The scope of your rifle is just as important as any other part: the scope allows you to see over a long distance and improves your accuracy. If your scope is unclear, it can affect your visual perception and accuracy.
Dust particles and debris tend to form on our lens after some time. You need to take proper care of your lens, especially when cleaning. Rifle scopes can easily be damaged if caution is not taken.
If you’re looking for how to clean your scope lens, you’re in the right place. This post will discuss how to clean scope lenses and the materials you’ll need.
How to Clean Scope Lens
Cleaning the lens of your scope isn’t a big deal – if you have the right guidance! All you need is the right material and steps to follow. We’re going to list all the materials you need to get if you don’t have them, and a detailed process to follow.
Let’s start with the materials.
Materials for Cleaning Scope Lens
Some rifle scopes come with a cleaning kit that contains all the essential tools and chemicals. If you already have a kit, then some of the things we’ll mention should already be present. However, if you don’t have a kit, here are some things you’ll need:
Blower
The blower is a small mechanical device that emits a gentle stream of air on compression: the common types are the rubber blower and the blower bulb. The blower is effective for blowing off dust, debris, and other particles from the surface of the lens.
Using a blower removes the need to touch the lens directly with your finger. You can get a blower from the hardware store or your gun store.
Lens Pen
The lens cleaning pen is a special pen-like tool with a soft brush at one end. The pen is used to scrape off stubborn stains or dirt stuck to the lens. The bristles are soft and compatible with the lens, to avoid scratching or damaging the protective coat.
Lens Tissue or Lens Paper
The lens tissue is another soft material used to clean the lens further. The tissue is also used for applying the lens-cleaning solution and wiping the lens clean. Using any other material is not advisable because it could scratch the protective coat.
If you don’t have lens tissue, you could use a microfiber cleaning cloth or something with similar softness. Note that it’s wrong to use facial tissue or toilet paper on your lens: it’s coarse, and bad for the protective coat.
Optic Cleaning Solution
Optic cleaning solution is an antibacterial solution that removes stubborn stains and dirt completely from your lens. Be careful when getting your solution: some solutions contain chemicals that aren’t good for your lens.
Check your user manual before purchasing any solution. Some manufacturers specify the brand of cleaning solution to use, and it’s best to listen to the manufacturer.
Cleaning Your Scope Lens
Now that you know the materials to use, let’s look at the steps to follow:
The Manual
Before doing anything, it’s best to first read through the user manual. The manual usually contains all the information regarding cleaning the scope, including the do’s and don’ts. Reading the manual will give you a solid idea of what chemicals to avoid, and how to clean the lens.
Use Your Blower
Now that you’re done with the manual, it’s time to clean.
First, use your blower to remove dust particles and loose dirt from the lens. Don’t touch the lens with your fingers for any reason: this is what the blower is for. Use the blower on both sides of your scope and also the turret.
If you still notice some dirt or particles after using the blower, move to the next step.
Use Your Lens Pen
The lens pen has bristles that loosen any dirt the blower can’t remove. These bristles are soft and suitable for your lens: they won’t leave any scratches. If you don’t have a lens-cleaning pen, we advise getting one from your hardware store. It’s not recommendable to use a substitute, because it might be too hard.
The lens pen will remove any gritty particles left, and you can move to the next step.
Use Your Cleaning Solution and Lens Tissue
At this point, the only things left on the lens should be stains, fingerprints, or water stains. If you notice gritty substances on the lens, use the blower and the pen again until they’re gone.
We’re emphasizing the need for your lens to be free of debris because dirt will scratch the lens when you start wiping with the tissue. The tissue and solution are just for stains, not solid particles.
Drop a small portion of the alcohol solution onto your lens tissue: ensure it doesn’t soak the tissue. Use the damp tissue to wipe both lenses until they appear clear.
Also, don’t use the same tissue twice. If you’ve used the tissue to wipe the lens once, discard it and use a fresh set. Reusing the tissue can add stains instead of removing them.
Once you’re done cleaning, leave the lens to dry, and then cover it with the lens cap.
Tip For Cleaning
We’ve shown you the materials you need for cleaning and the steps to follow. Now, we want to highlight some tips to make the job easier.
Don’t Use Cleaning Solution on the Lens
The cleaning solution should never be applied directly to the lens. Directly applying the solution can break the seal and cause fluid to leak into your scope. To avoid this, use your cleaning tissue or microfiber to apply the solution.
Easy Does It
Cleaning your scope lens doesn’t require much force, and applying too much force can cause nicks and scratches on the lens. Instead, gently rub the tissue over the lens and let the optic cleaning solution do the rest.
Conclusion
Your rifle scope lens is crucial to your accuracy, especially over long distances. If your scope is dirty, it won’t be easy to make out images or views in the distance.
We’ve prepared easy steps showing how to clean a scope lens and the materials you’ll need. This post will make cleaning your lens and maintaining your rifle easier.
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