Are you new to the world of specs and tech? Most people new to tech and scopes experience various challenges in the field. A common challenge is some eye bites.
It’s not fun to be smacked in the face after pulling a trigger. What is down to you or a scope issue? This is where eye relief comes in. As you’ll soon learn, optic devices have eye relief. Any optic device requires adequate eye relief when shooting.
Let’s dive deep and understand everything about eye relief.
Main Contents
Definition of Eye Relief Scope
In the simplest terms, eye relief is the distance from the last lens on the eyepiece to your eyes. It’s the distance that allows for a clear and unobstructed view of the field of view.
Eye relief is a distance that ensures you view the entire field of view comfortably while also keeping safe from recoil.
If you look through the lens with the wrong eye relief, you’ll see a distorted image. This distance is a crucial safety precaution for scope users.
The distance is measured in inches or millimeters. The measurement unit can vary from one scope model to another. For example, a scope might have an acceptable eye relief of 4 inches while a rangefinder comes with an eye relief of 15mm.
So, why is eye relief that important?
Importance of Eye Relief in Scopes
Eye relief is quite important for excellent clarity and safety. Most shooters get their rifles, mount their scopes, and head into the field. But some come back with injuries on their faces. Injuries occur because the shooters didn’t have the right eye relief.
When shooting, your eyes should not come too close to the scope lens. You need to maintain adequate eye relief to prevent the shock of rifles from the recoil when you release a round.
This is pretty important, especially for powerful rifles with huge recoils. A recoil from a powerful rifle will cause a huge smack into your eyes.
Simply put, you need adequate eye relief to prevent recoil injuries.
Eye relief is also important for enhanced target viewing. Shooters with the wrong eye relief will tend to suffer from distorted images. You’ll see a fuzzy image with a black ring around the entire field of view.
Interested to learn more?
Keep reading as I break down eye relief in scopes. I’ll also discuss factors affecting eye relief and types of eye relief. In the end, you’ll learn how to choose the right eye relief to match your shooting style.
What is Eye Relief in Scopes
If you’re shooting through a riflescope, then you’ve heard of eye relief. What is it and what factors affect it? (Read this post to learn more about rifle scopes : https://usfclass.com/best-rifle-scope/
Eye relief is the distance between the eyepiece lens of a scope and the user’s eye at which the full field of view can be seen. It is a critical measurement for shooters, especially those using magnum calibers or shooting from awkward positions.
This is because eye relief determines how close the shooter’s eye must be to the eyepiece in order to see the full field of view through the scope. A longer eye relief allows the shooter to see the entire view while maintaining a comfortable distance from the eyepiece.
A shorter eye relief puts the shooter’s eye too close to the lens and can result in injuries from recoils.
Factors that affect Eye Relief
Eye relief is crucial when using any type of scope. There are several factors that can affect it. Let’s break down a few of these factors.
- Magnification: The higher the magnification of the scope, the shorter the eye relief tends to be. This is because the eyepiece lens is farther from the shooter’s eye, making it more challenging to see the full field of view.
- Objective lens size: The size of the objective lens, or front lens, also affects eye relief. A larger objective lens typically requires a longer eye relief to see the full field of view.
- Exit pupil size: The exit pupil is the beam of light that emerges from the eyepiece. The larger the exit pupil, the easier it is to see the full field of view. Eye relief is affected by the size of the exit pupil, as a smaller exit pupil requires the shooter’s eye to be closer to the eyepiece.
- Power adjustment mechanism: Scopes that have a power adjustment mechanism, such as a zoom feature, can also affect eye relief. As the magnification is adjusted, the eye relief may change, and the shooter may need to adjust their position to see the full field of view.
- Mounting position: The position of the scope on the rifle can also impact eye relief. If the scope is mounted too close to the shooter’s eye, they may not be able to see the full field of view, even with long eye relief.
- Interpupillary distance: The interpupillary distance is the distance between a person’s pupils. This measurement can impact eye relief, as scopes with fixed eye relief may not work well for people with different interpupillary distances.
While there are more factors, the above ones are the main ones that affect eye relief.
Importance of Eye Relief for shooters
Getting adequate eye relief is crucial for various reasons. Below are some of the benefits of why eye relief is important for shooters.
- Comfort: A longer eye relief allows the shooter to maintain a comfortable distance from the scope, reducing eye strain and fatigue over long shooting sessions.
- Recoil protection: Eye relief is especially important for shooters using magnum calibers or other high-recoil firearms. Longer eye relief can help protect the shooter’s eye from injury in the event of heavy recoil.
