Eye relief on scope?

[Bill_Rights]

Newb here on scoped rifles; sorry if obvious question (do we need a new accronym, SIOQ?) No!

The user manual for my scope says to mount for minimum of 3.5" eye relief. What happens if I go farther? (I could get 10-12", if I wanted.)

The scope is a Millet Tactical DMS-1 1x4-24. I do want maximim width and height of field-of-view, for moving game targets, etc.

Maybe a related question: My eyesight, uncorrected is between 20-40 and 20-50 near-sighted. I do not use glasses or contact lens for anything. Does that mean I could reduce the 3.5 " relief or that it must be increased beyond 3.5"?

 

[dakotasin]

put the scope on the rifle in such a way that you have a clear view of the entire field when you mount the gun. you want there to be minimal black and minimal adjustment by your head when you mount the scope.

too far or too close and you will have a tough time seeing through the scope.

your vision will be unrelated to where the scope ends up on the rifle.

 

[boilingleadbath]

1) Indeed, put the scope where it is optically correct. It does nothing for your shooting ability if you have to 'put up with' the ergonomics of your gear.

2) The fact that your eyesight isn't 'normal' doesn't make much (any?) difference in eye relief: Even at 20-200 nearsighted (uncorrected) or so, I didn't notice the effect when I was playing around with a fixed 20mmx4.
I /did/ notice that the image appears larger if I used the scope without my glasses, but that's entirely unrelated to your query.

 

[Bill_Rights]

OK, so just put the scope in the rings and slide it forward and backward till I get the easiest, fullest field of view, tighten it up and go with it.

One reason I asked about the eyesight correction or lack of it is that I have other shooters in my household who may use the gun who have different eyesight correction issues. If I could mount the scope an inch forward or backward from what is optimal for my nearsightedness, then maybe it would still be useable for folks with normal or slightly farsighted vision. Just an idea....

 

[W.E.G.]

Test it from a sitting cross-legged ("indian style") position.

That's the position that will initiate you to the Crescent Club if the relief is insufficient.

 

[WNTFW]

Check your eye relief on the highest magnification. Set the focus also.
Check it - look away - check it - look away. Your eye will adjust to a bad setting on focus. Put your rifle down & go back a few minutes later. Try it offhand, sitting & prone.

 

[Bill_Rights]

Thanks for the pointers, folks.

So from what W.E.G. said, if my eye is too close (relief to short) I will see black cresents as I move my head from side to side or up and down. What happens if the relief is too long? I guess the width (or height) of the field of view decreases?

 

[Ol` Joe]

So from what W.E.G. said, if my eye is too close (relief to short) I will see black cresents as I move my head from side to side or up and down. What happens if the relief is too long? I guess the width (or height) of the field of view decreases?

Too far forward or back and the field of view will black out until you have a very small "dot" in the scope. Too close also encourages the scope putting a nice 1/2 moon cut over your eye. This is not a desirable event....
There should be an adjustment ring on the rear bell for minor diopter corrections.

 

[Zach S]

OK, so just put the scope in the rings and slide it forward and backward till I get the easiest, fullest field of view, tighten it up and go with it.

That's generally what I do. Make sure you get it adjusted while holding the rifle like you normally do while shooting. This way you don't have to adjust your cheek weld whenever you use the scope.

 

[Bill_Rights]

Thanks for all the teaching from experienced hands. THR is great.

Joe, I take it that

There should be an adjustment ring on the rear bell for minor diopter corrections.

will allow other shooter with different eyesight correction to adjust the scope to work for them. (No need to post if answer is "yes")

Likewise, you mean a recoil cut by

nice 1/2 moon cut over your eye

, but if the basic eye relief is > 3.5", I'd have to be shooting magnum magnums or have a broken shoulder before I'd get that much recoil, so I'll be OK. I'll post a picture of my eye-cut if not

WNTFW, Thanks for the warning about the eye auto-adjust. Ain't the brain great? Wish I could switch mine off sometimes....