Eye relief.

Isa

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I can't seem to find a whole lot of information on the subject.

I have a tasco 3x9 garbage scope, but it does allow me to set my eye relief.

The problem is I don't know exactly what I should be looking for when doing so.

Does the eye relief vary depending on the distance of the object?

Should I just be trying to get the cross hairs as crisp as possible or the object itself?
 
Eye relief is the distance from the rear lens of the scope to your eye. This is preset in the scope. Some have more generous "eye boxes" then others.

I think what you are adjusting is the Focus ring. This allows you to focus the crosshair for your eyesight. It does not change eye relief though. Eye relief will change with magnification level. The "eye box" gets less generous at higher powers.

The best way to focus it is to use a blank white wall or even a clear blue sky. Mount the gun with your eyes closed... Open your eye and see if the crosshair is clean and sharp immediately upon seeing it. Turn the focus ring until when you open your eye its clean and sharp.
 
I have a tasco 3x9 garbage scope, but it does allow me to set my eye relief.

Every scope allows you to set the eye relief. Eye relief is the distance from your eye to the back lens of the scope. You loosen the mounts on the gun, slide the scope back and forth in the mounts until the image fills the scope (no black around the edges) then tighten the mounts.

Once that is done, you set the ocular focus as described above by Sharkbite by making the crosshairs sharp against a clear sky or a blank wall. Make sure that you just glance at the crosshairs while focusing, or your eyes will automatically adjust to the blurred crosshairs.

Tasco scope instructions are here:

http://www.tasco.com/products/manuals/TascoGenericRiflescope6LIMwebversion.pdf
 
Every scope allows you to set the eye relief. Eye relief is the distance from your eye to the back lens of the scope.
Completely wrong. Not even close to being correct. All scopes list the eye relief on the instructions that come with the scope. Eye relief is the distance from the rear lens to the focal point of the image. If it says 4", it's 4". All you're doing when you move the scope forward or backward is finding that four inches when you put your face on the stock. Eye relief isn't adjustable and the only "adjustment" in eye relief is on variable power scope where that focal point changes with power changes on the scope. Some variables will list eye relief as being from "x" inches to "y" inches as the power changes. Example, I have a Bushnell that lists eye relief being from 3.75" to 5.0" when changing from 3x to 9x.

Definition: The eye relief of an optical instrument (such as a telescope, a microscope, or binoculars) is the distance from the last surface of an eyepiece at which the user's eye can obtain the full viewing angle. If a viewer's eye is outside this distance, a reduced field of view will be obtained. The calculation of eye relief is complex, though generally, the higher the magnification and the larger the intended field-of-view, the shorter the eye relief.
 
Okay I found the box, it says eye relief 3", so I should adjust the scope rings 3" from my face while im on the stock, and then I can adjust the focus itself on a white wall regardless of it's distance correct?
 
The focus is for your eyesight. It really helps if you wear glasses

Your head should be in a comfortable place when choosing eye relief. Should feel natural..
 
Eye relief is set.

You loosen the mounts on the gun, slide the scope back and forth in the mounts until the image fills the scope (no black around the edges) then tighten the mounts.
You eye relief is factory set and in your case, it's three inches. Confirm by doing what 45_auto has replied. This is how I always set mine. I know what he said and it's understood what he meant .... ;)

By the way, eye-relief will change from scope to scope .... :)

Be Safe !!!
 
Adjust the eye relief first. The way I recommend doing this is one of two ways. A) Adjust it to whatever mag setting you will be using the most or B) Set the magnification on the middle setting, if you plan on shooting at multiple/unknown mag settings (example: for a 3x9 set your mag on 6, then work from there). Once you decide which method, shoulder the gun with scope mounted loosely in the rings and slide the scope forward or backward until the full image is visible in the scope without any 'rings' or shadows around the sight picture. Eye relief really means you are setting the distance of the scope to get the most field of view possible. Then after eye relief is set, use the methods mentioned for adjusting focus of the eyepiece. Many instructions say to just point it at a white wall to do this. It has nothing tot do with the distance of the object you are viewing, that is more to do with parallax. Some scopes offer this adjustment but many do not.
 
You will get the best view through a scope with a 3" eye relief if the scope is mounted 3" from your eye.

#1, don't worry about it. Put the scope in the rings with them just snugged up, adjust the scope back and forth until you get the best view through the scope when mounted as you would shoot then tighten down the mounts. Once adjusted for YOU, the rear of the scope SHOULD be about 3" from your eye. That can and will vary slightly as you focus the scope. What you are describing is focusing the scope, not adjusting eye relief.


Also, MOST scopes eye relief is different at different magnifications, some are constant, but not any budget scopes. Many list the eye relief when set at the lowest magnification. It will likely have less eye relief as you go up in magnification. This will force you to slide up on the stock to get a good view through the scope, greatly increasing the possibility of getting hit in the face during recoil.


FWIW, 3" of eye relief, especially on 3X is pretty close. You may well be closer to 2" on 9X. All of my scopes are closer to 5" on the lowest magnification and at least 3.5-4" on the greatest magnification.
 
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