Is Air-Mailing a Milsurp Scope Safe?

Smitsauce

Smitsauce

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Hey,

I found a line on an old OIP 4X scope, Echo mount and rings for the FN49 in almost mint condition and it will be shipped internationally from Europe. Does anyone know if shipping such an old scope by air would do damage to the seals/optics from the low air pressure in the cargo hold? Are cargo holds in airplanes pressurized?

If there is concern, I can always try to have it shipped on the surface, but that would take a lot longer and I want it yesterday!!! HeHe

smitsauce
 
I think you will find the cargo hold is pressurized .. I shipped my dogs from the UK to Canada with few ill effects. If you think of it there a loads of guys flying around for shooting competitions etc with optics, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
I am not familiar with OIP scopes ... "if" the front lens is an achromat eg often a cemented doublet... there is some evidence to suggest that airplane trips "can" cause the cement to fail and result in separation of the elements.

This apparently happened to a Unertl spotting scope I purchased from Delta1 on this board ... which I received with significant separation around the objective perimeter. Delta1 informed me that the scope did not have this condition when shipped - as a result we concluded/agreed it must have happened in transit. As it seemed well padded and there was no exterior damage to the box - the only conclusion was that it suffered thermal or pressure (?)shock in transit. I have read of something like this happening to a camera lense as a result that particular seller no longer guarantees shipments by international airmail. YMMV.

I have purchased numerous new and used rifle scopes that have been shipped without any issue fwiw
 
Perhaps have the seller bubble wrap it and place it in a plastic pvc tube and glue and duct tape the plugs, and it should hold enough pressure to be safe, while still being x-ray translucent. It isn't like a pressurized can of shave cream or something, it only needs to hold a couple of PSI (well under 10psi).
 
either send him a UK case or pilican case and have him send it back in that, padded and hold pressure, if the scope is worth that much may be worth your while. Just had and old scope sent over with no issues,it was in the hold. You could send it surface, that is an option but it does take a few months.
 
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