Question about T-36 scopes

[XTR]

I see a pretty constant string of Weaver T-36 scopes in the for sale section and it begs the question, why?

I'm slowly building a 40X trainer to duplicate my F-TR rig and one of the things I'm looking for is a scope and I've been considering the T-36 but the steady supply of them has got me wondering why? Do they not focus down to rimfire ranges? Is the magnification too high to see personal wind flags? Or is it that people are buying them for other than pure target shooting and finding that 36x is just too much for most other uses (None of my deer hunting rifles all have variables that go over 14x)

Thoughts?

 

[Tim Singleton]

I have 3 of them. Im happy with them for my use.
Mine will focus down to 50 yards although the field of view is tiny at that distance
If you were shooting less than 100 yards seeing the flags could be a problem. Not at 100 for me
It is intended for target shooting. I know a couple guys who thought they wanted that much power on their varmint rig but quickly realized for any kind of hunting the field of view is to small
Some target shooters start out with them then up grade to a 40x or 45x
I just bought a 45x for use at 200 yards and may sell one of my T36's

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I see a pretty constant string of Weaver T-36 scopes in the for sale section and it begs the question, why?

I'm slowly building a 40X trainer to duplicate my F-TR rig and one of the things I'm looking for is a scope and I've been considering the T-36 but the steady supply of them has got me wondering why? Do they not focus down to rimfire ranges? Is the magnification too high to see personal wind flags? Or is it that people are buying them for other than pure target shooting and finding that 36x is just too much for most other uses (None of my deer hunting rifles all have variables that go over 14x)

Thoughts?

I have two of them. One is on my old .308 F-TR rifle and my other one is now back in its box with nothing to do.

They are excellent scopes for the money and for their intended purpose. In fact, it is a great starter scope. I decided to spend the money on an NF when I built my current F-TR rifle and left the T-36 on my backup rifle.

The second scope was on my original F-TR rifle that I used at Mid-range, but I have now replaced it with a lower power scope to play in other games.

 

[watercam]

I had a T24 and know a variety of fellow competitors who use them. Used it for 50 - 200 yard small bore as well as for load development on one of my Palma rifles. It finally started throwing shots so it is retired for the moment. It is a Japanese made version which apparently everyone will work on.
I would not be afraid of them. I would make sure that is the power you want to be stuck with for all the shooting you will be doing with it. They range in power of 10-12-16-24 as well as 36.

 

[Dave T]

XTR,
Your reason for this thread was why is there so many Weaver T36 scopes for sale. My opinion is that the T36 is a good buy and a good scope for the money, but I think, like almost everything in this sport, most folks want to go bigger and better and they sell their scopes and buy a higher dollar scope. I have done the same thing.
Dave T

 

[XTR]

I already own 2 NF scoped and may end up with a 3rd, but don't really see the need for 50 to 200 yard small bore shooting. I think that eventually the T-36 may be the answer for my 40X

 

[Kings X]

Adjustment is 9 minutes per rev. Hard for an old man to add if going up more than a rev. Also only knobs (per Weaver) are the zero to 4.5 back down to zero.
Traded mine for an older Leupold 36X.

 

[Old Navy]

Too much scope for long range when the mirage is bad. Later! Frank

 

[Hosted]

There have been a lot of brand new T36's in the for sale section lately and there was a sale at one of the big retailers and guys were buying them there and selling them here trying to make a quick buck.

 

[Buzz]

I mounted mine, looked through it on a nice August afternoon in Phoenix, and quickly realized I needed a variable to deal with mirage. No problems with the glass, but when you're shooting over desert landscape in 110° heat, 36x doesn't always fair too well.

 

[JRS]

They are much more suitable to point blank shooting, and used by many in the 100-200 yard game. When you scan the classifieds, for every T-36 listed for sale, you'll find 6 Nightforce for sale ???

 

[tenring]

36 power is too much for any kind of hunting - they are competition scopes. I have had two Weaver 36's, and never had any problem with either of them. Cannot say the same for several Leupolds and NF that were returned for service. The only negative is that you cannot adjust the power down for mirage, and I think that is why many are for sale.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Too much scope for long range when the mirage is bad. Later! Frank

I would never have turned down my T-36 even if I could. The NSX on my F-TR rifle is always at 42X.

