Leupold BR-36X Owner/Operators

[STORM2]

My 36X is operating fine but since I bought it used I have a question about the retical. It is extremely fine and very faint. It seems it might be faded. Do/can recitals fade? On overcast days it’s tough but useable. On bright days, it is a true challenge. The scope has a Gold Ring Ticket to Ride, should it head back to the barn for maintenance? Thanks

 

[gme]

I have an old BR36, had a Premier target dot reticle change back when they were affiliated with Leupold, long before they became a scope maker, it's a great little scope

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Sounds like you just don't have the rear eyepiece set correctly. Plenty of instructions on this site, just remember to not stare at the reticle when adjusting. If you stare, your brain will take over and tell you it is correct. The trick is to looks at a light colored blank wall or the sky. Quick glances after each adjustment til it is instantly in sharp focus. Also as you get older you eye changes sometimes from day to day, so don't think its a once and done thing.

Frank

 

[liljoe]

And your statement of sending it back to the barn for maintenance. They are no longer fixing these old model scopes and will sell you a newer version at a discounted price.
I also agree about not having the rear eye piece adjusted for your eyes.
Joe

 

[jobhopper66]

Things may have changed in the last few months but last October Leupold repaierd a broken reticle in a BR36 for me. It was a straight up repair not anything custom. Total turnaround time was just under a month.

 

[STORM2]

Yep, I know about the upgrade instead of repairs on vintage Gold Rings. Participated in that Leupold purchase for discontinued models. On the focus suggestions: I did re-focus IAW suggested/published procedures. The retical was improved. Some of the issue was the type of printed/grid target I was using. The grids and retical lines matched size and color. I went to non printed butcher paper and that helps a lot. Pre sunrise and then sun behind also helped. Thanks to all who sent suggestion. My personal thoughts are avoid facing the sun. During this extreme heat we only shoot between sunrise and about 9.
The heat will subside and there will be overcast….eventually. Those will be a new test for the glass. I have other new glass still in the box but I’m determined to give this scope a fair chance. The guys I run with say sell it….I’m just stubborn.

 

[STORM2]

Jobhopper66: They turned a 9 power for me this month in a week.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

If they have the parts they will fix it. If not you will get something else you wont like. As of now im 99.9% sure they dont have any more parts. Im with the others thinking your rear lens is out of focus

 

[243Lapua]

Don't spend to much time looking thru your scope. At 36X your eye sight plays with you. Adjust your eye piece and maybe a eye exam in the future. That was my solution.

 

[jobhopper66]

Don't spend to much time looking thru your scope. At 36X your eye sight plays with you. Adjust your eye piece and maybe a eye exam in the future. That was my solution.

Victor's advice is probably right on the money. I know I am beginning to have focus issues and I'm pretty sure it's not the scopes that are the problem.

 

[6MMsteve]

loppies don't fit my eye for that reason, you will prolly have to take the dioptor way back to get the lines to thicken, I take most of my scopes all the way back every loppie I have looked through is the same with fch, I like them but the xhair does not fit my eye, but you may try the optics hot rod shop and get a thicker hair put in. Cheryl at Optical Services the scope hot rod shop, you need single vision glasses progressive and bi's make a mess but you can have glasses built custom for shooting

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

You might also put on an extension/sunshade to keep the sun from hitting the front lens

Frank

 

[slm9s]

I sent in 3 36's a month ago. They fixed 2 and couldnt fix the third so they gave me a great deal on a tactical scope as they said they wouldn't be making any fixed 40/45s for quite a while (though i could have opted to wait).
I'd send it in to be sure the scope is working correctly.

 

[STORM2]

The shade is on the scope. The 36 is no longer on the 243. It will go to the 22 for continued experimentatio/learning curve. Less expensive text bed.

 

[Old Navy]

My eyes are old and have some floaters that I hope to have lasered next month. I had to sell a Sightron a few years ago because the cross hairs were to thin. I have experimented with different color target paper. Two different shades of yellow work for me. White was the worst.

 

[NC/Br Shooter]

I just got a lengthy email back from leapold.
Basically told me I couldnt even buy a new scope with different reticle installed. I knew they wouldnt change one now. But last I had talked to them . They told me If I would order one new it may could be done. Not now.

 

[jackieschmidt]

To answer your question about the reticle fading, the answer is no. They are made from a very fine wire that is about .0002 in diameter.

I have had dozens of them apart, and when you remove the reticle, it is just about invisible to the naked eye And EXTREMELY fragile.

I started putting a glass reticle from Klarman Rulings in the Ones I have. It is a .0003 etched crosshair. The biggest problem is getting the small dust particles off of the glass. They look like boulders when you put it back together.

it’s some pretty delicate work. I chucked the brass reticle cage up and counterbored it with about .010 clearance over the round glass reticle, which is about .040 thick. I then epoxied the glass reticle into that counterbore.

The old BR36 series is a darned good design for a light recoil rifle.

 

[STORM2]

Thanks for the input. It is going to younger eyes.