Rifle Scopes Pinging in the Rain

[pewpewfever]

I went to a precision rifle match today that was held despite heavy rain, and by the second stage I couldn’t see much through my Schmidt. I was using scope covers, but I did not have a cleaning kit with me. Would cleaning between stages be enough to counteract the rain? Are there any other techniques for keeping the scope clear in the rain?

 

[koshkin]

Long sunshade on the objective and a cover of some sort between you and the eyepiece. Where I live a cover over my head that drapes over the back of the scope is useful because of the sun.

I am sure you can improvise something or buy it from someone like this guy: https://tacticalsidekick.com/ I use a shooting pad he makes and like the materials he uses. He's got s cover of some sort that is for use in the rain.

ILya

 

[blbennett1288]

ARD or sunshade up front with a flip cap. In the rear a flip cap is about the best you can do actually on the scope. A hat or boonie that drapes over the eyepiece would aid in keeping rain out during shooting conditions

 

[Rob01]

As mentioned a sunshade front with cap and the cap on the eye piece which stays closed until you shoot. What I do in the rain is stand in start position with rifle pointed down and slightly twisted so ejection port is down. Eye piece gets opened just before starting and I lean over the scope to protect it until the buzzer goes and then you get what you get but I see lots of people not protecting their scopes and it doesn't take much.

As for cleaning, you can keep a lens cloth and take off excess water if needed but watch for mud so you don't scratch the lens.

 

[koshkin]

ARD or sunshade up front with a flip cap. In the rear a flip cap is about the best you can do actually on the scope. A hat or boonie that drapes over the eyepiece would aid in keeping rain out during shooting conditions

ARDs sometiems work and sometimes do not. SOme ARDs have sufficiently small openings of each honeycomb channel to get water film across it. Coarser ARDs work fine.

ILya

 

[Eoddave27]

I use a sunshade and lens cap on the front and a lens cap on the back in conjunction with a ball cap. I keep the rear lens cap closed until I’m behind the gun and once it is open the bill of my hat offers decent protection. Now when you have that lovely wind blown sideways rain all bets are off.

 

[Dthomas3523]

The tips above as well as realizing some days are just not made for shooting.

Some people/matches want to be hardcore, but there are times where it’s raining too much to do anything.

Remember, once you cannot spot your shots and account for every round, you should be done for the day. Could be weather, could be fatigue, whatever. Pack it up and live to fight another day.

 

[bourbonbent]

Second smallest group I’ve ever shot was in an absolute screaming downpour in Houston. A decent sized piece of waxed canvas or the like (think Filson tin cloth or waxed canvas duck ) to go over your head and the scope/action will do it, long sunshade or objective cover with a small slit in it to keep anything from getting on the objective lens. Sorta like a little rifle tent. I need to make a dedicated one but I typically throw my jacket over it.

I don’t stop until I literally cannot see the targets anymore; I don’t shoot PRS or anything like that. I also don’t have much sense, so maybe listen to the other folks.

Other than that, maybe go to the Waffle House? I enjoy some pecan waffles.

 

[SEMO Shooter]

The squeeze air puffers that photographers use work well to blow water off the lenses. Then dry with a lense cloth.