Leupold: Side Focus vs Adjustable Objective

[Evolver]

What are you guys liking? I'm in the market and having a hard time making up my mind.

Basic debate seems to be that SF is more ergonomic and tacti-cool but less precise and/or more room for error... VS ...AO is more precise but a bit more clunky and/or outdated.

I don't know that I care much about the ergonomic debate. I understand having to move yourself or the rifle to adjust AO if in the prone position. But at the distances where parallax focus becomes a more serious concern I'm not typically rushing shots or spooking game with just a little movement.

Specifically, I'm looking at Leupold scopes which will be on top of a short barreled 308 bolt gun w/can. I've never used SF on a Leupold. Might stretch range to 1,000 occasionally for grins, but most anticipated shooting would be 600 and in.

(Please try to stay on point guys! Leupold will be the brand of optic and 308 will be the caliber.)

[LWD]

You're dismissing the most important consideration: ergonomics. If you're on the gun, it's not a little movement to dial an AO; it's a lot. If you will be in a dynamic situation—i.e. engaging a target at a very different range and needing to make a change to the parallax adjustment—you will be better off with the side focus. A side focus isn't any less precise than an adjustable objective; it's just different. It's not tacticool; it's ergonomically efficient.

Get whichever one fits your needs and budget. It's been a longtime since I shopped for an AO scope, but I think you'll find they are less expensive than side focus.

LWD

[bowhntrmatt]

I own a couple of each. All Leupold. I have to say that I prefer the side focus. I will say that use them almost exclusively for hunting and rarely shoot distances where exact parallax adjustment is noticeable. And I like being able to adjust to how I like it on the fly.

[Mike D]

Side focus all the way. You never have to reposition on the gun like you do with AO.


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[bboswell]

I have both in Leupold. The AO's tend to get set to an average and not fine tuned to the specific shot due to hassle of adjusting. Side focus will be on any new scope I buy

[Evolver]

It's been a longtime since I shopped for an AO scope, but I think you'll find they are less expensive than side focus.

LWD

Actually, to my surprise, no price difference in MSRP between SF vs AO in the VX-3i 4.5-14x40. Would have thought SF would be higher, particularly since it is 30mm tube vs the 1 inch tube on the AO model. Probably lean toward SF for that fact alone (getting more adjustment room on the 30mm).

The comments about precision where not mine specifically. I read it on the internet, in multiple locations, so we all know that it must be true! It does make sense from a large gear vs small gear perspective. Or maybe I've become a victim of all this "fake news" stuff I keep hearing about?!

[Slick8]

I've never heard of the "more precise" argument before so I can't comment.

I will say that the ergonomics is a clear winner for the side focus...no pun intended...

Most everything these days is geared to the SF so you will also have a wider range of options available to you.

[Evolver]

Well, maybe I'm just avoiding the parallax issue, but I'm really leaning toward the VX-R 4x12-40mm. Love the reticle, but a bit less magnification than I'm used to and no parallax adjustment. Y'all think I'd have any issues inside of 600 yards?

[Slick8]

IMO-you'll be disappointed in that scope at 600 yards and looking downright fuzzy at 1k.

I don't see where you mentioned a budget but did state that Leupold was the plan.

I'd start with a VX-III and go from there. A 4.5-14 VXIII LR would do way better than what you mentioned. I don't know what they're doing now but recently we saw some great deals on the Mk 4. If you budget allows, the VX6 is glass like no other, comes with SF, zero stop, precision tracking knobs and a fire dot reticle for about $1100 retail. It was ran for $950 on black Friday sales.