Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire What Are The Best Flip Up Scope Covers

I have finally decided to get some scope covers, but I don't want to get junkers, what is best???

Does anyone make them other than Butler Creek? Hell, I've even got one on my UniFlow...

I'm fond of the Leupold ones for my Leupold scopes. Otherwise, it's Butler Creek for me.

Ed

I'm a huge fan of the Leupold Alumina screw in type for the vx2/3 scopes. Love the clean lines. A bit pricey, but I think they look better than the traditional plastic and rubber types. It doesn't hurt either that I'm a Leupold fan. However, it would be great to see other scope manufacturers do the same.

As for non factory, Butler Creek make some nice ones.

Be careful of the Butler Creek Blizzard see-thru ones. The optical quality since they moved production to China has been horrible. Unusable in my experience. YMMV.

Doesn't make sense to me to pay good money for a good scope with good glass.....and then look through it via a cheap piece of plastic! I use the bikini scope covers, and then just take it off when necessary.

Leupold Alumina Flip Back are the best I've seen, but fit only Leupy scopes and they're pricey.

DF

I looked at some and there were at least 3 different kinds. I would never use a see through cover to shoot, I am just interested in a good durable flip up cover that works over and over...

Butler Creek, non see thru models, works great, cheap, and you can find them anywhere

Bad thing about the ones that fit real good is that they can trap moisture, therefore fogging the outside of the scope lens.

Agreed! 100%

+1

I've largely gone away from flip ups, especially on hard-kicking guns. If you get careless or crowd the scope their added length and/or the hinge can bite you. You can forget to pop the covers open when they should be. The open covers can snag on brush. I used them for years, but there are just too many drawbacks compared to the slip-on neoprene covers. They're all I use now.

+2.

I like the bikini covers because you can get them off real quick and don't have to mess with flipping the individual scope covers.

They're lightweight, fit all objective sizes and are extremely economical. I've had Butler Creek and Leupy's and definitely prefer the bikini.

Best for what?

Leupold Aluminas are classy as heck but only fit newer Leup's. They worked well in the all-day drizzle for me on 2.5-8's. The price will shock you.

Swaro has a proprietary one that I've not used.

On my Conquests and Swarovski and older Leup's I use Butler Creeks. They are cheap, not classy, not hard to break, but do usually keep lenses dry in a drizzle. And they are cheap. And available. And cheap. I'll be buying another objective one for my Swaro 3-10 as I just broke another one elk hunting.

I use pieces of inner tubes.

+1 on BC non see-through flip-ups.

Nothing not to like.

I would love to see that on Shrap's quiver of Sakos.

^ This ^

I don't use 'em, period..

I don't know why scope makers don't have, as an accessory, a screw-on hood similar to large camera lenses.. Those would keep the elements at bay while ensuring no deterioration in glass quality..

But, whatever.. I've hunted in inclement weather in NW Wisconsin many years; rain, snow, you-name-it and I've been in it.. never needed scope covers..

I have a set of Butler Creeks without the plastic lens. At least I have a front one. I took off the rear one when I got busted in the eye since it sticks back an inch behind the scope. When carrying the rifle slung over my shoulder, the rear one isn't needed anyway.
The front one does give good protection and it's very easy to use in the field. However, it will trap moisture and a little fogging on the front scope lens is very possible on a wet day. I've considered drilling a couple small holes in the side to let it breathe but I don't know if that would solve it without killing the reason for the cover in the 1st place.