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Scope damage?

skyfishskyfish Member Posts: 1,068 ✭✭✭✭
edited February 2009 in Perry Shooter Competition Shooting and Reloading Forum
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?
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Comments

  • BHAVINBHAVIN Member Posts: 3,490 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would be more apt to think of issues with the wood stock swelling and casuing problems.
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  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What brand scope? Are the screws tight on the base and rings?
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  • PA ShootistPA Shootist Member Posts: 691 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    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.
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  • skyfishskyfish Member Posts: 1,068 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    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.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    it should be fine. They are typicaly tested to low temps for leakage.
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  • HighballHighball Member Posts: 15,755
    edited November -1
    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...
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