Rifle Scopes Fuzzy reticle. Does my scope have spherical aberration issues?

W

WaveNature

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Minuteman
Sep 28, 2013
62
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#1
So I have spent countless hours adjusting the diopter and placing this particular scope at different distances for eye relief. At 6x I can't get a sharp focus on the reticle when my eye is directly behind the ocular lens. I have to look through the top half or the bottom half of the lens, and then the reticle is in crisp focus. Here is a pic to illustrate:


The black circle represents the ocular lens, the red circles are where I have to look through the lens to get a sharp reticle.

I have 20/20 corrected vision (contact lenses) so the problem is not in my eyes. The scope is a 1-6x in the $1,000 price range. I would like to be discreet about make and model for now.

The scope seems to get the job done but the blurry reticle is super annoying. Is this spherical aberration? If not, what would cause this? Any help is appreciated!
 
#6
I appreciate the replies.

I've owned this scope for 11 months. Two eye exams in the past nine months and I've never had this problem with any other rifle scope. My eyes have been ruled out of this equation already.

I've already contacted the manufacturer and I got the typical "send it in for evaluation." I could do just that and have them tell me it's still within spec. Then I would have a rifle without glass for 2-8 weeks, be out the cost of shipping both ways, and still have an annoyingly fuzzy reticle.

Has anyone else seen this in a scope before? I want to understand what is going on and why before I decide what to do about it. I hope I'm not coming across as defensive or argumentative because that is not my intention. I'm just trying to explain my situation and I honestly do appreciate every reply I get. However, I have been burned in the past and it has taught me to make well informed decisions.
 
#8

I've never seen this before. Astigmatism was my first thought also, but you say all other scopes work normally for you. Do other people who look through the scope have the same issue? If so, it sounds like a scope problem, and I would send it in.

There aren't many companies making $1k 1-6x scopes and offhand I can't think of any that make you pay return shipping. Just FYI.

To answer your subject line, the problem is probably not spherical aberration, which is a very basic fuzziness and should not be seen at all in a $1k scope and frankly not very much in even a $150 scope.
 
#9
Dear OP,

Let me recap your troubles:

You joined here a month ago.

You have a 1-6 variable scope you paid around $1000. 11 months ago that you really cannot use.

You posted your troubles here, but failed to mention that you already contacted the maker in your original post. And you left out in your first post that you've been asked to comply with a typical "send it in for an evaluation", that will : Take 2-8 weeks, and that you've been asked to pay the shipping freight both ways, by the maker, and somehow already you "know" that the maker will just tell you your scope is OK and in spec. and you will still have the fuzzy reticle problem. Meaning you have no faith in this maker, or your still not sure if the problem is with you or with the scope.

And after all of this, you still want to keep the scope makers name secret to protect their good name, just in case they do maybe fix it or the problem is on you?? I cannot fathom any other reason to "protect" this vendor, unless there is more to your story your NOT telling us.

You have also NOT told us whether anyone else (other than you) has had the same problem with this scope that you have or even whether you bought this scope new or used.

I going to presume you know how to properly focus your reticle, if not here are some simple instructions below:

Point your properly mounted rifle scope at the sky or a blank wall with the scope at its highest power. The eyepiece is adjustable on almost all rifle scopes. Some have a locking ring to prevent inadvertent movement. Loosen the locking ring and turn the whole eyepiece in or out a couple of full turns at a time until the scope cross hair is clear and sharp for your eye. Tighten the lock ring. On a fast focus (FF) eyepiece simply turn the ring until the reticle is sharp. On a fast focus eyepiece this may be only a fraction of a turn. Loosen the locking ring first, and tighten afterwards if applicable. Not all fast focus (FF) eyepieces have locking rings.

What you don't want to do, is to try and focus your reticle (adjusting /fiddling with your diopter) while also trying to focus on a target, like at the range, because then one of them (either the reticle or your target) will be out of focus....

Well OP, I do hope you do get it all sorted out. But I do wish all posters having scope/rifle/ring and base problems would relate the entire story, and everything they did, the first time, instead of making the entire thread like a game of Clue.

Best of luck...
 
#10
I had this problem with a bushnell 3-12 I could never get the reticule focused properly the eyepiece would be turned all the way in and still fuzzy. Sent it back and the replacement focuses fine with plenty of room to spare.

Have someone else look through it, wife, grandkids whatever. If they see it send it in, if not it could be your eyes combined with the 1-X which I've found difficult to get focused properly at all ranges. If you are old and using corrective lenses in your eyes a scope with parallax adjustment will probably be needed for a good sight picture.
 
#12
Time for me to eat some crow.

I got the diopter adjusted sufficiently yesterday. My optometrist told me that since the prescribed correction was the same for both my eyes, I wouldn't have to worry about "left or right" lenses. Well, as it turns out, the lenses I have are not identical by a small amount. I should've known better. Thanks to all who gave their input.

For DFOOSKING: this scope is one of those NCStar government contract overrun models. I think I got a smokin' deal on it, what do you think?
 
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