Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Scopes and Optics => Topic started by: High Climber on October 27, 2021, 09:03:38 PM

Title: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: High Climber on October 27, 2021, 09:03:38 PM: So what works for you guys to keep your optics clear for hunting all day in crappy weather? The cheap bikini style rubber one piece caps are the only thing I have found to keep the water out, but even they are only good until the first time I take them off. Seems like my nicer scopes (VX 5) do best with nothing at all but my cheaper scopes (diamondback) fog up as soon as the rain starts.
I don’t care as much about protecting the finish on the scope itself just need the glass to work even in the pouring rain. Maybe top end glass Is the only answer but I am curious to what guys have had luck with.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: fowl smacker on October 27, 2021, 09:07:11 PM: Best scopes I have found for absolute pouring down weather where you ARE going to get wet are the Bushnell Elite scopes with rainguard. The glass isn't top of the line like other optics, but you can clearly see your target even sopping wet.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: jowings22 on October 27, 2021, 09:08:30 PM: I put some Alumina scope covers on my VX III years ago and it changed my life.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Duckslayer89 on October 27, 2021, 09:14:06 PM: Quote from: jowings22 on October 27, 2021, 09:08:30 PM
I put some Alumina scope covers on my VX III years ago and it changed my life.

I think I have these on my VX6HD. It changed my life as well. You can hunt pouring down rain and not even worry about a fogged scope. I love it.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Mtnwalker on October 27, 2021, 09:59:06 PM: I like the neoprene scope coat type covers. Good protection and super quick to pull off
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Stevewazfishing on October 27, 2021, 10:07:25 PM: Quote from: Mtnwalker on October 27, 2021, 09:59:06 PM
I like the neoprene scope coat type covers. Good protection and super quick to pull off
:yeah:
I’ve also been running the neoprene covers and have had good luck with them.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Duckslayer89 on October 27, 2021, 10:10:29 PM: Quote from: Mtnwalker on October 27, 2021, 09:59:06 PM
I like the neoprene scope coat type covers. Good protection and super quick to pull off

After you get use to the flip up ones it’s like automatic for me. Almost like taking a safety off I don’t even think
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Jason on October 28, 2021, 05:49:00 AM: Hunting the wet side Butler Creek scope caps are probably used by 8 out of 10 of my hunting buddies, they work great. I also have a set of Tenebraex scope caps on my Steiner scope, they also work good but are not cheap.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: hunter399 on October 28, 2021, 06:04:27 AM: Dry side here..... You guys are gonna grit your teeth on this one, I pull my dry shirt out from under my hunting jacket and I wipe it off .
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Shaqdiesel on October 28, 2021, 06:30:42 AM: Solo hunter rifle cover or something similar, since using these covers it has dramatically lowered the amount of time I need to clean a rifle after hunting in rain, busting brush etc and setting rifle on ground. Also found since using it i have had way fewer negative interactions from hikers on trails because they don’t automatically see a “scary” gun on my pack.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Stein on October 28, 2021, 07:04:19 AM: I have both the solo hunter cover and a neoprene scope cover. I use one or the other depending on how much protection I need. Both seem to work well.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: brokentrail on October 28, 2021, 08:22:22 AM: I treat my optics with Bausch and Lomb fog shield, thanks again @Jakeland for that tip!, and also use Butler Creek scope covers. Even when they get wet I can usually at least see through them enough to use.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Mtnwalker on October 28, 2021, 09:10:19 AM: Quote from: Duckslayer89 on October 27, 2021, 10:10:29 PM
Quote from: Mtnwalker on October 27, 2021, 09:59:06 PM
I like the neoprene scope coat type covers. Good protection and super quick to pull off

After you get use to the flip up ones it’s like automatic for me. Almost like taking a safety off I don’t even think

I grew up on the coast running the butler creek flip ups. I have the leupold aluminas on my 3rd string backup rifle. Still prefer the neoprenes these days for the full scope protection. Killed my buck on a 10-second 35 yard encounter this year, don't even remember pulling the cover off but low and behold found it in my pocket a few minutes later :chuckle: everybody has their preference
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Okanagan on October 28, 2021, 09:42:53 AM: Butler Creek. I used to like the Michael’s back when they made them. Once you take the scope cover off in serious rain, with any kind I have used, you will be fighting water on the lens from then on.

