How do you aim?

[EKYHunter]

When you’re looking thru your scope. Do you concentrate on the target and blur the reticle or do you concentrate on the reticle and blur the target? Or do you do something different? Is there a “right way” and a “wrong way?”

 

[Nick87]

Back and forth but at the end I'm focused on target.

 

[p_ham]

Your target and crosshairs should both be in focus.

 

[cahunter805]

I agree with p ham. Both focused and apply even pressure on the trigger until it breaks and follow through.

 

[PorterHouse]

Both target and reticle in focus, as has been said above. Settle the crosshairs, breathe, squeeze…

 

[Dsnow9]

I listened to a great two part podcast by a sniper. It said to focus on the crosshairs and a slow trigger pull. I can’t seem to find them though. They definitely helped me tighten up my groups though and be more accurate in the field

 

[El Jason]

Just see the crosshairs where you want to hit. Then forget about them and press the trigger.

 

[SticksMcKinley]

Everything should be “in focus” in a properly set up scope, but focus your eye solidly on the reticle else it will shift in between points between you and the target.

 

[Nick87]

Just see the crosshairs where you want to hit. Then forget about them and press the trigger.

That's a better way of saying what I was trying to.

 

[Rzrbck918]

Now you’ve got me thinking about it. I focus on the target and crosshairs at the same time, I haven’t thought about anything being blurry.

 

[howl]

The reticle should always be sharply defined after you adjust the ocular to your eye and with your contacts or glasses if you use them. The clarity of focus of the animal depends on how far or near it is from where the scope was adjusted. Generally neither should be blurry if the scope is in good order and set for you specifically. You can't expect perfect performance from a scope set for someone else. The eye (and glasses or contacts) is part of the system.

If you're seeing blurry targets at great distance you may want an adjustable objective or side focus scope.

 

[ImBillT]

You should adjust your eyepiece so that whenever the target is in focus, the reticule is also in focus. This really only has to be done once unless your eyes have changed.


If parallax is fixed, then you’re usually dealing with a low power scope where focusing at different ranges is fairly inconsequential and your eyes can do it. If parallax is adjustable(adjustable objective, or side focus) then you should adjust your objective or side focus knob to get the target in focus.

If you properly adjust the eyepiece, the reticule will always be in focus IF the target is also in focus. With scopes that have no “parallax adjustment” they expect that your eye will be able to focus on targets at different ranges(these are low power, and again, if you’ve properly adjusted your eyepiece, your reticule will be on focus if your eye is able to focus on the target). If the parallax is adjustable, then once you’ve adjusted it such that the target is in focus, then your reticule should also be in focus assuming you’ve proper adjusted your eyepiece.

Regardless of whether your scope has adjustable parallax or not, there should be no need to compromise between focusing the target and the reticule. They should both be in focus, or your eyes are not strong enough to focus on such a close, or such a distant target. Either they are both in focus, neither are in focus, or your eyepiece is incorrectly adjusted.