Leupold aluminum scope covers

Cteve

Cteve

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
68   0   1
I was planning on getting some aluminum scope covers for my vx-f scout scope but man, $280 WOW, why, wtf....
Why are these so bloody expensive? They are just covers.
Are there any other options that are good or is this it?
I cant see myself buys these at that price, just crazy.
 
I did consider those for a while but for that amount of coins I can go through quite a few plastic caps

My rationale is the aluminum caps will certainly do a better job at protecting the lenses but if I slip and fall on scree, the scope tube will take the brunt and the lenses might also crack. Nevertheless lenses without a straight body are quite useless.

whereas if I were to impress a lady with a scope-caps obsession, $280 is cheaper than wine and dine :sneaky:
 
156821 said:
I use a neoprene scope cover. I drag my rifles all over rough country on my pack. I think it’s the way to go. Some of them have a flaps that cover the action to keep debris out of the action.
Click to expand...
yeah, most likely the way im going....pfft...$280
 
In my limited experiences the Alumina covers are just the best way to go but I agree with your sticker shock; they are definitely testing what the market will bare.
For hunting I’ve found the rubber bikini covers work good but they don’t tend to last so the lower cost adds up over time, in maybe 3 or 4 lifetimes you might get up to the cost of those fancier Leupold covers…
I recently tried some MKM 3D printed covers on some non Leupold scopes and so far they have impressed me for what they are but by the time you are past all the extra costs the difference isn’t as great as one would hope - if you can afford one, you can afford the other, and the Alumina is still the better option.
But what is affordable now?…buy a steak lately…
 
There is something nice and different execution of the Leupold Alumina covers, no doubt. Are they functionally better than say the more utilitarian Tenebraex (Canadian) offering? Well I guess it depends on what and how you use your equipment in the field. Others get by with a neoprene cover or no cover at all. Each use case is different.
 
Last edited:
On the opposite note, I never use scope covers, not even in a blizzard, because I wouldn't be hunting in it. Every split-second counts when hunting big game. Fiddling with scope covers or dial a distance may result in a lost opportunity, especially when hunting a big buck or bull.
 
My scope is mounted so low i can't use anything but a neoprene cover. But I'm happy with it. It comes off fast and provides a wee bit of extra protection when in the truck etc, and if i lose it it was only like $15.
 
I have a set of Leupold lens covers that I got on a scope in a trade deal. Yes they are cool, pretty and work well but I would never pay the full retail asking price for them. I generally use cheap asx Butler Creek caps and they do everything that the Leupolds do for a small fraction of the price. After 50 years, many many guns, years of hunting and shooting god knows how many thousands of rounds I have had 2 Butler Creek caps break. That`s like maybe $40 in total. The Leupolds just are not worth it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eco
Bad Bob said:
I have a set of Leupold lens covers that I got on a scope in a trade deal. Yes they are cool, pretty and work well but I would never pay the full retail asking price for them. I generally use cheap asx Butler Creek caps and they do everything that the Leupolds do for a small fraction of the price. After 50 years, many many guns, years of hunting and shooting god knows how many thousands of rounds I have had 2 Butler Creek caps break. That`s like maybe $40 in total. The Leupolds just are not worth it.
Click to expand...
Agreed! I have the inexpensive Butler Creek caps on all my scopes, have been using them for years without issue. I did have one fail once where the red lever snapped, the cap was fairly new so likely just a factory defect. Other than the one incident, no problems.
 
Bought them for mine when they were $200 and felt pain then, can't see how they are worth that let alone $280.
The aluminum is nice and the magnetic hold down works well. Perfect fit because they are screw on.

Tried the butler creek plastic ones for a long while and realistically they are crap, mostly the fit.

That said, I bought a Nightforce recently and you'd figure on a 3k scope you'd get nice covers. Nope - plastic, one level up from the butler creek units IMHO. Think they retail for about 60 bucks if you buy them separately.
 
I have Alumina covers on all of my Leupold scopes... they are excellent. If you want to cheap out, just pick up some Butler Creek slip on covers. I always use covers on my hunting rifles... keep the dust, branches, snow, rain, ice etc... off the lenses. I can flip them off as I am mounting the rifle to shoot, takes no time. If I am on stand, I prop them open... it always amazes me how few people know that the Alumina caps fold back flat onto the scope when fully open... walking through the brush with the caps at 45 degrees is a recipe for a broken cap.20241222_102711.jpg20240114_084833.jpg20231209_125306.jpg20220102_091015.jpg
 
I believe there's a fair amount of quality work that goes into the manufacture of the Leupold Alumina lens covers. If you own and use the Alumina lens covers the appreciation of the quality will stay with you longer than the price you paid for them.

I own 16 pre-64 Winchester M70 rifles and all but one rifle have Leupold scopes with Alumina lens covers. The only reason there's one M70 without is because it's a 220 Swift that came with a vintage 15X Lyman Targetspot scope I haven't the heart to replace.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom