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Scope Usage Hints (Nikon Monarch 3, 4-16x42)

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pbw View Drop Down
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    Posted: February/13/2017 at 23:06
A friend of mine gave me a Nikon Monarch 3, 4-16x42 scope which I've had on my deer rifle for over a year (and it helped me get a deer last fall).  I'm no glass expert, but the image it gives me seems nice and clear, and I consistently shoot some nice groups with it -- less than MOA with handloads at 100yds and 200m (max at my range).  It holds its zero great when moving between the two distances. 

My problem is that it is extremely finicky on where I place my eye.  Just a hair to far forward or backward, high or low, and I can't see anything but muck.  I do wear glasses and my eyes are going downhill fast, but the guy who gave it to me did so because he couldn't get it to work for him, and a different friend I took shooting this weekend looked like a bobble head while he tried to find the picture.  I've gotten pretty used to it so I can find it OK, but it is a sort of grating background annoyance each time I shoot.

I recently got an elk rifle and put a meopro 3-9x40 on that, and it presents me with a pretty picture practically effortlessly (although, I will says that the turrets on this low end meopro are chintzy -- apparently, all the money went into the glass, which is fine, but I do like the NIkon turrets a lot more).

I've tried to mount the scope as close to my barrel as possible but I wonder if I'd be better off with higher scope rings and looking through the center of my glasses --I am looking through the top portion of my glasses right now, but if I raise it higher I'll lose my cheek weld.  The Meopro is even lower though, and I have no trouble seeing with that one.  Anyway, is the Nikon just a finicky scope, is there something that could be mechanically out of order, or are there some things I should try to improve my user experience before giving up on it?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steelbenz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/14/2017 at 03:55
You are correct in your methodology. A repeatable cheek weld is the most important thing to a rifleman. The scope should sit so that it's position and alignment coincide with your cheek weld. Your Nikon sounds as if it has an extremely narrow eye box making its placement very critical. Thus you will have to decide what you plan on doing with it as shooting style and clothing will make this hard to accomplish.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/14/2017 at 08:35
The higher the mag the smaller the eye box as well. One reason i don't use or buy many scopes over 12x.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/14/2017 at 11:48
Generally, MeoPro has a more forgiving eye relief than the Monarch.

However, you also want to keep in mind which magnification you are at.  Are your issues with the Monarch at all magnifications?

ILya


Edited by koshkin - February/14/2017 at 11:53
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pbw Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/14/2017 at 20:07
Thanks all for the replies. 

I do have trouble with a range of magnifications.  I've been shooting the 200m at about 12x (less or more and my groups seem to open up), 100yd at 8x (these two are bench shooting with a sandbag under the front of the stock), and I've been practicing offhand shooting too, 50 yds at 4x magnification.  I can usually find the spot, but it is never effortless and it always takes me a few seconds.

This wasn't an issue when I hunted with this scope last fall because of good luck -- my target was standing still browsing some willow so I had plenty of time to set myself up, but if I ever wanted to make a quick shot, I wouldn't be able to do it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/14/2017 at 20:35
At 4x, this is a bit odd. Monarch is not the most forgiving scope, but it is not quite that bad. Is it possible that the scope is mounted to far forward or too far back?

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lockjaw Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/15/2017 at 13:32
I have 2 monarchs. One is a 3x9x40 UCC, and the other is a 4x16x50. The 3-9 is great. 

The 4-16  I never use it above 12X. Below that its fine. And its really a good scope at low light. I just find the image gets cloudy. 

I have a Minox ZA5 3-15x42, and its  great at low mags, I don't like it really turned up either. 

I think the issue is more of the diameter of the exit pupil out of the scope as the magnification goes up. 

If you want a great eye box, get a Leupold. I have never looked through one that wasn't fantastic. 

And I suffer like you with glasses. I don't need them to hunt, I just need them to see anything up close. And they jack me up walking in the woods when the light is fading. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pbw Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/16/2017 at 19:03
Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:

At 4x, this is a bit odd. Monarch is not the most forgiving scope, but it is not quite that bad. Is it possible that the scope is mounted to far forward or too far back?

ILya


BINGO!  Thank you so much.  When I put the scope on I thought I had it in good position -- wrong.  I moved it back a  little over a quarter inch and the image just pops into view at all mags.  I put it back where it was and the problem came back.  I'm sort of embarrassed to not think of that myself.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Uncle Lawrence Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/11/2017 at 11:58
wish I had friends like that
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