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gunlaker
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using old scopes in cold weather
Nov 12th, 2025 at 2:29pm
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I've never used by Unertl, or Lyman Targetspot & Super Target Spot scopes in below freezing weather for fear of fogging them up when I bring them back inside.  Should I be worried about that or would they be fine?

Chris.
  
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bpjack
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Re: using old scopes in cold weather
Reply #1 - Nov 12th, 2025 at 3:07pm
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Move out of Canada, Chris, maybe Arizona.  Then you can worry about other things like your lube melting.   

Jack
  

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Re: using old scopes in cold weather
Reply #2 - Nov 12th, 2025 at 8:10pm
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Slide the rig into a guncase before taking it back inside and it shouldnt condense. If its cold enough outside to worry about condensation I will do with a gun scope or no just to protect the gun.
  
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Re: using old scopes in cold weather
Reply #3 - Nov 13th, 2025 at 12:41pm
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Ha. I don't like heat.  I've been to the Ben Avery range in March and it was as much heat as I want.  I can't imagine later in the year.

Rifleman, I always case my rifles before leaving the range.  In winter they are still below freezing when I un-case them in my gun room and I can definitely see condensation on the barrels when they get into the house.  Any time metal parts are cold like that they'll cause some amount of condensation.  Before I put the rifles back into the safe I make sure they have fully warmed up.  In really cold weather I blow warm air from my heat gun ( set on low ) down the barrels to prevent moisture buildup. 

Chris.
  
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Schuetzendave
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Re: using old scopes in cold weather
Reply #4 - Nov 13th, 2025 at 12:57pm
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I have barreled a number of rifles for hunters in Canada that wandered the bush for a week without shooting their rifle and then storing them in a closet at home. 
They never realized condensation had formed inside their barrels which ended up being severely pitted when they took them out to shoot the next season.
I always barreled them with stainless steel barrels and always recommend hunters always immediately clean their rifles when they bring them indoors regardless if they have been shot or not.
Picture of a Sako I put a new barrel on that had condensation rusting.

People using moly coated bullets shot in barrels with condensation would form a carbide which could not be removed and which destroyed the accuracy of the rifle.
I replaced a few of them as well.
Only use moly coated bullets in dry and warm conditions.
« Last Edit: Nov 13th, 2025 at 1:07pm by Schuetzendave »  
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Re: using old scopes in cold weather
Reply #5 - Nov 14th, 2025 at 2:43pm
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Yeah I do the same Dave.  I take them out of the case and run a patch through to remove any condensation that formed on the ride home.  If the rifle isn't super cold I let it sit in the cleaning cradle until it warms up then I patch it again and clean it.  If it was a below freezing day I'll warm the barrel & bore with my heat gun on low.  That'll remove any condensation as well as keep any new from forming.

Have you used any of your old Lyman/Unerl scopes in the cold Dave?  I'm not too worried about the rifles because they are easy to deal with, but I really don't want condensation inside my old scope tubes.  I have been using my various MVA & DZ scopes in cold weather because in the worst case they are easy to take apart.  Plus they are easier to replace of course.   

Chris.
  
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Re: using old scopes in cold weather
Reply #6 - Nov 19th, 2025 at 10:51pm
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So, I thought I had an answer to your question, but was not sure. Now I think I have a good fix. I got the idea from the instructions with my digital camera. They say to put the cold camera in a zip lock bag before bringing it into the house. I do, and it works.
Today was supposed to be 15 degrees F. I did not check the temp, but went out and shot my Remington model 37 with a Spot Shot R.A. Litschert scope on it. I shot probable 20-30 minutes. My hands got cold. My hands don't get cold at 15F so I checked the temp and it was Zero F. The rifle was cold, not so cold it burned me, but was cold enough to be uncomfortable to touch steel. I got a big black heavy duty trash bag, like you put leaves in. Put the rifle in it, twisted the top shut, folded the top over and rubber banded it to the barrel, and brought it into the house. Then I thought of this post. Darn, I did not plan it as an experiment, so questioned if zero was cold enough to frost a rifle, so I put a different rifle out and let it get cold. When I brought it back in, it did not frost like they do at 20 below, but it wetted up quickly.
When My Model 37 was warm, I opened the bag to a dry rifle, and no apparent leakage in the scope.
Again, I did not design this as an experiment, I was trying to prevent a screw up, so my control rifle was out side longer than my sample and may have been colder than the sample. Maybe the sample was not cold enough to frost up. Maybe it wouldn't work as well at 20-30 below, but it worked for me at Zero. Good luck
  

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Re: using old scopes in cold weather
Reply #7 - Nov 20th, 2025 at 6:42pm
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I like that idea!  Minimize the moist air around the scope while it warms up.

thanks,

Chris.
  
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