New a Weaver T36, Please Help!

[Olympus]

I just bought a new Weaver T36 for my Kimber 82G. I have it mounted and just finished sighting it in. I have a serious problem though...



The reticle disappears in the scope once I put the gun on the target. I have read the instruction manual in regards to reticle focus. I can take the gun and hold it up to the sky and I've adjusted the rear of the scope so that the reticle and target dot are crisp and clear when looking at a completely clear sky. Which is what the instruction book tells you to do. However, once I look through the scope at my target, the target becomes crystal clear and the reticle and dot begin to fade and they will eventually disappear completely. I simply can't understand this. It's not like I'm new to optics and scopes. I've mounted and sighted in TONS of rifles and scopes before, but I've never had this problem. What gives? Is there a problem with the scope? Is there a problem with me?



I also tried adjusting the reticle focus while looking at the target through the scope trying to find a "sweet spot" where I could see the target and where the reticle would come back into focus. I went the full range of adjustment on the reticle focus and never saw any improvement. I found myself guessing where I thought the dot reticle was instead of actually seeing it and knowing for certain. I'm at a complete loss and really hoping I didn't just waste a bunch of money on a new scope.

 

[hoghunting]

Are you looking through the scope as you're adjusting the focus? If so, that's part of the problem. Try turning the rear housing about 1/2 turn, then look through the scope, if the reticle is not clear turn the rear housing another 1/2 turn and look through again. Keep trying as you should eventually find a clear and focused reticle.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Look up at the sky and move you eye away often when focusing reticle.

 

[rcmodel]

1. First. Set the front parallax adjustment to the infinity ∞ symbol.
If you set it with the AO on any other range, the focus will never be right when set at any other range.

2. Then do the 'look at the sky' thing again.

3. But Do Not stare through the scope when making changes to the rear lens focus adjustments.

4. If you keep your eye in the scope while adjusting focus?
Your eye will try to adjust to the out of focus scope faster then you can screw the lens in or out.

Once you get that set with the front AO bell set on infinity, it should be clear when you crank it back to the distance you are shooting.

Then keep in mind the 36x scope has a very small 1.1mm exit pupil, or image.

That is 10 times smaller then you might find on a 4x hunting scope.
What that means is, your eye has to be exactly centered behind the scope to see the reticle through it.

rc

 

[Olympus]

Ok. I adjusted the AO to infinity and then adjusted the focus looking away and then back through the scope frequently. Against the clear sky, the reticle and dot are sharp and clear. I can look through the scope on clear sky for a long time and they never blur. They always stay sharp and clear.

But when I sit down and put the dot on target paper, the reticle and dot only stay in focus for a few seconds then they blur and completely disappear. It's like me eye is focusing on the lines of the target paper instead of the reticle and dot. If I pull away from the target paper and look back at the sky, the reticle and dot are sharp and clear again. But in the sky, there's nothing else for me to focus on except the reticle.

Is that making sense?

 

[rcmodel]

Did you change the AO back to the distance you are shooting?

rc

 

[Olympus]

Yes. 50 yards

 

[rcmodel]

Hmmmm?

Do you wear glasses?
Were you wearing them when adjusting the scope?
Were you wearing them when shooting?

rc

 

[Olympus]

Nope. I do not wear glasses and was not wearing anything while sighting in.

 

[rcmodel]

Well then, I am rather quickly running out of ideas!!

Maybe get someone else to try it on a target and see if it does the same thing with them.

If not, something's going on with your eyes.
Maybe you do need glasses?

rc

 

[Olympus]

I'll see if I can get my dad to try it and see. Thanks for your help RC.

 

[Olympus]

I called Weaver and talked to their tech support. The guy said forget about using the sky as the background for reticle focusing. He said try focusing while the gun is set up on the target, using the same quick glance method. I'll be trying that tomorrow.

 

[rcmodel]

Well maybe he is right.

And sure, you can focus it on something at close range.

But it will never be focused right at longer range when you use the AO on a different setting I betcha.

Rc

 

[red rick]

Keep us posted , I am looking at getting the same scope .

 

[Olympus]

I tinkered with it today and got it much better. I think some of it has to do with my eye fatigue. After looking through the scope for long periods of time, the reticle starts to get weak again.