Simmons Replacement Reticle

[gunboat57]

I have a Simmons Deerfield 3-9 scope model 21019 that needs a new reticle. I know it needs a new reticle because I accidentally destroyed the old one when I had it apart to tighten the reticle retaining nut.

Anyway, has anyone ever ordered a replacement reticle from Simmons? Of course, this thing is way out of any warranty. The scope was given to me free so no great investment on my part.

 

[rcmodel]

No scope company will sell you a reticule, or any other internal parts for a scope.

You destroyed the scope trying to take it apart.

That is why they don't sell internal parts.

Scope assembly is done inside 'clean rooms', then lens collimated for alignment, and the scope tube purged of air and filled with inert gas to prevent internal fogging.

Once you break a seal, or take one apart, you have for all practical purposes, destroyed the scope!

Bottom line.
You need the buy a new scope if it is too old for factory warranty.

rc

 

[gamestalker]

Didn't we cover this recently in another thread RC?

What is up with everyone taking their rifle scopes apart lately anyway?

GS

 

[gunboat57]

Well, since I have $0 invested in this scope, I will try to find or make a reticle for it. I was able to take it apart and reassemble it. I have a plan for filling it with dry air. I don't think it will be good as new but it isn't destroyed, yet.

My reason for tinkering with the original broken reticle was that the cost to send it in for repair would've exceeded the cost of a new scope of similar quality. And, being a mechanical engineer, I must tinker!

 

[Jim Watson]

I have read of making scope reticles out of fine wire (One high end make used to use platinum.) or various fibres.
The Lee Tackhole Dot was and still is strung on spider web.

Being an engineer, you should be able to find an old copy of the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, which has instructions for replacing instrument reticles with spider web. You will likely have to use glue instead of wax to sustain the recoil, but that seems possible.
Note that they used egg case silk - fumigated so you don't have spiders hatching out in your lab - and not gummy capture web.

 

[gunboat57]

The reticle in this scope was a very thin piece of sheet metal stamped out with legs left crossing in the middle. Not very refined. Very fragile. There's really nothing left to attach wire to.
So for giggles I stuck a piece of clear packing tape to the reticle retainer nut, trimmed off the excess, and put a dot in the middle. I made the dot too big: it probably covers 1 MOA, but if it were smaller, or better yet a tiny circle, it would be a workable alternative to crosshairs. Must remember to wipe off thumbprints next time though.
I'm just messing around until I see if Simmons might send me a new reticle if I ask nicely. Worth a try.

 

[AKElroy]

Even if they did, wouldn't the cost, even if it is pretty small, question whether this makes sense given the value of the scope? I just found several on line for less than $30.

 

[gunboat57]

You're right about that. If it costs more than a few bucks including postage then it's not worth it. I'll just perfect my home-made "dot reticle" or "circle reticle" and let it go at that.

 

[gunboat57]

While I wait for a reply from Bushnell/Simmons concerning a replacement reticle, I spent $.59 on a piece of clear acrylic sheet, .100" thick. I cut a piece to fit where the reticle used to be, and used a needle to poke a tiny depression in one side dead center. Now I've got an aiming point that's clearly visible and covers about .75MOA at 100 yds and 9X. Someday I'll try this scope on a 22 magnum for varmints. Just put the dot where you want to hit.

 

[Jim Watson]

Hey, that'll work. The dot reticle has a long and honorable career.

 

[gunboat57]

Just to confirm what rcmodel said, Bushnell/Simmons won't sell any internal parts for their optics.

Oh well, I took apart my scope knowing it was no longer under warranty anyway. So now I'll perfect my dot reticle and fill the scope with dry air using my deep freezer/ziploc bag technique.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Glad it worked for you....I bought got a couple of those scopes new in the early 90's for about 30 bucks at Walmart. They were by far the biggest pieces of junk I ever bought. The crosshairs fell out of one. The other simply failed to hold zero.

 

[gunboat57]

My final iteration in this pointless endeavor was to take a #57 drill bit and drill through the center of my acrylic reticle. That .043" hole shows up as a ring about the size of a groundhog's head at 75 yards. Like a peep sight, I tend to automatically center the desired POA in the circle.

A smaller hole might be better but a #57 was the smallest available at my local hardware store.

This pic is the scope pointed at a tree trunk 50 yds away. The white mark is about 1.5" wide.

 

[Jim Watson]

Next one you make, just barely break through with the tip of the drill so its point leaves a bevel on the hole. It will show up as a broader, blacker ring.
Some target shooters use globe front sight inserts made that way to give a similar sight picture, a black ring floating in space.

 

[gunboat57]

Ya know, I could touch that hole with a 90° chamfering bit and get the same effect. My problem is I'm already having trouble seeing what I'm doing with holes this small. I need magnifying glasses on my bifocals.