Scope repair

BSA.308

BSA.308

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Dear fellow shooters,

After 42 + years, my Bushnell Banner 2.5 fixed power post reticle scope decided to go ka-put. It still holds it's point of aim, and adjusts fine, but the inside of it has got moisture in it, and you can't see a dang thing. Obviously, the seals have gone. It still looks like the day it came out of the box. After calling Bushnell, I am disapppointed to hear that they are not interested in fixing this once great scope, and being as old as it is, the best they will do is to give me a discount - a very low discount, on a new scope - sounds like they are interested more in retail than standing behind their product.
Does anyone know of someone that can repair this problem with my scope? I simply love this scope, and having it passed on from my dad, it's worth having it fixed to me if it can be done.

BSA.308
Nova Scotia
 
I opened up a couple of Bushnell scopes, on the basis of there being nothing much to lose.

One was a 4x that had blown one wire of the duplex reticle (it was the upper wire, broken at the center, so I snipped it off), the other was a 3x9x40 that the whole reticle turned when the power adjust was turned.

If you are not willing to accept the lowball discount, and are willing to pay to have it fixed, that's one route. What's it worth to you, in the end?

Me, I'd be looking at it really closely to determine a way in. If the moisture has not caused too much in the way of deposits on the lenses, simply placing it in a warm location (on the radiator, in the oven on low heat) or pounding some heat to it with a hairdryer, will dry it out once it's opened up. Seal the opening with a bit of white lithium grease or pure silicone grease (you want something that does not evaporate off) on the threads when closing it up, and you are ready to go again.

Another idea, would be to seal the scope, and some desiccant packs, into a tupperware style airtight container, and place it somewhere that the temperature cycles up and down regularly, like on a heat vent, or similar.
If there is a way to open up the scope, like a purge screw, so much the better. The changing temperatures will cause the scope to "breathe" and the desiccant will absorb the moisture. Wont do anything to fix the root cause of moisture getting in, but will somewhat fix the end result. May take a week or two, but it's a cheap solution of sorts.

If you decide to have a go at this yourself, a bearings and seals place should be able to get you some new Orings, if that is what's gone. Knowing the diameter you need, in mm, to within a half mm would be handy, or take the tube with you when you go to order the seals.

Cheers
Trev
 
Last edited:
BSA.308, don't despair, you can "fix" it yourself.......

1) loosen the lock ring and remove the ocular lens housing by simply unscrewing it

2) clean both the male threads on the scope tube and female threads inside the ocular housing

3) carefully clean the inside of the lens assembly with a lens cloth after cleaning the threads

4) remove the turret caps as well, and put the scope and the ocular assembly in a very dry place, (I use the furnace room), cover with a light cloth and let everything dry for a few days

5) lubricate the threads on the scope tube and ocular housing with a heavy grease, and reassemble the scope

6) adjust the focus to get the reticule sharp again, tighten the lock ring, and you're ready to go

I have done this several times and it has worked just fine. Have never had to do it a second time to the same scope, and some of them have been used at -30 degrees!

The key is to make sure that the air that is inside the scope is as dry as possible. You might want to also remove the turret caps from the adjustment turrets. Sometimes water gets trapped under the caps.

Give it a try and let us know how you make out. :cool:

Ted
 
BSA.308 said:
Dear fellow shooters,

After 42 + years, my Bushnell Banner 2.5 fixed power post reticle scope decided to go ka-put. It still holds it's point of aim, and adjusts fine, but the inside of it has got moisture in it, and you can't see a dang thing. Obviously, the seals have gone. It still looks like the day it came out of the box. After calling Bushnell, I am disapppointed to hear that they are not interested in fixing this once great scope, and being as old as it is, the best they will do is to give me a discount - a very low discount, on a new scope - sounds like they are interested more in retail than standing behind their product.
Does anyone know of someone that can repair this problem with my scope? I simply love this scope, and having it passed on from my dad, it's worth having it fixed to me if it can be done.

BSA.308
Nova Scotia
Click to expand...

Trace Scope Repair
PO Box 33009, 8-20 Panatella BLVD
NW Calgary ,Alberta
T3KOA1
(403) 295-1534
mail Phil@TraceScopeRepair.ca
 
BSA.308 said:
Dear fellow shooters,

After 42 + years, my Bushnell Banner 2.5 fixed power post reticle scope decided to go ka-put. It still holds it's point of aim, and adjusts fine, but the inside of it has got moisture in it, and you can't see a dang thing. Obviously, the seals have gone. It still looks like the day it came out of the box. After calling Bushnell, I am disapppointed to hear that they are not interested in fixing this once great scope, and being as old as it is, the best they will do is to give me a discount - a very low discount, on a new scope - sounds like they are interested more in retail than standing behind their product.
Does anyone know of someone that can repair this problem with my scope? I simply love this scope, and having it passed on from my dad, it's worth having it fixed to me if it can be done.

BSA.308
Nova Scotia
Click to expand...


Whatever you do,don't send your good older Bushnell's to the Bushnell repair center in Ontario or wherever they are. They will take your older B&L scope and replace it with a piece of s**t from china.
 
303carbine said:
Whatever you do,don't send your good older Bushnell's to the Bushnell repair center in Ontario or wherever they are. They will take your older B&L scope and replace it with a piece of s**t from china.
Click to expand...

He stated his scope was a Bushnell Banner which is not a B&L. Many older Bushnell scopes were made in China. The current crop of Bushnell scopes are manufactured in Japan, The Philippines, Korea, and China. To suggest that the current Bushnell scopes are crap and the older ones are better is too simplistic and without any real basis in fact. I have seen older Bushnell scopes that are marginal at best even when new and some new Bushnell products that are incredible value and performance for the money. I think that getting 42 years out of a product is outstanding and if Bushnell was offering any money towards a new one I would jump at it. Phil.
 
Many thanks

Dear fellow gun nutz,

I must thank everyone for their input. Thank you all. I have opted to try the "do it yourself" method. It has been apart (ocular lense, turret caps) for two weeks now in a dry area. I put a silica packet in the box I placed the scope. I put it together, and WOW - crystal clear - I have to take it apart again to grease up the threads (I have chosen some white lithium grease) and then, try it out back in the field.

Long live the wisdom of those that have been there, done that.

BSA.308:sniper:
 
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