much to the average shooter.

billy · 11-30-2007, 09:35 PM

i never really thought about it so i would have to say no.
i crank my scopes up and down all the time and never noticed it.

Mooseman684 · 11-30-2007, 10:00 PM

It aint supposed to,if its sighted in right...Not on a Good scope, It should stay dead on.

lefty o · 11-30-2007, 10:05 PM

agreed, the better scopes should not do it, and if they do send it back. when you pay for the big names, thats part of what your paying for. if my leupolds, or my nightforce shifted point of impact they would have gone back instantly.

samuel · 12-01-2007, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by risk_3715

I state again. Even though it may change, it won't matter too much to the average shooter.

It should matter to the average shooter.He paid for precision.I personally have checked lots of scopes and never had it happen,even with the El cheapos.But I have seen when you had a solid rest and held the gun solid,as you adjusted the power the crosshares turned with the adjustment ever so slightly.That isnt a change of POI,thats a bad scope. sam.

scoutman · 12-01-2007, 10:56 AM

i though that you would not be able to see the change of the zero cuzz i always change the power on my barska plinker 22 scope and i dont notice any change so i though i would be safe if i change the power and i do i a lot when i am shooting it.

shawn · 12-17-2007, 07:30 PM

I guess my take on this is when you go from a lower setting to a higher setting the room for error increases because you become alot more "wiggly" by trying to compensate for the movement you see(heartbeat,breathing,wind blowing
against you from one side or another) I always try to find a happy medium of about 6 or 7 on my scope,although most of my targets(or game) are usually under 200 yrds(Im in a shotgun only zone and use a Browing gold deer hunter with a Burris 3x9x thirtysomething) I find I shoot better on a lower setting because it takes away the wandering effect I get when I'm taking a shot without a rest. It might just be me ,but I find it distracting and I can see how this would give the impression that your scope is not keeping zero. If it is a real concern that your scope is not holding zero throughout the mag range, try three shot groups at each setting on a rest (several times to rule out human error), and you should find your answer.Human error has afflicted me my whole life,Ive never been able to blame the scope unfortunatly. good luck on your quest for the real answer to your question! shawn

11-30-2007, 12:28 PM	#1
scoutman Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 201	can adjusting variable powered scopes throw off your zero i was told by my dad who was told by a rifledealer that know lots about guns said that adjusting the variable power on variable powered scopes can throw off your zero. he said that once you sight in the rifle using a certain power you are should leave it at that power. Is this true if it is does this problem afect any certain brands of scopes __________________ god made all man, but Samuel Colt made all man equal

11-30-2007, 12:31 PM	#2
jashoffa Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 414	I have never heard of this and I have never seen this. __________________ "I don't go shooting without my guns and they don't go shooting without me!" Member NRA

11-30-2007, 12:38 PM	#3
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,149 Images: 17	I rarely say never, so I would say that with a really cheap scope it's possible. But I've never heard of it. __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

11-30-2007, 12:44 PM	#4
LiveToShoot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest USA Posts: 2,084	Scoutman... And, Sam Walker encouraged and helped Sam Colt to do so... __________________ "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." -Unknown

11-30-2007, 01:44 PM	#7
Johnny_Revolver Gun Liker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,209 Blog Entries: 6	Years ago, I had a 3-9 variable Weaver, the POI was the variable part, but that was an early ( first brand I ever saw in a variable were the Weavers ) scope of this type. I own variable scopes now, but they are either all the way up and shooting from a rest, or all the way down and I` m walking. I`ve fired the rifles at the range from a rest at both settings and it seems okay to me. __________________ It`s a good life, provided you don`t weaken.

11-30-2007, 01:11 PM	#5
risk_3715 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 70	Well, scoutman, the salesman is partially right. In the past with far less superior scopes, it may have changed the zero a tiny bit. However, men using those scopes still made very accurate and precise shots with them. Today, our scopes are far far far superior and more reliable and accurate. True the low end scopes are still pieces of junk, however, most midgrade to highgrade scopes are still safe to use with variable power. Last of all, remember that when you say 'the zero changes' it's very very small and hardly noticeable. Only a very very skilled marksman running top of the line equipment would tell. Which in cases like you and I- doesn't even matter.

11-30-2007, 01:39 PM	#6
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,816	some scopes will move POI when changing powers. this is more common with lower end scopes. keep changing power as you shoot, and you'll find out if you scope changes POI.

11-30-2007, 01:59 PM	#8
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,537	Yes It absolutely does happen. If you change your power it is a good idea to go to the range. Even the most expensive scopes have some degree of wander. It would be a good idea to sight your rifle in at one power and check each power change out at the range.

11-30-2007, 03:52 PM	#10
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,166	I've had 2 scopes that have done it. __________________ Guns: they are like baseball cards except they are cool and you can kill things with em. -Billy

11-30-2007, 06:26 PM	#11
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	It does happen, but should not be serious enough to affect hunting accuracy. Here is a scenario I see every fall when my club opens its doors to the unwashed masses. A guy sights in his rifle with the scope set at 9x. Then he cranks it to 3x, and the group (if there is one) is in a different place. Not off by much. What may be happening is the better picture at 3x is allowing the nimrod to hold a better sight picture. I have never seen this phenomenon result in a change that would affect the ability to hit a deer or elk, unless there was something else obviously wrong with the scope.

11-30-2007, 09:32 PM	#12
risk_3715 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 70	I state again. Even though it may change, it won't matter too much to the average shooter.

11-30-2007, 09:35 PM	#13
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 12,406 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 146	i never really thought about it so i would have to say no. i crank my scopes up and down all the time and never noticed it. __________________

11-30-2007, 10:00 PM	#14
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,747 Images: 2	It aint supposed to,if its sighted in right...Not on a Good scope, It should stay dead on. __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

11-30-2007, 10:05 PM	#15
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,816	agreed, the better scopes should not do it, and if they do send it back. when you pay for the big names, thats part of what your paying for. if my leupolds, or my nightforce shifted point of impact they would have gone back instantly.

12-01-2007, 10:56 AM	#17
scoutman Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 201	Thanks everyone i though that you would not be able to see the change of the zero cuzz i always change the power on my barska plinker 22 scope and i dont notice any change so i though i would be safe if i change the power and i do i a lot when i am shooting it. __________________ god made all man, but Samuel Colt made all man equal

12-17-2007, 07:30 PM	#18
shawn Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Two Rivers,Wisconsin Posts: 24	Maybe its the shooter behind the scope(no offense) I guess my take on this is when you go from a lower setting to a higher setting the room for error increases because you become alot more "wiggly" by trying to compensate for the movement you see(heartbeat,breathing,wind blowing against you from one side or another) I always try to find a happy medium of about 6 or 7 on my scope,although most of my targets(or game) are usually under 200 yrds(Im in a shotgun only zone and use a Browing gold deer hunter with a Burris 3x9x thirtysomething) I find I shoot better on a lower setting because it takes away the wandering effect I get when I'm taking a shot without a rest. It might just be me ,but I find it distracting and I can see how this would give the impression that your scope is not keeping zero. If it is a real concern that your scope is not holding zero throughout the mag range, try three shot groups at each setting on a rest (several times to rule out human error), and you should find your answer.Human error has afflicted me my whole life,Ive never been able to blame the scope unfortunatly. good luck on your quest for the real answer to your question! shawn Last edited by shawn; 12-17-2007 at 07:48 PM.