Scopes in the rain?

[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

 

[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

 

[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

 

[roosiebull]

Do you tape them on?

I didn’t, it has probably been 15 years since I used them

 

[High Climber]

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

I use a couple hair ties from my wife or daughters one on each end of the scope. When I pop of the bikini cover it just hangs

 

[Hoodie]

This issue is near to my heart because I lost opportunities on the first two blacktail bucks I got the drop on due to fogged scopes.

In both scenarios I was using Tenebraex scope caps that had remained closed most of the day, been opened briefly, then closed again before the opportunity to shoot happened. If you let any moisture get into the space between the scope lens and the cap, it will be fogged up when you reopen the caps.

Last year I used Cat Crap anti-fog and McNett Op Drops, but it really isn't necessary. The best move is to leave the caps open all the time. I don't use a sling on my rifle. I carry it parallel to the ground which limits how much rain can fall on the lens. A few droplets may get on the lens but you can still shoot in that scenario. If the lens fogs you're hosed.

I check the view through the scope constantly throughout the day to be sure that it's still clear. Keeping the lens surface clean will also minimize fogging. Water vapor needs something to condense on. Dirty lenses fog quicker than clean ones.

in 19 days of hunting this season I didn't have my scope fog once.

 

[Hoodie]

Then why even have them?

Certainly not necessary to.

For me, it's not always raining and I'm not always hunting in a wet environment. There's lots of times when I'm transporting the rifle or hunting in drier weather that they're closed just to reduce the risk of lens damage if I fall or drop the gun. The advice about leaving them open is pretty much exclusive to mid or late season hunts on the wet side when it's pissing rain or snowing.

 

[Rich M]

RainX

Scope cover - neoprene or look thru caps - some of the look thrus have amber/yellow lenses

And yes a paper towel in your shirt pocket - inside your jacket - few can say they never breathed on the scope when trying to get a shot - paper towel is the quickest remedy.

 

[mtnbiker208]

bikini scope covers put on before it rains, and don't remove until time to shoot.

 

[<cascadehunter>]

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?

Ah yes…… Desperately stretching out the mid layer looking for a dry spot under the hardshell. Sometimes the hood can be a safe bet

 

[UPThunderbolt]

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?

When still hunting or sitting for an ambush, I go low tech. I carry an extra handkerchief/ bandana and drape it over the scope so both the eye piece and the objective are covered. As long as you aren’t fighting through thick brush or dealing with strong wind, it stays positioned quite well (you can also hold it in place as it hangs down on either side of the stock forearm) and is easy to pull off quickly if need be. Not sexy, but has been effective for me.

 

[tttoadman]

I have the sunshade on all the time. I have also had a fogged lense when flipping up a cover. Dont care to learn too much about. I just eliminate the problem. I never shoulder as i dont even have strap on the gun. I carry basically level at all times when not strapped to the pack. I put the top cap on only when i strap the gun on the pack to carry at night or pack out.

 

[repins05]

I use a sunshade which works effectively for the objective. I keep microfiber cloths in multiple pockets and one on my bino harness. If there is time I will pull one out to dry the eyepiece. I have had to use the thumb before when I jumped an animal.

I haven’t found any cap, anti fog, neoprene, cap with tape that will stop the lenses from fogging up 100 percent of the time in the rain. I would rather deal with wet than foggy lenses and don’t take the chance anymore.

I would also never use a paper towel on my scope lenses but that is just me paranoid of scratching or dulling the lenses.

……I would in an emergency scenario for a quick shot if it was all I had though. Lol.