Scopes in snow and fog

[CampCoffee]

Well I've been putoff for almost 2 months now, and it's time to vent.

Was up on Bethel opening day in the middle of all the fog and blowing snow. Actually great weather to move elk around. Long about 0830, a spike bull walks below me about 30 yds crossing right to left, didn't see me or smell me. I bring up my rifle to take it, and I couldn't see thru the scope -- it was full of snow at both ends. My bad, I didn't think about covering them until it was too late. After I clean it out, I still couldn't see the spike in the scope, it was so foggy out. Not foggy inside the scope, just the air outside so that looking thru the scope there was no way to see him.  He passed thru the opening, I stood up to try again and no such luck.

Anyone else have problems with scopes like that in snow and fog? Makes we want to go to a peep sight. BTW the scope I have is an old Weaver KV5, so maybe a fancier one would do better. Or maybe I just need to shake it off and put a year behind me.

[high country]

I run a 4200 in those conditions. it will not do anythingfor keeping snow off, but....wipe it off and you can see well enough to shoot....it is hard to believe till you see it. btw, you can get a 3-9x40 for 250ish bux online. I prefer them to the vx2's and monarchs.

[bobcat]

You need some Butler Creek flip up scope covers to keep the snow out. A newer scope wouldn't hurt either, but you really need the scope covers as well for when you're hunting in rain or snow. Bushnell makes a scope with a lens coating they call "rainguard" that is supposed to work really well for preventing fogged up lenses.

[high country]

the flip ups will work for keeping the lens' free of snow and rain, but condensation caused by temp differences are where the elites shine.....looks right through it with only a slightly darker image.

[BlackRidge]

You need some Butler Creek flip up scope covers to keep the snow out. A newer scope wouldn't hurt either, but you really need the scope covers as well for when you're hunting in rain or snow. Bushnell makes a scope with a lens coating they call "rainguard" that is supposed to work really well for preventing fogged up lenses.

+1, the butler creek flip-up covers work extremely well, and are fairly inexpensive (around $15, I believe), ordered a set for all my scopes

[bobcat]

the flip ups will work for keeping the lens' free of snow and rain, but condensation caused by temp differences are where the elites shine.....looks right through it with only a slightly darker image.

Yeah, I've been thinking about switching from my Leupold Vari-X III to the Elite 4200 for that reason. Even with the scope covers, when it's raining, if I flip them open once and get water inside, the lenses will be fogged up all day.

[Hunterman]

Don't carry your rifle by the sling..Muzzle down, scope under your arm..I have been doing that for years with out problems..

Hunterman(Tony)

[lokidog]

Butlers work great, never had the fog issue, unless my scope was tucked up under my warm, moist armpit.....  I have exhaled a little heavily and had it fog though.

[400out]

You need some Butler Creek flip up scope covers to keep the snow out. A newer scope wouldn't hurt either, but you really need the scope covers as well for when you're hunting in rain or snow. Bushnell makes a scope with a lens coating they call "rainguard" that is supposed to work really well for preventing fogged up lenses.

+1, the butler creek flip-up covers work extremely well, and are fairly inexpensive (around $15, I believe), ordered a set for all my scopes

YEP it's manditory when getting a scope! If the snipers use them then....Well that says it all

[Antlershed]

I think you guys are mis-reading his post....

Not foggy inside the scope, just the air outside so that looking thru the scope there was no way to see him.

There is no scope that will fix this. The problem is that the magnification of the scope will also magnify the fog and make it look worse through the scope than it does your naked eye.

I second what everyone else said about the Butler Creek covers to keep the snow out though.

[bobcat]

I read that part too but to me if you can see an animal with the naked eye, you should be able to see it through a scope too, especially if it's not that far off. I think a better quality scope would be the answer for that particular problem.

[Bob33]

Butler flip up caps.

Keep the scope the same temperature as the outside air at all times: don't bring it in a warm tent/camper/truck at night, and then expect it to not condense in the morning when you take it outside.

There are some anti-fog sprays that work well enough: well enough to shoot an animal through if there is some condensation.

Also, tape up the end of your barrel with some form of tape like electrical.  Plugged barrels can cause problems.

[Alan K]

My VX-7 scope came with some AWESOME scope covers.  Not sure if they sell 'em for their other scopes or not, or if they even have the grooves to screw them into. 

The problem of closing your scope covers and getting fogged inside has a lot to do with the temperature changes.  Sometimes if you close your scope covers inside the warm truck then get out into bitter cold weather it'll fog.  Has to do with the condensation.  Also, if you get all the moisture out after the inside gets wet, then you shouldn't have any problems when you cover and open it again.  Make sure you get the scope cover itself as well as the rim, not just the lens.

[Antlershed]

My VX-7 scope came with some AWESOME scope covers.  Not sure if they sell 'em for their other scopes or not, or if they even have the grooves to screw them into. 

Most new leupold scopes have the grooves and I heard that if you have an older scope you can send it to leupold and they will put the grooves in it. I wanna say I was told it costs $50 and that includes the covers, but I could be a little high on the price.

[ridge line]

 That's funny the same thing happened to me on the opener of elk with my nightforce cost me a bull as well. my problem was that the rubber scope covers are so dam tight that when removed  it instantly fog ed up do to the change in air temp. Ive got the screw in caps on my Lupe and Ive never had a problem because they are not air tight. butler creek makes a nice flip open scope cover but i don't care for the slight  marks due to dirt/dust.  But next year i will have butler creeks on my scope regardless of the dirt&bust