Bausch & Lomb 36x

[6MMsteve]

I have a 36x B&L and I'm having issues with clarity, is this something that has always been a problem?

only during clear sunshine days does it focus well, I had a Weaver 36xr that was great no matter what the light wish I had it back, the scope gets fuzzy then goes in and out of focus, I have a barrel shade to stop heat but I cannot figure it out, maybe I'm not doing something right IDONO lol

 

[LHSmith]

They were somewhat popular in the Northeast for SR BR score when they first came out ~ the '90's. I put one on (consignment through a local shop-supposedly unused) my first 6 PPC comp rifle and saw basically the same problem you described and returned it right away-settled on a used Leupold 36x-a world of difference. May be the reason they stopped making them.

 

[6MMsteve]

ok thanks I kinda figured that oh well, maybe it's just the lot you get but I always wanted one and now I have to keep it, not gonna pitch it to somebody else and give them the blues also

 

[LHSmith]

ok thanks I kinda figured that oh well, maybe it's just the lot you get but I always wanted one and now I have to keep it, not gonna pitch it to somebody else and give them the blues also

I just checked recent match reports. A fellow competitor has used one for years and does quite well with it - a few 1st and 2nds in a field of ~ 20 shooters, so I agree about luck of the draw.

 

[Toolbreaker]

You might try giving Bill Ackerman a call. He works on B&L's.

http://targetshooteroptics.com/Home_Page.php

 

[6MMsteve]

You might try giving Bill Ackerman a call. He works on B&L's.

http://targetshooteroptics.com/Home_Page.php

I called Cheryl and left a message maybe the internals are loose moving around, thanks hope they have the cure be money well spent

 

[BoydAllen]

I have two of their 36X scopes, a 4000 and a 4200. Both have excellent optics. Some time back something came loose in in one that left a black piece of something in the field of view. I sent it to Wally Seibert and he fixed it for a reasonable fee. There have been no problems since then. I have compared their image quality to a couple of Leupold 36X scopes and IMO they are superior. It sounds to me like yours may need to be repaired. They were imported by Bushnell. Perhaps you can get warranty service. They used to have a repair facility. You might want to check with them. At the time that I had mine done, I didn't think of that option.

 

[JRS]

Bushnell will not perform warranty work on the B&L. They are considered obsolete.

 

[6MMsteve]

I'm getting more and more depressed about this ordeal, this scope is in almost mint condition why me lol

 

[6MMsteve]

does anybody know why someone would move the front Objective lens retainer rings in one of these scopes. I got to looking and the retainer rings have dings and small scratches on the slots that adjust and hold the lens & buffer against the spring, this could be the issue, also the retainer rings do not go up all the way against the front ring, if you know what I'm saying or does it make any sense

 

[JimPag]

I'm with Boyd on this one. I bought 2 4200's on March 22nd of this year from a guy in Iowa. Both have been Tuckerized and Ackerman boosted one of them to 55X, the other has a screw on optical booster. In fact the previous owner Dave Dowd set a 200 yard small group record with this scope which still stands to this day. Both scopes are superb as far as clarity goes. I bought and sold 2 Leup 36's and the B&L's were head and shoulders clearer than the 2 Leups. I would get ahold of Ackerman like toolbreaker suggested.

 

[6MMsteve]

I'm with Boyd on this one. I bought 2 4200's on March 22nd of this year from a guy in Iowa. Both have been Tuckerized and Ackerman boosted one of them to 55X, the other has a screw on optical booster. In fact the previous owner Dave Dowd set a 200 yard small group record with this scope which still stands to this day. Both scopes are superb as far as clarity goes. I bought and sold 2 Leup 36's and the B&L's were head and shoulders clearer than the 2 Leups. I would get ahold of Ackerman like toolbreaker suggested.

thanks Jim that's my plan

 

[6MMsteve]

thanks Jim that's my plan

On the way to Ackerman's place I hope they can fix it, Cheryl said more than likely it has some loose internals

 

[Dave T]

On the way to Ackerman's place I hope they can fix it, Cheryl said more than likely it has some loose internals

 

[Dave T]

I too agree with Boyd, we used the 36 X B&L’s and the 36x Leupolds back in the 90’s for short range group shooting and the B&L’s as far as clarity goes were far better. I sent a 24X B&L back to repair a reticle and they kept it and sent me a brand new 8X32 varmint scope which I didn’t like and sold it so don’t send it back.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I have a 36x B&L and I'm having issues with clarity, is this something that has always been a problem?

only during clear sunshine days does it focus well, I had a Weaver 36xr that was great no matter what the light wish I had it back, the scope gets fuzzy then goes in and out of focus, I have a barrel shade to stop heat but I cannot figure it out, maybe I'm not doing something right IDONO lol

I have owned 4 off the B&L 36x, still have one I keep as a backup scope. Mine were always clear and more importantly, even though the clicks aren't overly firm they have always been repeatable. I have won quite a few BR and groundhog matches using them. Unless conditions were really poor I could always see 6mm holes at 500yds. Be sure you are focusing the rear eyepiece properly.

 

[6MMsteve]

I have owned 4 off the B&L 36x, still have one I keep as a backup scope. Mine were always clear and more importantly, even though the clicks aren't overly firm they have always been repeatable. I have won quite a few BR and groundhog matches using them. Unless conditions were really poor I could always see 6mm holes at 500yds. Be sure you are focusing the rear eyepiece properly.

I sent the scope to Ackerman Optics to let them give it a checkup but the front retainer rings have been moved, I know because I done the same thing on a scope, but it was actually my glasses that was the issue, I hope they find the retainer rings are the issue and all is good, thanks for the heads up on the eye pc I did work on CR focus but I just gave up when I seen the retainer rings moved

 

[6MMsteve]

I got my scope back about a week ago, Cheryl said she adjusted the focus and other than that she said she could not find anything wrong with the scope. I mounted it on the 220 swift and everything seems good, before the crosshairs would float around and almost have like a double image but it's great now whatever she done is fine by me it works great, clear and solid I'm happy as a pig in a corn pile.

 

[JimPag]

I got my scope back about a week ago, Cheryl said she adjusted the focus and other than that she said she could not find anything wrong with the scope. I mounted it on the 220 swift and everything seems good, before the crosshairs would float around and almost have like a double image but it's great now whatever she done is fine by me it works great, clear and solid I'm happy as a pig in a corn pile.

Well glad it worked out for you Steve.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Theyre great scopes- i still have 2 from my early br days and still use them for load development on rifles that will end up with a lower power scope in the end. Rock solid even on magnums and clearer than any weaver. These are 4200 series pre bushnell meddling