How much turret backlash would you expect in an eighty-quid scope?

[Antoni]

The clicks on the turrets just seem hugely optimistic to me - by that I mean one click moves the point of impact such a tiny amount. If you go two clicks one way and then 3 clicks back have you really gone one click back - or gone nowhere because you haven't even taken up the backlash yet?

It would be possible to check my scope by mounting it in a vice somewhere out in the open and rigging up a marked-up piece of card in the distance, but I'm working away long term and so no opportunity to make the necessary effort. Also bored shitless.

Is there much variation on this point with different scope makers? Always wondered if I was wasting time making small adjustments.

[DAVALI]

I would imaging that all scope turrets have backlash as the thread that alters the reticule must have some clearance/tolerance, reticules are spring loaded in one direction i.e. Pushing up on the turret screw, what is more important is repetition when set to a specific dial setting, to achieve this then you should only adjust sights in the downward/left direction, if you need to come up then come past the setting you require and then screw down/left to it, this is the method I use in FT and it seems to work, cheaper scopes would most likely have more backlash so working out how much more to come beyond your required setting would be a matter of trial and effort.
Boxing a scopes turret from a zero'd setting by turning the elevation X number of clicks down then X number of clicks left then up and right to come back to your original setting without allowing for backlash then shooting at a target would show how good/bad any backlash was!.
Have fun!.
Dave.

[rhyslightnin]

The clicks on the turrets just seem hugely optimistic to me - by that I mean one click moves the point of impact such a tiny amount. If you go two clicks one way and then 3 clicks back have you really gone one click back - or gone nowhere because you haven't even taken up the backlash yet?

It would be possible to check my scope by mounting it in a vice somewhere out in the open and rigging up a marked-up piece of card in the distance, but I'm working away long term and so no opportunity to make the necessary effort. Also bored shitless.

Is there much variation on this point with different scope makers? Always wondered if I was wasting time making small adjustments.

if your talking about tracking capabilities then id say it depends what your shooting..., a sub 12 air rifle out to 30yrds isn't going to "see" mich issue as you usualy need two clicks at least at that distance to get any real movement. longer the range bigger the movement I would have said though it shouldn't be too bad on any modern 80quid scope so long as its not a 20-70x65 ao ir px lrf Chinese e*** thing... as apposed to a 3-9x40

Rhys

[RobF]

is it 1/4 of 1/8 moa clicks?

[lensman57]

Plenty. If you want tracking precision I am afarid even the mid priced scopes( £250.00~£400.00) fall short in that dept.

A.G

[Antoni]

1/4" at 100 yds per click comes to mind (not seen the scope for about a year), and it's a well known 3-9 x 40 ish thing IIRC. Sub 12 springer.

I'd always assumed that there would be poor repeatability when dialling in small adjustments, and now I know there will be. Good news that the threads work against a spring, so that should take out the thread backlash, but then there will be the inevitable imperfections in the mechanics that move the reticle - up down moves it a smidgeon sideways, left right moves it a tad up etc. Maybe it will work better on the springer as it will get wallops to average everything out!

Still an excellent tool for the cost.

I wouldn't trust my shooting skill to test the scope, better to rig up a card, mount in a vice and tap it with a wooden ruler. No real need to bother now, just do as I've been doing; go to the wanted setting then turn right-left-right-left-right-left in decreasing amounts until just one click each way.

Thanks all.

[RobF]

1 MOA = 1" at 100yds.

So if you've got indoors at 25yds and a bench and level you can click track it. At 25 yds 4 1/4 clicks = an inch. So adjust 4 or 8 clicks up down left and right until you've made a box... then measure.