Cleaning Rifle scopes

Wallyl · February 22, 2022, 08:21 AM

Perhaps I may be the last to know....I shoot a lot of cast bullet loads in my CF rifles (when I can find primers). I try to keep my rifle scope optics clean and use a brush to do so. However the objective (front lense) will get a film on it from bullet lube. Using a glass cleaner and tissue paper does not work well to remove it; it just smears it up. I recently tried a clean microfiber cloth; I sprayed the glass cleaner on it and carerfully rubbed it on the lense..lightly polishing ---it cleaned it perfectly...sparkling clean. I have found it best to clean the front lense often, to avoid any appreciable buildup of the bullet lube on it.

BornFighting88 · February 22, 2022, 12:04 PM

There is a spray can of this stuff called Invisible Glass by Stoner. Sold at auto parts stores. I use it on my safety glasses at work. Nothing compares. Nothing.

I even used it on my scopes. I don’t have the filming issue, but if it rains or snows or whatever during a day on a hunt, the objective lens suddenly looks like a drop of oil was dripped into a glass of water.

Used to use Windex, but it was a “bandaid”.

You know what else I have had great luck with, is going on like MSC Direct website and picking up a box of those pre-moistened wipes by Pro-Safe. It evaporates after application. I use it on both ends of my glass. Poor deer don’t stand a chance.

jpx2rk · February 22, 2022, 04:38 PM

I've used plain ol rubbing alcohol as it dries quickly, and doesn't streak much. I just then remove any streaks with a microfiber towel. The cloths that come with many scopes just smear any "film" around, and don't clean IMO.

Big Wes · February 24, 2022, 12:10 PM

ZEISS Lens Wipes

Bob Willman · February 24, 2022, 01:51 PM

I'm not sure about scopes, but the best way to clean eyeglasses is with Dawn dish soap. Wet the lenses with warm water and apply a little Dawn to each surface. Spread with a finger. Rinse Dawn off your finger very very thorougly. When you think it is off rinse again. Dawn is very tenacious. Rinse lenses under running water while wiping with your finger. Again when you think the Dawn is gone, rinse some more. Wipe lenses with a clean cotton cloth.

Bob
WB8NQW

iosteyee · March 14, 2022, 09:08 AM

+1 for Bob. A watered down solution of dawn should remove the "lube" film. Watered down in order to be as gentle on lens coating as possible.

Shadow9mm · March 14, 2022, 10:51 AM

my eye dr. advised me not to use windex, as that was one of the fastest way to remove the anti glare coatings I put on it. for my scopes, I generally just use eye glass cleaner in a small spritzer bottle, or invisible glass spray from my automotive kit.

WmMunny · March 15, 2022, 10:43 AM

If lenses on expensive scopes are multicoated like good camera lenses are, I'd be concerned about the effect of most of the above-mentioned potions on the coatings.

Photo equipment dealers sell purpose-formulated lens cleaning solutions. And BTW, they are always applied to a lens cleaning cloth or tissue-- never directly onto the glass.

If I had an expensive scope (I don't any more), I'd start by asking the scope manufacturer what they recommend.

FITASC · March 15, 2022, 11:19 AM

After getting it cleaned, maybe invest in a clear protective lens cover like we used to used on expensive 35mm cameras - easier to take that off to clean

langenc · March 15, 2022, 04:47 PM

I was under the impression that alcohol containing cleaners for scope was bad??

Rhodester · March 15, 2022, 06:19 PM

+1 for Invisible Glass. I have used it for years. Great stuff.

Unkl Chuck · March 16, 2022, 11:31 AM

If your soft micro fiber cloth is smearing, wash it with blue(duck) Dawn, rinse thoroughly and dry. Zeiss lens wipes are good. If you can find a real camera shop, they'll fix you up on lens cleaner.
And I still put a clear filter on my camera lenses. Scopes are often an 'odd' filter size or not even threaded. If the OP can find one that fits, that is the best solution.

