lens shades

[Buck 89]

When do you need to use a lens shades for scope?

 

[Hombre0321]

Thats a really good question. I am a Long Range Benchrest shooter, I also use Nighforce Scopes. Mostly NXS but I do have one rifle with a Nighforce Benchrest 12-42 scope. I leave my Sun Shades screwed on all of the time. The purpose of the SunShade is to help with the "Mirage" coming up from a heated barrel. A barrel Mirage shield works well as well but they may let a little Mirage bled in from the edge of the shield.

Now to answer your question. It would depend on Your use of the rifle. In competition I see no real need to ever remove the SunShade. If you are using it for hunting I am not sure you ever need one. If you spend a day hunting PD were there can be a ton of shooting I would have one on then for sure.....

Roland

 

[RDavies]

You use them when the sun is low in the sky near the targets to stop the glare. They are also handy when it is raining to keep rain off the lense.

 

[fdshuster]

A big YES to what RDavies said. I bought a new Leupold Comp. Series 40x last Summer, thought I could get by without a sunshade. Everything was fine 'til we started getting a light misting rain blowing in under the roof, from the front. Could not keep the objective lens from getting soaked.

Isn't it amazing how these things always turn up in a match, not when you're doing some informal shooting?

Another lesson learned: sunshades are not only for "the sun". Placed an order for one (Sinclair) as soon as I got home. If not on the scope, it's in the range box and at every match.

 

[vern]

Where might one find lens shades for the leupold competition scopes? OR do they even make them?

 

[Buck 89]

You get them at Sinclair or Midway

 

[K22]

I use them for groundhog hunting. Most of the time I don't need them but when the sun is in my face and low in the sky as it is in late afternoon I've found that they help me get a clearer view of the target.

 

[necchi]

+1,,
Just what RDavies and fdshuster said.

 

[SS427]

This winter I took mine off thinking I didn't need them cause I wasn't shooting in the sun. The range I shoot at faces north, so the sun is never a problem. I was amazed at how much more mirage I saw when I took them off. It was to the point I couldn't shoot. I would have to blow down the top of the barrel to dispel the heat. I put them back on and while the mirage didn't disappear, it was a huge improvement.