Scope "covers" ?
 

How many of you use "anything" to cover your scope/scope lenses while hunting in the field ?


If so, what do you use (......and go ahead and tell us why) ?



Just to "stir the pot"; I don't cover my scope with anything while in the field.

I hunted for nearly 20yrs with NOTHING on my scopes. If it rained or snowed they got wet & a shirt tail dried em off. I grew up in the hunting fishnet biz & sold a blue million of the various covers but the only thing I used was the rubber bikini covers & I had a few Nikon's & they came with hard plastic caps. But those were removed while hunting. Then in 1999 I bought a Swarovski that came with customized Butler Creek Flip ups so I tried them. I haven't been without them since! I have 15 big game rifles & EVERY ONE of them have flipups on them. In fact if I have a choice, I prefer the clear/see thru "Blizzard" flip ups from BC. Those sudden "oh chit" moments are quicker without having to think about flickin the covers up, ESPECIALLY on my guns I use in the thick stuff! Touching/cleaning lenses is what ruins coatings & scratches them. With the flip ups I typically only have to "clean" them by opening the covers & blowing the light dust/particles off!

Been using Butler Creek flip ups for years. I have purchased 4 pairs in the last year, 3 of which have broken. I contacted Bushnell who acquired Butler Creek, they promptly replaced one of the caps. The caps that broke all broke in the same way, occular cap broke at the hinge. I am currently looking for a new option as the newer Butler Creek ones do not appear to be of the same quality as the older ones.

I use to use flip top butler creek covers on several scopes...until I had an experience where I couldn't flip em fast enough and missed an opportunity on a very nice big ass bull elk on an Eastern Oregon hunt many years ago...I go commando ever since....ripped those MoFo's off right then and there and never looked back. I use covers on them when stored in the safe, but they come off as soon as I hit the field now.

I've also heard that the Butler Creek covers have gone to he!!. All I use are bikini rubber covers...cheap and functional.

I cant remember the last time I had covers on my scopes...

Never have one on my Muzzle-loader, the 22 is a cheaper scope that didn't come with a cover and my .308 has a light on it so I can use a flip up cover. Haven't hurt anything yet... knock on wood.

I use covers in the field when riding ATVs but not while hunting. If it is raining that hard, I'll be in a pop up blind and me and my rifle/scope will be dry.

Butler Creek Flip covers been using them for 30 yrs. !!!

My three "go to" rifles all have Leupold scopes on them with their screw in covers. The others have Butler Creek covers that are decades old with no real problems.

My Vortex scope came with some pretty high quality bikini covers that have decent polycarbonate see-through ends. Have not had to yet but if my hunt is in some bad wx I figure I will just keep the covers on for the quick shot if needed.

Butler Creek flip ups on all of my scopes to include my binos. Let’s see $20 to help protect $2000 in glass on a rifle and all it takes is proper placement and routine practice to flip open the covers in less than one second without interfering with mounting the rifle, well worth it.

Only when it is snowing heavy do cover my scope lens. I normally use a Bikini type scope cover that I can pop off quickly. Another good thing is if you have an old truck innertube around, you have enough scope covers to last a lifetime. Just cut across the tube to make a ring wide enough to fit over your scope lenses.

Covers while stalking game? No. Covers in storage or during transport (to include in an Eberlestock pack)? Yes. Typically "bikini"-type.

We got a bunch of Leapers scope covers for 3-9x40 scopes recently that we've been bundling with some scopes. I took a couple sets and put them on my .22 scopes (both 4-12x40), and they work well. I've seen higher quality covers, but I can't complain for under $10 a pair.

Butler Creek flip ups here... great for keep crap/water off the lenses till you are ready to pullthe trigger... I have broken a few over the years... they are plastic & get banged a round a bit in the thick stuff!!!