Leupold VX-2 4-12x40 for 221 FB
 

Thinking about getting this scope for a CZ 527 American. Wondering if I really need the AO on this gun??? Most shots will be under 200, but may reach out to 300 on an occasional coyote, crow or chuck.

Suggestions?

Even without the AO you can set the parallax to anything you like, so if your average is 150 yards you can set it to zero there. Larry

Leup ?
 

That depends if you wear glasses or contacts, then you'll need an AO to tune the image in.

If you remove the lock ring at the front of a non AO scope and turn the objective in or out it is exactly the same as turning the AO ring on the outside of an AO scope. Larry

Sorry for the maybe stupid question Larry, but, do you mean the lock ring just behind the power adjustment ring? and then would you focus at a distance you would want it adjusted to?

Neil

No, at the front of the scope there is a ring, it is the outside of the scope and has threads on the inside. It screws onto the objective carrier and locks it in place when you tighten it down. If you take it off you can screw the objective carrier in and out of the scope body to adjust the parallax distance. Larry

Side AO/focus is a must for me PD'ing. Front AO is just a pain. Shorter distances below 400 yds is where you need the AO.

Really focus and parallax are different things. Focus gets things sharp and the parallax corrects for POI shift with eye position looking through the scope. Parallax is more evident at closer ranges, beyond about 150 yards or so there isn't much to adjust, probably why most AO scopes go from 200 yards to infinity in about 1/16 inch of travel on the AO dial. Larry

Short answer - NO.

Centerfire scopes are generally set to be parallax free at 150 - 175 yds. If it is a concern to you call Leupold and they can tell you where they set parallax on that particular scope.
Even if it has a bit of parallax it will not be enough to cause you to miss a crow, rockchuck or coyote at those ranges.

Another way around parallax is to position your eye behind the scope at the same place for each shot. I have a 4-12 Redfield that has almost an inch of parallax at 100 yds but I can still shoot 1/2" groups with it by making sure to position my head the same each time.

Parallax is easy to check - put your scope, or rifle with scope mounted, in a solid mount (even a cardboard box with V-slots cut in it will work) look at a target with a one inch square on it at 100 yds then without touching the rifle, or scope, with your head about the same distance as it would be when shooting, move your head slightly and you will see the crosshairs appear to move. This will give you an idea of them amount of parallax at that distance. This of course will work at any distance but 100 yds is easiest to get an idea of the amount of parralax - for me anyway.

drover

Why I strongly prefer the side AO for PD's, you're constantly adjusting due to the frequent changes in range from 50-300 yds.