Therefore, I try to NEVER pop scope covers off till I am sure and ready to shoot. How we use the covers is more important to me than which brand. I use binos a lot, with covers, and lean forward to shield them plus raise the binos up close under an extra large cap brim before removing the cover. I put the cover back on the binos before it gets lowered into rain from under the cap brim. Shot a little buck in heavy rain a few days ago. The covers came off of the scope a few seconds before the shot, and the rain drops on the objective lens etc. had not built up enough yet to bother sighting.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Griiz on October 28, 2021, 10:18:49 AM: Quote from: High Climber on October 27, 2021, 09:03:38 PM
So what works for you guys to keep your optics clear for hunting all day in crappy weather? The cheap bikini style rubber one piece caps are the only thing I have found to keep the water out, but even they are only good until the first time I take them off. Seems like my nicer scopes (VX 5) do best with nothing at all but my cheaper scopes (diamondback) fog up as soon as the rain starts.
I don’t care as much about protecting the finish on the scope itself just need the glass to work even in the pouring rain. Maybe top end glass Is the only answer but I am curious to what guys have had luck with.

I use the bikini style you mentioned and don't take it off until I need to shoot. Once off, no point putting back on. Always have a dry cloth in my breast pocket for a quick fog wipe and on my Leupold VX5 I use the expensive leupold caps and they work well at keeping weather out. I don't know if there is a perfect fix for this situation.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: huntnfmly on October 28, 2021, 10:50:37 AM: Quote from: brokentrail on October 28, 2021, 08:22:22 AM
I treat my optics with Bausch and Lomb fog shield, thanks again @Jakeland for that tip!, and also use Butler Creek scope covers. Even when they get wet I can usually at least see through them enough to use.
This ^^^
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: High Climber on October 28, 2021, 11:28:23 AM: I will have to try that Fog Shield out. One exposure to the weather and then fog is what I am trying to get away from if possible. My Swarovski Binos have never giving me any fogging that lasted for more than a minute or two and that’s been rare . Maybe a swaro scope with a neoprene cover would be the ticket. Or maybe just the fog shield and alumina covers on my VX 5.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: EyeTooth on October 28, 2021, 11:43:25 AM: I used the old school Buck Bagger, soft rubber covers for all of my hunting. Quick and quiet. Not perfect, but plenty good. Not hunting any more, but I like the looks of the suggestions on this thread. Good luck to everyone this season!
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: hunter399 on October 28, 2021, 12:02:22 PM: Was out all mourning in the rain.
Definitely had me thinking about these flip up covers a bit more now. :tup:
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: KFhunter on October 29, 2021, 12:55:42 PM: My Ziess has never fogged out, but it's gone completely black a time or two, and I only notice it when I need it of course :bash:
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Stein on October 29, 2021, 01:30:18 PM: Quote from: hunter399 on October 28, 2021, 12:02:22 PM
Was out all mourning in the rain.
Definitely had me thinking about these flip up covers a bit more now. :tup:

Try them out, but don't be surprised if they flip open on their own. I carry with a normal sling and the one end would flip open and the other end would somehow get completely pulled off or the cover broken off sometimes. I like them, but tried several brands and nothing worked.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: buckfvr on October 29, 2021, 03:16:46 PM: I have flip ups on 4 scopes but if I had to spend a great deal of time in the rain/snow, Id run scope coats no doubt.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: 10thmountainarcher on October 29, 2021, 03:19:14 PM: I WAS running some butler creek caps during the early rifle season this year, and I am less then impressed to say the least. They are cheap for a reason I suppose. I just ordered an Alpine Innovations scope slicker to try out during the late season. I do not like rain drops on my objective lens’s.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: fishngamereaper on October 29, 2021, 04:03:32 PM: Quality scope and a full cover imo. I run neoprene covers on all my scopes now..also a sun shade helps.
Did the flip up cover thing for years and hate those things with a passion. Always flipped up on there own. Trapped moisture, or fell off. Never again.

