Scope damage?
Can a scope be damaged by extreme cold and altitude. I fly for a privately held company and we go to Arizona a fair amount in the winter. Well, I got the okay to bring my rifle with me because we spend anywhere from 2-5days at a time down there. I put it in the aft baggage compartment, non-pressurized and very cold, maybe as low as -30C. Also the altitude was 41,000 on the way home.
The point is, at the range in AZ it was shooting good, just like in Iowa. 100-200 yards. We it seems to be all over the place now. It is an A-bolt hunter, wood stock in 25wssm. My general purpose hunting rifle. Any other ideas?
The point is, at the range in AZ it was shooting good, just like in Iowa. 100-200 yards. We it seems to be all over the place now. It is an A-bolt hunter, wood stock in 25wssm. My general purpose hunting rifle. Any other ideas?
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I would be more apt to think of issues with the wood stock swelling and casuing problems. 0 -
What brand scope? Are the screws tight on the base and rings? 0 -
It would seem the combination of extreme cold and very low atmospheric pressure at FL410 could easily cause seal failure and escape of nitrogen from inside a scope. The pressure differential would be high, and the change of tolerances and clearances as the various parts shrink and move apart could lend easily to seal failure and then fogging. I don't understand how mechanical looseness could enter into the scenario, but anything is possible. I never knew if Outside Air Temp were -40 degrees, how cold was it in the baggage compartment? I never thought it got down to anywhere near OAT, judging by baggage handled when landed. 0 -
I'll check on the stock. Also, it just has a Scheels scope, Its a rifle that doesn't get a lot of TLC. I do a lot of walking and hunting with that gun, never liked the synthetic look on a hunting rifle, maybe its time. 0 -
it should be fine. They are typicaly tested to low temps for leakage. 0 -
The dirty little secret about nitrogen filled scopes is that it is a purge..to get the air out that might contain water vapor. Visualizing a pressure filled capsule, as a guard against fogging just ain't happening. Any scope will lose its 'charge' over a period of time.That means that air will eventually replace the nitrogen.
All that being said, I would look to stock warpage, loosening of action screws..check that first.
I am not certain what is in the guts of a Scheels scope..never heard of them. If they use plastic for the pivot points...the plastic MIGHT have cracked.
One other thing...have you cleaned that hotrocks barrel completely ? They tend to goop up...0
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