Scopes in the rain?

[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.

 

[Kegstand]

Micro fiber towel and a paper towel

 

[Smokey Bear]

I

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.

I also would never use a paper towel. I watch people ruin their prescription glasses all the time using them.

 

[coast range]

I’m running the aadland covers for the first time. Always used butler creek caps but decided to go high end on the maven. They worked great only complaint is they are loud when the flip open!

For me in the pouring rain the scope only gets uncovered if it’s a buck. If I see deer I only use the Binos, cause once that thing is wet… even at hundreds of yards you can usually visually see a buck naked eye

 

[roosiebull]

I do butler creeks with tape. As Steve said above, once you open them you run the risk of humidity and fogging. I tried the neoprene covers for a few seasons, but actually I found my lenses were consistently more foggy. The scope overall was not wet but the humidity was thoroughly trapped in. Sort of part of the deal for those of us hunting on the coast/PNW.

Takes a long time to dry soaked neoprene too if you are hunting multiple days in a row

 

[roosiebull]

I saw these mentioned in a similar thread recently and I will be trying them next year

THE Scope Bumper™

The Original Scope Bumper

scopebumper.com

 

[AZ_Hunter]

I’m running the aadland covers for the first time. Always used butler creek caps but decided to go high end on the maven. They worked great only complaint is they are loud when the flip open!

For me in the pouring rain the scope only gets uncovered if it’s a buck. If I see deer I only use the Binos, cause once that thing is wet… even at hundreds of yards you can usually visually see a buck naked eye

They are loud. I was going to try a sticky felt pad thing that is used on the bottom of decorations for furniture… I am a retard right now and can’t think…

But the plan was to stick those on the caps where they hit the scope in the flipped position to hopefully dull the sound. I just need to remember to get some and try it out.

 

[rclouse79]

Taped up butler creeks. Just assume that they are good for one use per day, as soon as they get wet, you better not close them until they are 100% dry!

This is also where the swfa's are nice. As the objective lens is set back a bit farther than most scopes. Does a good job at keeping the rain out while carrying in hand.

I'll keep the caps closed up until I think I might need to make a shot, then pop the front cap. I'll only pop the rear cap if the gun is getting shouldered.

I love the idea of the Butler Creek flip up caps, but I had enough trouble with them breaking that I went to a neoprene cover. If there is an aluminum or more durable version of the flip up caps, I would be game to try them again.

 

[coast range]

They are loud. I was going to try a sticky felt pad thing that is used on the bottom of decorations for furniture… I am a retard right now and can’t think…

But the plan was to stick those on the caps where they hit the scope in the flipped position to hopefully dull the sound. I just need to remember to get some and try it out.

I was thinking the same damn thing! Although the blacktail didn’t seem to care the other day

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

I just run old Bushnell Elites from Japan with Rainguard (hydrophobic coating that repels water). Rainguard doesn't keep them dry, really, but it makes it so you can see enough to get off a shot through wet lenses. Also helps a lot with fog from breathing on the lens while waiting for the shot. It's kind of like permanent RainX.

Bushnell isn't the only company that uses hydrophobic coatings, but the old LOW made Elites are pretty solid set-and-forget scopes, and I've owned them for years.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I love the idea of the Butler Creek flip up caps, but I had enough trouble with them breaking that I went to a neoprene cover. If there is an aluminum or more durable version of the flip up caps, I would be game to try them again.

Ive heard of folks breaking them. Cant say I ever have had a problem with them. Have some sets that are 10+ years old..

Will say that this last batch I bought are a lil on the janky side.

 

[rclouse79]

Ive heard of folks breaking them. Cant say I ever have had a problem with them. Have some sets that are 10+ years old..

Will say that this last batch I bought are a lil on the janky side.

I ended up reading through this tread and saw some positive reviews for the Aadland caps, so I bought a set for each of my swfa 3-15 scopes. They were pricy, but if they don’t break it will be worth it to me.
I have been using the neoprene scope covers. I slipped and had my rife sitting too low on my pack with the butt stock folded up. When I checked my scope the cover had pulled back and the eyepiece was caked full of dried dirt. I waited to get home to clean it and luckily there were no scratches, but it made my stomach sink for the first trip with my brand new gen 2 scope. Avoiding a situations like this in the future will be outstanding.

 

[Ron.C]

i live and hunt on Vancouver island. We get some rain. For me, its a neoprene cover if I'm walking/glassing/ or sitting on a cutblock. When I'm in timber or on a stalk, cover is off and any rain that accumulates gets shaken out before I shoulder.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I waited to get home to clean it and luckily there were no scratches, but it made my stomach sink for the first trip with my brand new gen 2 scope.

You are more cautious than I am

 

[rclouse79]

You are more cautious than I am

I eventually treat all my gear like crap but have a tendency to baby things until they get a few dings.

 

[Smokey Bear]

Ive heard of folks breaking them. Cant say I ever have had a problem with them. Have some sets that are 10+ years old..

Will say that this last batch I bought are a lil on the janky side.

I have a set I bought back in the 90’s that still work great.
I upgraded my scope and bought the new Butlers, and returned them immediately. Using neoprene for now. I’ll continue to watch this thread and check out some of the recommendations.