My neo cover goes on and off with weather changes..and having it on has never slowed me down enough to miss a opportunity. :twocents:
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Duckslayer89 on October 31, 2021, 07:59:55 AM: Quote from: fishngamereaper on October 29, 2021, 04:03:32 PM
Quality scope and a full cover imo. I run neoprene covers on all my scopes now..also a sun shade helps.
Did the flip up cover thing for years and hate those things with a passion. Always flipped up on there own. Trapped moisture, or fell off. Never again.

My neo cover goes on and off with weather changes..and having it on has never slowed me down enough to miss a opportunity. :twocents:

You must not have had good ones though. I’ve had cheap ones on old scopes and I agree I didn’t like them. But my leupold never flip on their own and completely seal out the rain. I’ve been in some snotty stuff with them.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: davk on October 31, 2021, 12:00:05 PM: Ive ran the scopecoat neoprene covers for years and never felt the need to try anything different. I use the ones meant for taller turrets so there is extra material on the side. It goes down further on a regular capped hunting scope and covers the action really nicely to keep debris out. That version is also a little thicker so more padding for busting through brush. Think the model is the XP6.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: buckfvr on October 31, 2021, 12:16:11 PM: OK, OK, I ordered a couple Scopeshields.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Axle on October 31, 2021, 01:50:53 PM: Quote from: hunter399 on October 28, 2021, 06:04:27 AM
Dry side here..... You guys are gonna grit your teeth on this one, I pull my dry shirt out from under my hunting jacket and I wipe it off .

:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: slm9s on December 21, 2021, 06:55:23 AM: Butler Creeks. +1 on it being ingrained to flip them up when needed. The hard part is not breathing on the eyepiece when you're panting from running/chasing the elk!
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: craigapphunt on February 25, 2022, 04:24:25 AM: I ran some butler creek elements on my bushnell elite last year and got absolutely soaked on multiple occasions but my glass was always dry and clear.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: headshot5 on February 25, 2022, 05:52:23 AM: Quote from: fishngamereaper on October 29, 2021, 04:03:32 PM
Quality scope and a full cover imo. I run neoprene covers on all my scopes now..also a sun shade helps.
Did the flip up cover thing for years and hate those things with a passion. Always flipped up on there own. Trapped moisture, or fell off. Never again.

My neo cover goes on and off with weather changes..and having it on has never slowed me down enough to miss a opportunity. :twocents:

:yeah: Neoprene covers for the win. I've been in some hellacious rainstorms out hunting and my scopes stay bone dry right up til the shot. I used to use butler creek covers but somehow my scope lenses were always wet.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 25, 2022, 06:19:21 AM: :yeah: Neoprene covers for the win. I've been in some hellacious rainstorms out hunting and my scopes stay bone dry right up til the shot. I used to use butler creek covers but somehow my scope lenses were always wet.
[/quote]

During your hellacious rainstorm hunts what Neoprene cover did you prefer? Not all Neoprene is made the same
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Mtnwalker on February 25, 2022, 08:21:51 AM: Quote from: Skyvalhunter on February 25, 2022, 06:19:21 AM

:yeah: Neoprene covers for the win. I've been in some hellacious rainstorms out hunting and my scopes stay bone dry right up til the shot. I used to use butler creek covers but somehow my scope lenses were always wet.

During your hellacious rainstorm hunts what Neoprene cover did you prefer? Not all Neoprene is made the same
[/quote]

Don't overthink it. Is it technically 100% waterproof? Probably not, but it's not like a pair of waders where it's moving and stretching and being submerged in water. I've used a few different kinds including the ones that come on leupold scopes and never noticed one leaking no matter how much rain. Scopecoats are fine as well as a bunch of others I'm sure
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Iveexcaped3 on February 25, 2022, 09:05:04 AM: I use the cabelas store brand(pre bass pro purchase) neo cover on mine and haven’t had an issue. Most “store brand” names are made by one of the bigger guys. Me and this guy probably felt the same at the end of that day, the rain never let up.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: hunter399 on February 25, 2022, 09:11:05 AM: Maybe rainx :dunno:
I just wipe it off . Sometimes if it's raining a lot ,I just carry the rifle instead of sling on my shoulder.
That way the scope is level with the ground ,rain can fall on top of scope,instead of right on the lens.
Then I wipe it off with my dry shirt under my hunting jacket every so often.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: buglebrush on February 25, 2022, 09:11:25 AM: Quote from: fishngamereaper on October 29, 2021, 04:03:32 PM
"Quality scope and a full cover imo. I run neoprene covers on all my scopes now..also a sun shade helps.
Did the flip up cover thing for years and hate those things with a passion. Always flipped up on there own. Trapped moisture, or fell off. Never again."

