Sticky crosshairs?

B

bailey bud

New member
The crosshairs on my Burris Fullfield II scope seem to stick!

I was shooting a little low --- so turned the scope 6 clicks up ---- and nothing changed.

Then, a veteran shooter told me, "tap the scope lightly - with a battery - or something of comparable weight/density ---- just a few times." I did. Suddenly, I was shooting dead on.

I can accept that the veteran's advice was spot-on ---- but why?
(I'm a guy - gotta understand how stuff works - need an explanation, as well as a solution).
 
Been there and do that.

Then, a veteran shooter told me, "tap the scope lightly -
Click to expand...
I've been doing and advising this for years. Now, understand that you should not have to worry about such things especially with the quality of a Burris. Cheaper scopes are worse than others. I have gotten into this habit regardless of the scope I use to relax any internal pressures/forces. If I adjust with a coin, I lightly tap with it. If not, I just tap it with my finger. :)

As for why it's happening the best way I can explain it, is Hysteresis

Wasn't easy to find what I was looking for but whenever you make an adjustment, there are forces applied. Internally there is always a degree of sticking or delay. When you lightly tap the scope, you will release it from it's sticking point and now relaxes in it's new state.

in a previous life, I worked and calibrated many control devices and hysteresis was always a consideration. They range in degrees of lagging or sticking. ... ;)


Be Safe !!!
 
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The crosshairs are mounted in a tube that is pushed against the adjustment turrets by springs that hold it in place. If the tube gets a little stuck to the windage adjusting turret, a little tap should free it up. Sounds like what you experienced. I would not worry about it until a tap won't free it up.
 
Hard to break old habits !!!

I liken it to loading a magazine. No matter how you load, afterwards if you give it a little bump or tap, you will have movement and hear it as well. Granted, most of the time you should not notice problems in the scope. If instead of "lightly tapping", your first shot would have settled the crosshairs. I routinely tap after adjusting, shoot a three shot group and another three, to confirm. .... ;)
I have seen guy shoot once and adjust. Repeat the process more times than really needed. After I bore sight, I can "usually" get into the 10X in three. .. ;)

There is nothing wrong with your scope and I could live with it as long as I know what I am working with.

Be Safe !!!
 
I have a Burris FFII and have never had to tap it. Me personally, I bought a scope with a "forever warranty" for a reason. I'd give a Burris a call and see what they say. I don't doubt the previous posts that say they've always done and not had problems, but I can also say I've never had to tap a scope to get it to adjust.. this is actually the first time I've ever heard of it.

Definitely a good trick to keep in your back pocket, but if it doesn't say anything in your owner's manual about having to tap it, then it's not to factory standards.

At least that's my opinion..
 
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