- Versatility: Eye relief can affect a shooter’s ability to use the scope in various shooting positions, such as prone, kneeling, or offhand. A longer eye relief allows the shooter to maintain a full field of view, even when shooting from awkward positions.
- Accuracy: A full field of view through the scope is crucial for accurate shooting. If the shooter can’t see the full field of view, they may not be able to properly align the crosshairs and make an accurate shot.
- Ease of use: Eye relief is also important for shooters who wear glasses or use night vision devices, as these accessories can impact their ability to see the full field of view. Longer eye relief can help these shooters see the full field of view, even with these accessories in place.
Types of Eye Relief in Scopes
Long Eye Relief
Long eye relief refers to scopes that have a longer distance between the eyepiece and the shooter’s eye, typically in the range of 3 to 4 inches or more.
These scopes are ideal for shooters using high-recoil firearms or shooting from awkward positions. They allow the shooter to maintain a comfortable distance from the eyepiece while still seeing the full field of view.
Standard Eye Relief
Standard eye relief refers to scopes that have an average distance between the eyepiece and the shooter’s eye, typically in the range of 2 to 3 inches.
These scopes are suitable for most shooting situations and firearms. However, they might not provide enough protection from recoil for high-recoil firearms or sufficient versatility for shooting from awkward positions.
Short Eye Relief
Short eye relief refers to scopes that have a shorter distance between the eyepiece and the shooter’s eye, typically less than 2 inches.
These scopes are typically used for specific purposes, such as target shooting or close-range hunting. These are situations where the shooter can maintain a consistent position and eye distance from the scope.
However, short eye relief can make it difficult for the shooter to see the full field of view from other positions. It can also be uncomfortable or even dangerous when used with high-recoil firearms.
Advantages and disadvantages of each type
Long Eye Relief
Advantages:
- Provides comfort and protection from recoil for the shooter’s eye.
- Allows the shooter to see the full field of view while maintaining a comfortable distance from the eyepiece.
- Suitable for shooting from awkward positions or using high-recoil firearms.
Disadvantages:
- A little harder to maintain a consistent sight picture, especially at high magnification.
- May not be suitable for target shooting or other applications where a consistent cheek weld is required.
Standard Eye Relief
Advantages:
- Suitable for most shooting situations and firearms.
- Provides a balance between comfort and consistency for the shooter.
Disadvantages:
- May not provide enough protection from recoil for high-recoil firearms.
- May not allow the shooter to see the full field of view from awkward positions.
Short Eye Relief
Advantages:
- Suitable for target shooting or close-range hunting where the shooter can maintain a consistent position.
- Allows for a more consistent cheek weld for improved accuracy.
Disadvantages:
- Uncomfortable or even dangerous when used with high-recoil firearms.
- This may make it difficult for the shooter to see the full field of view from other positions.
How to Choose the Right Eye Relief for Your Shooting Style
When choosing the right eye relief for your shooting style, the following factors should be considered:
Consideration of shooting position
The shooting position you will be using the most should be taken into consideration when choosing the right eye relief. Longer eye relief is typically better for shooting from awkward positions. It allows the shooter to maintain a comfortable distance from the scope while still seeing the full field of view.
Consideration of caliber and recoil
The caliber and recoil of the firearm you will be using should also be taken into consideration. High-recoil firearms benefit from longer eye relief. It helps protect the shooter’s eye from injury in the event of heavy recoil.
Consideration of personal comfort and preference
Finally, personal comfort and preference should also be taken into account. The shooter should consider the distance they typically hold the firearm from their eye. In addition, they should consider the type of shooting they will be doing and their personal preferences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, eye relief is important in scopes. It’s the distance between the shooter’s eyes and the lens. Eye relief allows users to see the fulfilled of view and stay safe from recoils. Make sure you choose the right eye relief that matches your needs. Consider the shooting position, caliber, and recoil of your rifle and your personal preferences.
Generally, longer eye relief is better for most shooters. But everything comes down to your situation and specific needs. Go ahead and try different eye reliefs as you narrow down to one that best fits your needs. You might have to try multiple scopes and different shooting positions.
Overall, eye relief is important when buying any scope. Eye relief can affect a shooter’s comfort and ability to see the field of view properly. Take into consideration the factors above and choose a scope that best suits your purpose.
Travis Mike is a firearm enthusiast and author passionate about all things guns. With 10 years of experience in the industry, Travis Mike has gained a wealth of knowledge on the subject. He is skilled in gunsmithing and tactical training. In addition to professional experience, Travis Mike is an avid hunter and shooter, regularly participating in local shooting ranges and hunting trips.