Side focus or AO?

[Kestryll]

Looking at scopes I see some that are very similar but one has a side focusing know and another has an adjustable objective for focusing.

Is one better than the other or is it just preference?

[Stoopy]

Personal preference for the most part, unless you're shooting matches then it's easier to adjust the side focus knob without coming up off the scope and is faster.

[OpticsPlanet]

I have both, and future purchases will be side focus. Too much movement of your body with the adjustable objective. For me, it's irritating when target shooting, and counterproductive to be moving around when hunting. My future purchases will be side focus.

Mark H.

[FLIGHT762]

Another fan of side focus.

[Paper Boy]

I like side focus. Have had both hated the adjustable objective.

[FMJBT]

Another fan boy of side focus/parallax scopes. Actually, a fan of flip up scope covers like Butler Creek. Flip up scope covers and adjustable objectives do not typically play well together. All my current scopes are either fixed focus or side focus.

[sk8804]

side focus is great cause the objective bell of the scope will not be as huge as with the AO and therefore you can get it even closer to the barrel. and it makes it easier to run scope caps.

[surfNshoot]

A few reasons that I choose a side focus (although I do have AO on a couple rifles).

1. Some AO scopes can be very stiff to turn. Creates more movement of the rifle while adjusting.

2. if you use the Parallax for a rough range estimate, you have to come off the cheek welt to see the range it is focused at (this is a very rough estimate but can be useful sometimes).

3. If you put a flip cap on some AO's it can be annoying having the cap move with it and could cause obstruction problems.

With all that said. if none of that matters the AO works just as well for its intended purpose.

[Nessal]

I heard AO can be dialed in better. I have side focus.

[Coyotegunner]

I have a lot of scopes on stuff.Many front adjustable.I wish they would have came out with side focus a long time ago.It is a deal killer for me,if it is in the front.