Scope heater

[Barrelnut]

You are really just looking for something to break up the surface tension of the water than condenses onto the scope lens from the warmer air around the very cold lens, so that it does not bead up into thousands of microscopic small drops. These small drops are the fog on the lens. Disk soap will work for this. After cleaning the scope lens, take just a very small drop of disk soap on a lent free cloth (or finger) and apply it to the lens. Run until clear.
Cheap to try. That's pretty cold though to have the moisture turn to frost on the lens!

 

[therifleman556]

That's pretty cold though to have the moisture turn to frost on the lens!

One weekend I was out it was almost a 70 degree swing from outside to inside. And inside is almost 100% humidity from the pipeline wash cycle. I suppose I wouldn't have to go thru there but all the other doors are sealed up as well as possible to keep water lines from freezing while animals are outside for the day.

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Anyone ever seen or heard of a heater for your rifle scope? Whenever I'm roaming around the farm knocking out pests and birds, sometimes I've got to take out nuisances in the barn. If the weather is cold; coming into the warm buildings from outside guarantees my scope lenses will fog up (or frost up if extremely cold). I thought if I could keep the scope warm I could avoid this. My first thought was to take a battery hunting sock and modify that to wrap the scope up tight.

Anyone dealt with a similar issue? If not I'll post back once I come up with a solution.

What always used to be what was done, was to leave the winter rifle out in the cold all winter. Rifle wouldn't come inside to warm up unless it needed fixed. Then enough time had to be planned out to let it FULLY dry out ! So when it went back outside nothing stuck , like trigger system , bolt /lever/pump ect system, mag, .
Nowadays with security issues rifles have to go in and out daily.
For years I brought a rifle with me everyday working in the woods. When I got home I would stand it up about 4 feet away from the woodstove.
In the morning I would look it over to make sure there was no moisture anywhere on it . Then back to work it would go.
That's why my go to rifles are all Ruger M77 Mk2 or Hawkeye's .
I would open the lenses covers when it came indoors and close them when it went back outside.

 

[Don A Parsons]

Use Pledge ,,, best anity fog stuff going.

 

[tmmcampbell]

Yep, when I hunt in the cold I leave my rifle in the truck. If it's cold it won't fog up.

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Using good lenses covers that seal well will keep the humidity moisture off the lenses. I know they are inexpensive but I like the Bikini covers. If they are pretty tight fitting they also provide a dead air space of insulation. Keeping dry air inside and moist air outside.

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

I do see your point as you sometimes have to use the scope in the warm moist air after being out in the cold. Maybe the electric sock would work with a scope coat over the top of it all ???
Kind of a necessity is the parent of invention kinda thing .

 

[therifleman556]

Kind of a necessity is the parent of invention kinda thing .

Necessity, well sort of... I wouldn't say critical to daily operations but when there's no time to go shooting I gotta think of ways to bring the shooting to me. And let's just say a farm is a very target rich environment....

 

[westcliffe01]

zip rifle into a case before bringing inside, If it has a decent air seal, you will avoid the condensation and frost.

 

[Hal The Slayer]

HMM! Never really had that problem,always bought my scopes at a Fire sale
I know I'm so bad!!

 

[Bravo 4]

My first morning elk hunting this past season I accidentally breathed on my ocular lense and it froze really fast. I had to put a hot hands on the eye piece to thaw before wiping off the moisture. I leave my rifles outside as well when possible for temp acclimation.

 

[J E Custom]

I sure would not put anything on my scope lens taking a chance to damage the coating. To keep your scope warm, you might use a Scopecoat or similar scope sleeve with a small HotHands packet inside.

I have done this before. only i just use a rubber band to hold the Hot Hands around the ocular lens I don't cover it with anything so It just heats up the ocular eye piece just enough that when I bring it up into battery the close proximity of my face or breath doesn't fog suddenly fog it.

If you place the hot hands on it so it has a chance to warm the scope and gas purge It works 90% of the time. Place it on top so that it doesn't interfere with bolt operation. The ocular eye piece seldom needs adjusting so there is no problem with it.

I also keep my binoculars under my coat for the same reason and only take them out when needed for a short time.

J E CUSTOM

 

[GonzoK34]

I have hunted in extreme cold weather, setting up a base camp and learned that applying anything to lens just doesn't work when it's time to shoot. The lens will fog up from the heat that escapes from your mouth and nose and the heat raising up out of your neck area.
We don't leave our rifles in the truck at night and leave them outside with a tarp over them. Heat from your tent, camp trailer or truck will retain the warmth on your rifle. Thus, it will fog up. If we're traveling early in the morning we place our rifles in the camper shell or a plain non-insulated case that maintains the outside temperature of the rifle steel.
But if and when you have to take a shot the last thing you want is a fogged lens.
GONZO

 

[Prairie]

The iron sights on my model 60 haven't fogged up yet no matter the temp change. If you need a scope in the barn it is one helluva barn

Now THAT's funny!!!!!