Scope fogging after the shot

[03mossy]

I have had a Leupold VX6 2-12 since they introduced them 10 or so years ago. It’s currently on my Tikka 30-06. The last few years after I shoot it, it fogs up so I can’t see the target. I wait 20-30 seconds and it clears up so I can shoot again. Always thought it was just heat off the barrel but now that I have a Trijicon Accupoint on another rifle I realize something is wrong with the Leupold. I called customer service and he said it’s my eyes that are bad but I should send it in anyway. I’ll be sending it in but does anyone have an idea what could be wrong?

 

[chindits]

Weird

Interested in what they find. Blaming your eyes seems absurd when shooting any other scope could rule that out.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

I called customer service and he said it’s my eyes that are bad but I should send it in anyway.

Really???

 

[SomeJackassOnAForum]

If it's fogging internally then it's lost its air tight integrity.

If it's fogging externally that's weird.

 

[03mossy]

It’s internally.

And yeah I just laughed when he said it was my eyes.

 

[SomeJackassOnAForum]

It’s internally.

And yeah I just laughed when he said it was my eyes.

That's hilarious. The only way for a scope to fogging internally is to:

1. Lose seal, causing it to have Earth Atmosphere instead of Nitrogen gas (some companies use Argon).
2. For the scope to be somewhere cold enough that nitrogen condenses.

Since nitrogen condenses around-200 deg Celsius, unless you were calling them from one of Saturn's moons, it's probably number 1.

 

[KenLee]

I've seen 2 old Leupolds do this after shots.

 

[03mossy]

Well, crap this just got a whole lot more frustrating!!! Shipped the scope in on the morning of the 17th. Paid extra for 2-day shipping and now my scope appears to be lost! It was last seen in St. Paul a few days ago and now just shows "The item is currently in transit to the destination". No info on when it left St. Paul...

 

[EdP]

You might be on to a new strategy for upgrading gear. Send an old piece via USPS and insure it. When they lose it collect the insurance and buy new.