 

[Gergg]

I just received my first T-36 and have found the optics to be pretty good, better than I expected actually. I will be using it for 2-300 yard BR so it should be fine for that. I have Zeiss, Steiner and Leupold optics as well and while the Zeiss is better, I don't think the other two are much different than the Weaver.

 

[afrench]

here is what i'm seeing in my part of the world regarding this scope in the short range BR game.

in the last few years, the weaver fixed T36 has come with exceptional glass... for the money.

new the weaver is roughly $400. some of the other scope cost 4x+ times that.

what some of the BR guys are doing here is ordering a T36 scope or two and test them to see which of the crop has the best clarity at 200 yards. seeing bullet holes and lines at 200 when the mirage is running is a big advantage over the scopes that aren't that clear.

then, they sell the ones that don't have the best clarity.

 

[lawman29]

I have a 40x standard barrel (loves Ely Match) and 40xb heavy barrel (loves Midas). Both are in Bell & Carlson A-2 stocks with Jewell triggers. Both 20moa pic rails with Sightron scopes. This last summer several of us from Wyoming Armory here in Cody put together a .22 match that includes shooting at 50 yards, 100 yards & 200 yards. With a 50 yard zero, I'm at 6/6.25'at 100 and ~ 23' at 200. What this brings into the equation for a scope is how many minutes per revolution. The SIII line is 15' per revolution and the SII Big Sky line has some models that are 20' (others only 10'). The point being that going past go once is okay, you can keep track, but any more than that and it's easy to get lost in the heat of battle. Sightron has a good web site were you can look at specs of various models. Best place to buy them is Big Shop Supply.

 

[fdshuster]

tenring: I'm a believer that any scope, regardless of cost, can fail, at any time.

One of my Weaver T-36's developed a broken reticle. The vertical, from the center dot to the 12:00 position suddenly had a "bend" in it, curving over to about the 2:00 position. I was the original owner, returned it to Weaver & it was repaired.

Another has recently failed to hold vertical adjustments. I suspect there is a problem with the erector tube, I bought it used, so no warranty. It sits in the box, unusable. My cost to repair may be greater than the value of the scope.

For the money, and for short range, they are a very good scope. JMO and experience.

 

[WindSurgeon]

I have one and it functions very well. Tracks great/consistently and the optics are good. It provides a good sight picture at 600 which is the furthest I have used it. It was originally used for 300 meter distance and worked fine at that distance as well.

Negatives: Small sight picture at ranges shorter than 300, dealing with mirage, 1" tube limits elevation

I purchased it on this site for $325 with zero regrets. Hard to beat for value but I have began looking for a variable scope with higher magnification and more elevation as I progress to longer distances and dealing with mirage. I will resell it on this site when I find a new scope and someone will be a very happy person for buying it.

 

[Shynloco]

.... Hard to beat for value.

IMHO. that's the bottom line on the WeaverT36. I have four of them and shoot strictly 100 yds Benchrest style (non competition). I have one on an Anschutz Rimfire which I use to shoot 50 yds and have won some local comps with it. You'll also see many T36's atop Rimfire competition shoots. I also have a Leupold 35X Competition that is remarkably better, but costed almost 3 times what a T36 used to go for. It's NOT a scope that will win you many long distances shoots, but the scopes those serious folks use cost in the $2000 neighborhood. Do the math and it isn't hard to figure out that a T36 works for non serious competition or target shooting (shorter distance stuff), but isn't an ideal scope for hunting. A T36 is simply a lesser expensive alternative to get the job done. Just my thoughts.

Alex

 

[Varminator]

I had one that started throwing shots and I was ready to throw it away so that it didn't get into someone else's hands and they had the same problem. A friend of mine had another one that he didn't trust so he sent both back to Weaver and they said the grease in mine was all gummed up and they cleaned it and did something else I forgot what it was but I now have it on a 6.5 x 47 and whenever I get a stray shot I wonder if it is acting up or not. I have two of them and if I could get a do over I would get another NF in exchange for both. The customer service was real good at Weaver and they were easy to deal with according to my friend.