What is Eye Relief on a Scope?

Suppose you went hunting and saw something in the distance. It could be the deer you were looking for, but you needed to figure it out. You took your binoculars to confirm. Yes, that’s a deer. You tried to take your rifle silently and adjust your scope.

But still, you couldn’t picture it clearly because you realized a black ring was the obstacle around the FOV (Field of View). So, it got difficult for you to get a clear shot, and the deer was gone. Sounds frustrating enough?

Well, you can avoid these situations by ensuring correct eye relief, which means the distance between your eye and the scope.

Eye Relief of a Rifle Scope [Explained]

The gap between your eyes and the rifle scope is known as eye relief. The trigger on your rifle returns to you when you fire it. There is a good probability that the recoil will hurt you if your eyes are too close to the scope. This is where eye relief is important.

You must maintain a safe distance while striking your target to protect your face and eyes from unpleasant situations. Again, rifles that kick aggressively demand more room to recoil.

So. It’s important to understand eye relief thoroughly. It is essential to adjust your eye-relief range to confirm clear vision and avoid overstraining your eyes.

Learn also: How to Sight a Rifle Scope?

How Can I Measure Eye Relief for a Scope?

Measuring eye relief is pretty easy. It’s even possible to do it with binoculars if you want to practice.

You just need to:

1. Put the scope in your rifle and get your eye in a suitable position
2. Ensure FOV through your scope
3. Use a ruler or a measurement tape to determine the distance between the eye and the lens
4. Keep that measurement in your mind as you have to use that in the future.

Short Eye Relief

Many hunters consider the short eye relief as something below 13mm. But it depends on you. Most shooters do not feel any issues with the short-eye relief except those who wear glasses.

So, with less than 16mm, people with glasses feel difficulties. You should check whether you can get the FOV right with your specs and make the decision. There will be no difference if it’s convenient.

Long Eye Relief

Long eye relief is popular as there is enough room for movement. Around 20-24 mm is considered long eye relief scope. It is convenient for people who wear glasses because they don’t have to place their eyes closer to the eyepiece.

There’s a fact to consider, too. If you place your eye far from the scope, you lose the light transmission quicker. It can have an impact on targeting and picture quality. Yet, it’s the best option for beginners because even if you make the smallest movement, it won’t interrupt your FOV.

Importance of Eye Relief on a Scope

Some shooters go hunting now and then. Many of them end up hurting their eyes, and the reason is wrong eye relief adjusting. So, take a while to adjust your scope correctly to avoid any accidents.

It is needed because when you skip adjusting the scope, you have to get your eye closer to it. When shooting a powerful rifle, if you go too near to the sight, the recoil will force the scope to hit your eye. That is why it is important to fix your eye relief.  You should have the best scope covers along with this as they are important for eye relief on a scope. They protect the lens from external elements that can obstruct the shooter’s view, impacting their ability to see the full field of view through the scope.

How to Set a Proper Eye Relief?

• Step 1- Before setting your scope, check the rings, as they should not be so tight.
• Step 2- Put your rifle in a fixed and stable place. Ensure a suitable shooting position with enough lighting.
• Step 3- Hold the rifle correctly using the hunter’s position and correct your posture.
• Step 4- Put the rifle scope in a position that is not very far but also not really close to you. Check the lens to confirm a clear vision.
• Step 5- After you ensure the FOV, clear picture, and proper distance, fix the position. Rotate the elevation dial on the top if it’s not there.
• Step 6- Now tighten the scope rings to lock. If you can do this properly, you won’t have to take the hassle of adjusting your scope frequently while on the hunt.

You may also like: How to Clean Rifle Scope Lens: 10 Effective Ways

Final Words

Ideal eye relief is the most important part of your first shoot. We mentioned every aspect possible to make it clearer for you to understand. So, get the right eye relief to secure your eyes from recoil when you shoot your target. All the best with your next hunting!

FAQs

What is eye relief on a rifle scope?

Eye relief is the gap between your scope lens and your eye. Improper eye relief will make your picture distorted, with a hazy view or black ring blocking the FOV.

What is eye relief scope?

Eye relief scope is the distance between your eye and your rifle scope that determines better shooting while adjusted.

What is eye relief on a spotting scope?

Eye relief on a spotting scope is the gap of mm between the spotting scope eyepiece by which you can easily access your FOV.