Scopes in the rain?

[hibernation]

Aadland Engineering

Aadland Engineering

aadmount.com

Flip Up Caps from these guys, not cheap but they are the best out there in my honest opinion

Just installed a set of those, the way they close looks like it'll handle the rain really well. But like other comments have mentioned, once they're open it's pretty much all over.

 

[hibernation]

Can’t believe nobody has mentioned using an air puffer bulb to clear the lens. Wiping the lens leads to streaking that can’t be completely resolved until a later date in a dry environment.

The air puffer is commonly used in PRS matches to clear water off the lens. Scope lens (at least decent ones) have a coating that causes water to bead on the lens. The puffer bulb just pushes the water off the lens. If it’s really raining, you aren’t going to keep the lens “dry”, but this method will clear it off long enough to make the shot and not leave it smeared and risk scratching the lens with a dirty cloth or debris already on the lens.

Try it sometime- https://www.amazon.com/LYECUN-Blaster-Keyboard-Cameras-Cleaning/dp/B0C8HZK7G9

Never thought of this but that's amazing, ordering one now. This would've been great last weekend, once I had already pulled the scope cover off it was soaked fast. Had a really hard time seeing an animal at 200 yds once it was totally wetted out. This won't be my first line of defense, but seems like a solid option for being cheap and light.

 

[hibernation]

Thanks for all the tips everyone, sounds like most things where there's always a tradeoff between speed and precision. I'm going to keep my scope covers down until I'm truly ready, but also pack some dry cloth, that air puffer, and maybe some alcohol wipes just in case. I'll sacrifice some speed on close shots in the timber so it's good to go when I really need it.

 

[Blacktail_]

Figured I'd post this here where I know people hunt in the rain all day. How are you keeping your scopes clear? Equipment, practices, how do you all deal with rain on your lenses?

Scope caps? Neoprene covers? Rain-x? Carry microfiber in a waterproof bag somewhere? Just accept that it's going to be wet and your sight picture's going to suffer?

Scope caps for the win… don’t even have to think about it. Always dry as a bone.

 

[minas stiris]

Your riflescope should always wear a sunshade; it protects the objective from being touched or hit and can keep the rain away. Sometimes. I use a microfiber cloth to wipe the lenses when wet. I also use a lenspen for removing dirt, mud or anything that may get on the glass. I use the same cleaning equipment as I do for my camera and lenses as well as spotting scopes. BTW, I found Nanofiber towels at Amazon recently and have been using them to clean glass using my prescription glass as test. They do a great job.

 

[Rock’N Tacos]

I like tenebrex scope caps and sunshades - I don’t love how all sunshades look and if counting ounces with ditch them, but they are awesome for keeping the objective lens dry when you are setting up for shots and have the scope caps open.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Did a 4 hr sit in the rain earlier this week. Leupold aluminum caps, no issues.

 

[AKHUNTER]

The following has worked for me: Butler Creek flip up caps, clean the lens and apply anti-fog before season, and ALWAYS have a lens cloth handy in your bino pouch so you can wipe clean the lens should it get wet or fog. I nearly missed a shot at a bull moose because my scope suddenly fogged in heavy wet blowing snow moments before the brief shot opportunity at the bull.

https://www.amazon.com/EK-USA-Multi-Use-Anti-Fog-Spray/dp/B072Z7M7RX

https://www.brownells.com/optics/scopes/scope-accessories/fob-lens-cloth/?srsltid=AfmBOooS1KlnO4mhOmQuLXDWLuLkmtjyk4dXo59B_rNHEEKXcT3M6v7iaWc

 

[Steve300xcw]

Squeeze bottles? lens pens?

Yall dont just jam your thumb in there in a panic and try to mush the water outta the way, followed up by using the corner of your already soaked jacket?

 

[roosiebull]

Just installed a set of those, the way they close looks like it'll handle the rain really well. But like other comments have mentioned, once they're open it's pretty much all over.

I’m probably going to mount a set of those to try, as long as they are ok until opened, I’ll consider it a win. My main issue with bikinis is them being one time use almost every time, rip them off in a hurry and never think about them again until much later, I have lost several of them that way.

Unless I find a way to attach them where they don’t interfere, it will keep happening. Reliable flip ups would be nice, but butler creeks are the only ones I’ve tried and they don’t work

 

[Steve300xcw]

but butler creeks are the only ones I’ve tried and they don’t work

what issues are you having with them? This last batch I bought the latches were a lil funky but I cant say I have had any fail on me yet

 

[roosiebull]

what issues are you having with them? This last batch I bought the latches were a lil funky but I cant say I have had any fail on me yet

Water would get through on wet days, enough to have completely fogged up glass when I opened them, and I kept breaking the cap off the eye piece, but I wouldn’t blame that on them. The water intrusion on wet days is what I didn’t like

 

[roosiebull]

Squeeze bottles? lens pens?

Yall dont just jam your thumb in there in a panic and try to mush the water outta the way, followed up by using the corner of your already soaked jacket?

I used that strategy the other day, not a fan, haha. Cost me a nice euro

 

[Steve300xcw]

Water would get through on wet days, enough to have completely fogged up glass when I opened them, and I kept breaking the cap off the eye piece, but I wouldn’t blame that on them. The water intrusion on wet days is what I didn’t like

Do you tape them on?