Why argon purge rifle scopes

[hiyoh]

Hi,

I'd like to know a bit about why some rifles scopes are purge with argon.

Purging seems to be a pretty common feature between the 'entry level' and 'upper level' scopes from quite a few scope brands.

Looking at some of the Bushnell for example, the elite series scopes are argon purged while the lower series scopes like the trophy banner are nitrogen purged.

What's the difference?

Cheers.

[Lorgar]

Nitrogen is more stable than oxygen (and CO2) if I remember right. For the inside of a rifle tube which you want sealed against moisture this is good.

This is chemistry stuff above my head but I think the benefit of argon is it won't bond with oxygen so won't oxidise inside your scope, so nothing can corrode.

Someone who's more on top of this can hopefully confirm/correct whatever I've got right or wrong

[Guliver]

Any real advantages to Argon or is this just marketing hype?

http://www.opticstalk.com/nitrogen-vs-a ... 17237.html

[Joom]

Completely off topic, but just interesting...

I read the Nissan fill the tyres of their new GTR's with Nitrogen instead of air because it's more stable.

Fun fact for the day

[Chronos]

It's about what happens to the gas during temperature changes. Nitrogen expands less when heated. Hence why it's used in race car tyres. To stop massive pressures differences between hot and cold tyres

I can only imagine there's a minute advantage using argon as it's much more expensive than nitrogen (which it one if the most common gases on earth)

Chronos

[Rocker]

According to the sales pitch from Bushnell...

Due to its large atom size, Argon gas is less likely to dissipate from the scope body, doesn’t create chemical reactions that can result in corrosion or degradation of seals, and transfers heat at a slower rate, reducing thermal conduction within the scope.

[Rakk]

I read the Nissan fill the tyres of their new GTR's with Nitrogen instead of air because it's more stable.

I think I saw this on Top Gear when they did raced the GTR against a train through Japan?

Anyway, even with the engines in those they assemble them by machine in a vacuum sealed environment to ensure everything's perfect and not a grain of dusts gets in its assembly.

Crazy precise...

[Chronos]

I read the Nissan fill the tyres of their new GTR's with Nitrogen instead of air because it's more stable.

I think I saw this on Top Gear when they did raced the GTR against a train through Japan?

Anyway, even with the engines in those they assemble them by machine in a vacuum sealed environment to ensure everything's perfect and not a grain of dusts gets in its assembly.

Crazy precise...

Still just a Datsun. LOL

Chronos

[Redwood]

Go the 180B!

[Chronos]

Go the 180B!

LOL, had one of those, a lot of fun sideways action was had

Chronos

[Ariat]

A neighbour of ours lives on the exit of a round-about.

A lot of sideways fun has been had through the brick wall outlining their property

Someone's goes through it about once a year.

[The Brass]

Only on the internet could you get from Argon filled rifle scopes to a Datsun 180B so quickly...

[Noisydad]

Only on the internet could you get from Argon filled rifle scopes to a Datsun 180B so quickly...

You wont EVER see that happen on a Murican forum! Waaaayyyy to uptight!

[Hercl]

Yeah, wouldn't want to have anything fun happening on their forums