Flip up scope cover opinions?

Rifle scopes, iron sights and optics. Spotting scopes and target acquisition devices.

Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by Will » 07 Feb 2017, 12:49 pm

I've got a Vortex rifle scope and it doesn't come with any scope covers.

I will only be taking my rifle out to shoot once a month or so, in decent weather.

Butler creek caps seem handy, but they're $70 a pair and don't feel super strong I gotta say.

I figure I can just give them a wipe when needed and drape a cloth over it while it's in storage and it will do the same job?

That, or should I just suck it up and buy some covers?
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by Barnard » 07 Feb 2017, 3:55 pm

stubby holders on the ends do the same thing. :thumbsup:
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by bladeracer » 07 Feb 2017, 4:17 pm

Will wrote:I've got a Vortex rifle scope and it doesn't come with any scope covers.

I will only be taking my rifle out to shoot once a month or so, in decent weather.

Butler creek caps seem handy, but they're $70 a pair and don't feel super strong I gotta say.

I figure I can just give them a wipe when needed and drape a cloth over it while it's in storage and it will do the same job?

That, or should I just suck it up and buy some covers?


The only reason I've found for scope covers is rain, but it is nice to know the lenses are protected just in case of stones hitting them.
I use flip-ups but I break them a lot. I've had pins fall out so the cover gets lost. When open the covers get caught on things and need very little effort to snap them off. I've even snapped them off laying a rifle on a bench. I don't let them flip-up under spring tension as that can break them as well, so the ones that have a separate catch I just find fiddly to use.
I haven't found a better solution though so I just keep replacing the damned things with cheap Chinese knock-offs. Non flip-ups are a hassle for me, either requiring transfer to a pocket or banging around on a tether.
I'd like to machine my own out of aluminium if I ever find the time.
I've tried transparent covers as well but there's no advantage to them - you can't see through them well enough for any practical purpose anyway.
I generally just use a rear cover as I've found the front to be unnecessary. I sling my rifles muzzle down and they live in the safe muzzle down as well. I carry them with a single-point sling so they're also muzzle down so it's difficult to get rain on the front lens.
With the heavier calibers I've also had the front covers come off under recoil.

Frankly, I find scope covers bloody annoying, but when I go out without them I am very much aware of having to protect the lens from the weather.
Your idea of cloth is good. I'm thinking a simple flap of T-shirt material might be a very much better solution! It can't break, it's silent...I'm going to try that myself.
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by juststarting » 07 Feb 2017, 5:09 pm

If you're hunting, you'll need to have them open and they become very annoying very fast. Opening them to shoot is too loud and too slow. Buy a cheap scope cover on eBay for transportation...

For range rifle flip caps are great.
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by bigfellascott » 07 Feb 2017, 5:21 pm

I just use the butler creek ones - cot em for nothing and fitted a couple of scopes - come in handy on cold nights when fogging can be an issue when spotlighting - quick to open -press of a button.
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by Gwion » 07 Feb 2017, 9:30 pm

They sh*t me to tears. Leave them on for storage and take them off for use.

I like the stubbie holder idea. I'm gonna steal that one!
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by Lorgar » 14 Feb 2017, 2:19 pm

I bought 2 pairs and 3 out of the snapped or cracked to the point of being useless withing a month or two :?

I wouldn't buy them again personally.
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by bigfellascott » 14 Feb 2017, 3:18 pm

Lorgar wrote:I bought 2 pairs and 3 out of the snapped or cracked to the point of being useless withing a month or two :?

I wouldn't buy them again personally.


Are they the ones in ya pic ? :mrgreen: I think there were 2 versions of the Butlers one were made in the US of A and then they switched over to the Chinese Made ones - not hard to work out which ones were the less reliable. :D

So far the ones we have on a few rifles have been fine (not sure where they were made never looked) personally I don't really bother with them on most of my rifles, I just clean the scope before use and I'm into it.
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by Lorgar » 15 Feb 2017, 12:53 pm

It was years ago now, no idea if mine where US or China made.

Maybe they've improved a lot, but given the last lot I wouldn't buy another pair unless they felt rock solid.
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by kritch » 17 Feb 2017, 10:39 am

Tried them and broke them myself too.

Sticking with sleeves in future.
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by Lokvo » 17 Feb 2017, 12:50 pm

I wanted to get some of the butler creek ones but I put my rifles into gun socks and with the scopes are a bit tight to get in and the stock scope covers that came with the scope just come off easily in the process and I think aftermarket scope covers will do the same thing :(
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by deye243 » 18 Feb 2017, 3:16 am

now you know why I like my leupolds
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by bladeracer » 18 Feb 2017, 3:22 am

deye243 wrote:now you know why I like my leupolds



I don't, would you like to elaborate?
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by deye243 » 18 Feb 2017, 2:32 pm

the only two brands I have owned in the last 25 years and ever will own are leupold and night force

and this is the reason that I have a loopy on non precision rifles they just don't get any better than this . 8-)

flip ups.jpg
flip ups.jpg (22.46 KiB) Viewed 5046 times

.

it piss's me of that I have to put some s**ty plastic covers on a night force . :oops:
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by bladeracer » 18 Feb 2017, 5:17 pm

deye243 wrote:the only two brands I have owned in the last 25 years and ever will own are leupold and night force

and this is the reason that I have a loopy on non precision rifles they just don't get any better than this . 8-)

flip ups.jpg

.

it piss's me of that I have to put some s**ty plastic covers on a night force . :oops:



Do Leupold come with the aluminium flip-ups or do you pay extra for them?
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by deye243 » 18 Feb 2017, 8:22 pm

you pay a "lot" extra for them
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by bladeracer » 18 Feb 2017, 9:19 pm

deye243 wrote:you pay a "lot" extra for them



Yes, I thought that would be the case :-)
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by bigfellascott » 19 Feb 2017, 7:44 am

deye243 wrote:you pay a "lot" extra for them


Bloody oath they are expensive little suckers for what they are.
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by bigfellascott » 19 Feb 2017, 7:45 am

Just buy some Neoprene ones - cost bugger all

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/1820850 ... oCExTw_wcB
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by deye243 » 19 Feb 2017, 2:21 pm

bit of a hassle to take off and put back on every shot though Scott , I live on the vic coast and the area

is that grey sandy soil so this time of year the dust is real bad so without flip ups you have to clean your

lens's more than once a night :o and that stuff is like cutting past . :evil:

I have been using the loopy flipups ever since they came out 20 odd years I think so they are cheap AFAIC

as now I only clean lens's once every 12 - 18 months and never had to replace one as so far they just keep

on flip'n . 8-)


cheers D
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by bladeracer » 04 Mar 2017, 12:37 am

I got one of these last week - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/361373326966
Pretty happy with it so far, although it is quite expensive.
Moulded in one piece and I think it'll be hard to break.
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by bigfellascott » 04 Mar 2017, 11:07 am

Butlers were good enough for shooter to use so good enough for me :D
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by sandgroperbill » 04 Mar 2017, 10:49 pm

Late to the party, but I use neoprene covers, too. Take them off once I'm at my destination and leave then in the rifle case.
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Re: Flip up scope cover opinions?

Post by Sako308 » 05 Mar 2017, 12:27 pm

Butler Creeks are fine if you're not rough on them, the new model Vortex Defenders are a good solid option, and can flip/lock open flat against the scope so don't stick up in the air.
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