Rifle Scopes Something strange on my lens.

[LittleOso]

Hey all first post here and I have a question.

After years of shooting only irons, red dots, and ACOG's I got my first "big boy" optic for SPR matches.

So I shot my first match with my new nightforce NSX 2.5-10x42 and had no issues. A couple weeks later I took the rifle out to the range to zero my RMR. it was raining lightly and the wind was blowing a mist under the covered area I was shooting from, I kept the rifle covered with my bag but got tired of waiting and decided to zero it anyway figuring it was just some mist and I'd be alright.

when I got home I decided to clean the objective, I used a lens pen and removed the dust before cleaning and this is what was left behind:

This is also on the RMR as well though not as much, I can't see it when looking through the optic only when looking at the objective.

Now this is my first expensive optic so I have been pretty careful with it. you know, like a mom who makes you use hand sanitizer before touching their first kid, and i'm sure once I have a couple i'll let them crawl on a McDonalds floor. So I contacted nightforce and asked them about it. they told me to use a 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol which did not help then suggested I send it in for them to have a look. i figure it's best to be safe than sorry but though I would pick some brains before is send it off for six weeks.

So does anyone have any idea what the hell this is or how some light mist could have done this? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[918v]

Normal.

Get some lens cleaner and lens tissue and it will come off.

 

[1moaoff]

Eventually you wont even take the time to wipe that off... its normal

 

[Ryridesmotox]

If you really want to show her some love... lick it off

 

[I Spot 4U - "Eagle Eyes"]

Idk, could be some residual oil smootz on the bristles of your lens pen or the threading on your bell of your scope had some residual oil or other preservative that your lens pen touched/picked up or maybe off the roof? I use a Zeiss lens cleaning paper that' alcohol infused in a 2"x2" individually packaged pouch. $5 for 100 count box at Walmart Optical Dept. made by Zeiss (White Box)...Safe for rifle scope glass or plastic sun glasses, computer screens, electronic device screens.... doesn't scratch. Cheaper than sending something in if you can fix it yourself. if all else fails... yes, you can always send it back to NightForce to clean it for you.

U.S.M.C.

 

[LittleOso]

Normal.

Get some lens cleaner and lens tissue and it will come off.

Idk, could be some residual oil smootz on the bristles of your lens pen or the threading on your bell of your scope had some residual oil or other preservative that your lens pen touched/picked up or maybe off the roof? I use a Zeiss lens cleaning paper that' alcohol infused in a 2"x2" individually packaged pouch. $5 for 100 count box at Walmart Optical Dept. made by Zeiss (White Box)...Safe for rifle scope glass or plastic sun glasses, computer screens, electronic device screens.... doesn't scratch. Cheaper than sending something in if you can fix it yourself. if all else fails... yes, you can always send it back to NightForce to clean it for you.

U.S.M.C.

Thanks for the replies, I have tried lens cleaner and 50/50 alcohol along with some eye glass wipes and nothing takes it off. Guess I'll be sending it in.

 

[19Scout77]

Acetone is your friend

 

[Diablo]

Looks like solvent splash/spray. Easy to do when cleaning unless glass is well covered.

Does not seem likely it would have happened before it got to you, unless the scope was pre-owned or a demo.

May not affect performance of the scope with small, scattered pattern.

Hell, I don't notice a killflash.

 

[Arc Light]

Are you sure that is on the outside of the glass?

You could try acetone if on the outside. No, it won't mess up the coating. Just be certain to use it very sparingly and don't let it drip into the seals or it will mess them up. Acetone and rubber/plastic don't mix.

 

[LittleOso]

Are you sure that is on the outside of the glass?

You could try acetone if on the outside. No, it won't mess up the coating. Just be certain to use it very sparingly and don't let it drip into the seals or it will mess them up. Acetone and rubber/plastic don't mix.

That's what I am wondering myself, I took your advice and tried a tiny bit of acetone on one of the specks and it had no effect. So I'm thinking if I have tried lens cleaner, alcohol, and now acetone there is probably a good chance it's not on the outside right?

I'm with you guys, I could care less what it looks like as long as I can't see it when looking through the optic. My concern is it might be some defect that will get worse over time and cause an issue. I think it might be best to just send the thing in and see if nightforce can tell me more.

Thank you all for your replies it made me feel better about sending it in!

 

[Arc Light]

If acetone didn’t remove it, then it’s either on the inside or the coating was damaged somehow.

Definitely send it in at this point.

 

[Glassaholic]

I agree with other posts, hard to tell what it is based on pics. If the 50/50 alcohol blend didn’t affect seems like something more permanent. NF is supposed to have great CS and decent turn around times. Tell us what they say You may not notice that in normal shooting conditions but that many spots is probably going to affect the IQ with the sun hitting the surface and show up as foggy or ghosted spots.

for the future, I rarely ever touch the exposed lenses with anything. Usually compressed air can blast off most anything but be very careful so you don’t blast the liquid onto the lens. If their is schmutz and it bothers me then I use PEC-Pad wipes with lens cleaning solution for multi coated photography lenses.