explain parallax

[hofts]

my question is this....if you have say a zeiss conquest 3x9x40.
it is parallax free to 100 yards, with no adjustment. how does this affect your 300 yard shot on an antelope? please advise. thanks. have a good one.

[Jack]

Practically? Won't effect a shot on an antelope at all.
A parallax error at 300 yards won't be more than an inch or two. It's the least of your worries, in field shooting.
On targets from a bench, or varmints from a soid rest, where a 1 inch error in point of impact might be critical, parallax error could be a factor.
That's why scopes likely to be used for target or varmint have parallax correction, and typical big game scopes don't.
Worry about finding the exact range, getting a good position to shoot from, wind drift, trajectory, global warming, rattlesnakes, and Al Qeida terrorists before you worry about parallax while game hunting.

[Catfish]

Jack is right, but if you really want to see how much it can effect your point of impact put your rifle in a vice and zero it on a target at the range you want to check. Once your rifle is zeroed and locked in place move up and look through your scope. By moveing your eye left and right you will see the point of aim change on the target, this is due the the parlex of your scope. You will also nothice that if you hold you eye in the same posision thatyou point of aim will not change, so if you mount your gun exactly the same every time you will have alot less problem with parllex.

[K85]

Edited due to inappropriate content.