Agreed. Despise flip up covers! I always run a neoprene cover, and if it's a multi-day hunt in pouring rain I'll put a bikini cover under it. Will never go back to flips

My neo cover goes on and off with weather changes..and having it on has never slowed me down enough to miss a opportunity. :twocents:
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Stein on February 25, 2022, 09:22:30 AM: Add me to the anti-flip list. I have a neoprene as well as one of the cordura elastic things that goes over the entire rifle. I use the latter in snow and the former in rain.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: buckfvr on February 25, 2022, 11:52:48 AM: Wont ever buy replacement flips going forward, having moved on to Scope Shields on 2 rifles so far. The flips are only good in the safe/case, and sometimes not even then.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: NRA4LIFE on February 25, 2022, 12:28:48 PM: I use the neoprene thing also. Seems to be the easiest for me.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: bobcat on February 25, 2022, 01:01:25 PM: I like my Butler Creek flip up scope covers. No they aren't perfect in heavy rain, but better than nothing, and I really like them in dry conditions just for keeping all the dust off the lenses.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: BigGoonTuna on February 26, 2022, 07:37:52 AM: sure wish the old uncle mike's scope covers were still in production. 2 hard rubber caps fitted to your scope model with a rubber band between them.

i don't like the butler creek caps, too noisy and they seem to break easy. most of the time i use one of the "bikini" type covers, since they're cheap and have a tendency to get lost.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Ingwe on February 26, 2022, 07:53:42 PM: I still use the old uncle mikes scope covers. If you check eBay once in awhile you can find still find them. I tried butler creek flip up covers a few years ago and they broke
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Okanagan on February 26, 2022, 08:23:24 PM: Plus 3 for Uncle mike's, though I haven't found any for several years. I use Butler Creeks as my favorite among those that don't work well. I try to seal them tight and never pop them up till the shot, but they do pop up at the wrong time sometimes and I break about one end or the other per year. Will have to check out the neoprene ones though I'm skeptical of the concept.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Bullkllr on February 26, 2022, 08:30:32 PM: I remember Uncle Mike's getting caught on brush frequently. I have some see-through Butler Creeks that are ok. But they break too.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Damnimissed on March 12, 2022, 06:43:25 AM: I’ve used butler cr flip-ups forever. They work great for me. My glass only get wet if I’m busting brush in crappy weather. I just try and be mindful of it.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: Alchase on March 16, 2022, 06:54:45 PM: I have got in the habit of only using a Butler Creek Flip-up on the front of the scope. When carried on Sling the front is up, Have not had the need to use a back end cover in years, since I was hunting Blacktail on the wet side.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: haftard on March 28, 2022, 06:58:55 PM: i have found once you start really investing in your optics you dont have to worry about the rain and fog. the 4x16 viper i have is about 10x better then the strike egal and diamondback i have. but my swarro is about 10x better then the viper. for scope covers ive grown to like the basic Leopold covers.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: tgomez on May 09, 2022, 09:19:55 PM: Butler Creek flip up scope covers.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on May 09, 2022, 09:23:28 PM: Quote from: Alchase on March 16, 2022, 06:54:45 PM
I have got in the habit of only using a Butler Creek Flip-up on the front of the scope. When carried on Sling the front is up, Have not had the need to use a back end cover in years, since I was hunting Blacktail on the wet side.

That’ll do the trick.
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: MADMAX on May 09, 2022, 09:23:40 PM: Quote from: tgomez on May 09, 2022, 09:19:55 PM
Butler Creek flip up scope covers.

:yeah:
Title: Re: Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle
Post by: dmoua on May 10, 2022, 10:01:59 PM: I've been using a Solo Hunter rifle cover for 6 years. Keeps my whole rifle dry all the time.