February 22, 2022, 08:21 AM	#1
Wallyl Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2011 Posts: 255	Cleaning Rifle scopes Perhaps I may be the last to know....I shoot a lot of cast bullet loads in my CF rifles (when I can find primers). I try to keep my rifle scope optics clean and use a brush to do so. However the objective (front lense) will get a film on it from bullet lube. Using a glass cleaner and tissue paper does not work well to remove it; it just smears it up. I recently tried a clean microfiber cloth; I sprayed the glass cleaner on it and carerfully rubbed it on the lense..lightly polishing ---it cleaned it perfectly...sparkling clean. I have found it best to clean the front lense often, to avoid any appreciable buildup of the bullet lube on it.

February 24, 2022, 12:10 PM	#4
Big Wes Member Join Date: November 18, 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 46	ZEISS Lens Wipes __________________ " Hollow Points.....From Those Who Care Enough To Send The Very Best"

March 14, 2022, 10:51 AM	#7
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,986	my eye dr. advised me not to use windex, as that was one of the fastest way to remove the anti glare coatings I put on it. for my scopes, I generally just use eye glass cleaner in a small spritzer bottle, or invisible glass spray from my automotive kit. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

March 15, 2022, 11:19 AM	#9
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,452	After getting it cleaned, maybe invest in a clear protective lens cover like we used to used on expensive 35mm cameras - easier to take that off to clean __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

February 22, 2022, 12:04 PM	#2
BornFighting88 Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2021 Posts: 455	There is a spray can of this stuff called Invisible Glass by Stoner. Sold at auto parts stores. I use it on my safety glasses at work. Nothing compares. Nothing. I even used it on my scopes. I don’t have the filming issue, but if it rains or snows or whatever during a day on a hunt, the objective lens suddenly looks like a drop of oil was dripped into a glass of water. Used to use Windex, but it was a “bandaid”. You know what else I have had great luck with, is going on like MSC Direct website and picking up a box of those pre-moistened wipes by Pro-Safe. It evaporates after application. I use it on both ends of my glass. Poor deer don’t stand a chance.

February 22, 2022, 04:38 PM	#3
jpx2rk Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2015 Posts: 387	I've used plain ol rubbing alcohol as it dries quickly, and doesn't streak much. I just then remove any streaks with a microfiber towel. The cloths that come with many scopes just smear any "film" around, and don't clean IMO.

February 24, 2022, 01:51 PM	#5
Bob Willman Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2018 Location: Bowling Green, Ohio Posts: 112	I'm not sure about scopes, but the best way to clean eyeglasses is with Dawn dish soap. Wet the lenses with warm water and apply a little Dawn to each surface. Spread with a finger. Rinse Dawn off your finger very very thorougly. When you think it is off rinse again. Dawn is very tenacious. Rinse lenses under running water while wiping with your finger. Again when you think the Dawn is gone, rinse some more. Wipe lenses with a clean cotton cloth. Bob WB8NQW

March 14, 2022, 09:08 AM	#6
iosteyee Member Join Date: April 29, 2020 Posts: 29	+1 for Bob. A watered down solution of dawn should remove the "lube" film. Watered down in order to be as gentle on lens coating as possible.

March 15, 2022, 10:43 AM	#8
WmMunny Member Join Date: October 23, 2021 Location: Deep South Posts: 72	If lenses on expensive scopes are multicoated like good camera lenses are, I'd be concerned about the effect of most of the above-mentioned potions on the coatings. Photo equipment dealers sell purpose-formulated lens cleaning solutions. And BTW, they are always applied to a lens cleaning cloth or tissue-- never directly onto the glass. If I had an expensive scope (I don't any more), I'd start by asking the scope manufacturer what they recommend.

March 15, 2022, 04:47 PM	#10
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,551	I was under the impression that alcohol containing cleaners for scope was bad??

March 15, 2022, 06:19 PM	#11
Rhodester Member Join Date: January 30, 2019 Location: North Canton, Ohio Posts: 36	+1 for Invisible Glass. I have used it for years. Great stuff.

March 16, 2022, 11:31 AM	#12
Unkl Chuck Member Join Date: December 21, 2012 Location: south of the piney woods,TX Posts: 64	If your soft micro fiber cloth is smearing, wash it with blue(duck) Dawn, rinse thoroughly and dry. Zeiss lens wipes are good. If you can find a real camera shop, they'll fix you up on lens cleaner. And I still put a clear filter on my camera lenses. Scopes are often an 'odd' filter size or not even threaded. If the OP can find one that fits, that is the best solution.