S&B high power reticle focus problem

[GhengisAhn175]

Hey folks,
Trying to help a buddy of mine out and determine if we are doing something wrong or if the scope is actually busted.
He has an S&B 5x45x56 and for some reason, any power zoom after 18x, the reticle just completely goes blurry.

Apologize for the quick iPhone shots, but here is the scope at 5x.

The sun was quickly setting on his but here is a video still of it at around 39 power.

Other than the sun setting, that blurriness is not an out of focus camera. Below is a picture at it around 17~ power.

I discovered this on the range yesterday while we were out shooting and here were the trouble shooting steps I took:

-Adjusted diopter at full range
-adjusted parallax at full range

It wasn't until I brought it back below 18x power where the reticle was clear and crisp. Then after unmounting it from the rifle, loosened scope rings, double checked parallax & diopter, and shook it to make sure nothing was broken or rattling around.

I think he needs to start an RMA process but wondering if the hide has any input on this.

 

[GhengisAhn175]

Forgot to attach this to OP, but this is the power setting right before it starts to get blurry.

 

[acudaowner]

send it back to snb it's got a warranty .

 

[Peskadot671]

I have a Kahles K525i that had the same problem. While adjusting the magnification ring above 18x, the whole image including the reticle would get out of focus. A slight adjustment (1/16") back under 18x would bring it back into focus. I sent it back to Austria for warranty repair but they never explained what the problem was. They just left a note saying not to over torque the scope rings above 21 in/lbs. They probably assumed that I over-torqued it because of some scratches on the main tube when I accidentally dragged it across the sharp inner corners of my Night Force Ultralite rings when it was first mounted.

 

[GhengisAhn175]

I have a Kahles K525i that had the same problem. While adjusting the magnification ring above 18x, the whole image including the reticle would get out of focus. A slight adjustment (1/16") back under 18x would bring it back into focus. I sent it back to Austria for warranty repair but they never explained what the problem was. They just left a note saying not to over torque the scope rings above 21 in/lbs. They probably assumed that I over-torqued it because of some scratches on the main tube when I accidentally dragged it across the sharp inner corners of my Night Force Ultralite rings when it was first mounted.

Thanks, I don't believe this was over torqued but haven't ruled it out. But here is one possible reason