,. The good , the bad and the ugly ,,, Any recommendations ....
The reason I ask is I was looking at a Burris ranger finder rifle scope but it only recomended 14 degree F minimum temp...... I may be out in - 45 and I don,t want a high dollar scope to fail ....

In extreme cold weather, anything running on a battery is best kept inside your jacket until you need it. Perhaps these are not the best conditions for a scope with built-in range finder? This would be one application where I'd go for separate scope and RF.

- mike

quote:

Originally posted by mho:
In extreme cold weather, anything running on a battery is best kept inside your jacket until you need it. Perhaps these are not the best conditions for a scope with built-in range finder? This would be one application where I'd go for separate scope and RF.

- mike

+1

I personally have never had any problem with scopes in cold weather, but our temps don't get that cold here, maybe to 10 below when I'm out.
And, I haven't read any posts by guys with scope problems in cold weather either.
But, rangefinders with batteries is a big concern. Battery efficiency in that kind of cold would be marginal at best. I'd recommend Lithium batteries, and as MHO says, keep the rangfinder inside your coat and you should be ok.

Don

Thanks for the replies and the Link . At least Night Force tests their scopes @ 80 below .......

I was going to Colorado for muleys and elk, but the tax man cometh....maybe next year. When I was looking at rangefinders, the first question I asked was "how low a temp. will this unit work in?" I was suprised by whose units weren't rated for very much below freezing!
Robert

... Please do share .... @ 12 deg. F. this morning this is pretty warm for what most of the winter will be ....I fully expect to hunt in 20 below and colder lots ......

quote:

Originally posted by gumboot458:
I was looking at a Burris ranger finder rifle scope but it only recomended 14 degree F minimum temp...... I may be out in - 45 and I don,t want a high dollar scope to fail ....

You can send a thank you letter to Burris for the clue, buy a Leupold that needs no batteries, and let the ranger find himself.

KB

Take a Swarovski both scope and rangefinder... They are absolutely the best. If they won´t wok, I guess it´s too cold for all the others as well!

This baby is rated to -49° F:

http://www.kalinkaoptics.com/detail.aspx?ID=774

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
This baby is rated to -49° F:

http://www.kalinkaoptics.com/detail.aspx?ID=774

rating is one thing - what it realy works the other...

In any case it must contain a strong Lithium cell, becuase this is the only which works in the cold. And if You could make a connection by cable (photo equipment or/and self made) and putting the battery inside your clothing, this should avoid the energy source problem...

quote:

Originally posted by scubapro:

rating is one thing - what it realy works the other...

Vodka based anti-freeze?