inthehizzy
CGN frequent flyer
Not everyone is as well off as you my friend. Bit of humble pie.
Concern is not automatically condemnation.
Respectfully.
Leupold aluminum scope covers
- Thread starter Cteve
- Start date
Concern is not automatically condemnation.
Respectfully.
inthehizzy
CGN frequent flyer
Apologies if I was obtuse. A solid piece of kit with good glass is a worthy investment. But the Alumina covers, and I’m obviously not alone here, are just eye watering-ly expensive. But I guess that is all relative. IDK.
Always appreciated your input in the 22LR conversations. Definitely impacted my selection of the DAR22 and other bits of kit.
- Location
- AB foothills
I have used them many, many times over the years. Think I still have a set of two kicking around. They are nice for sure! I would never pay $280 for a set though. They aren’t that kinda cash great.
I’ve been very happy with the set up I use now and have for quite a few years now.
Everybody likes their set up best, I like mine. I’m sure you like yours and that’s great!
BTW I can afford them.
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I’d spring for a set of $300 aluminum caps for say a Schmidt & Bender or a scope in it’s class or price but for a leupold, bwahahaha, a Butler Creek or equivalent is more than enough. But hey you do you as they say.
I don't much care what anyone uses... I used Butler Creek caps for many years, but they are constantly failing. Yes, the Alumina caps are expensive, and I agree they should not be as expensive as they are. However, the argument that you won't spend that much to protect a lowly Leupold scope is misguided. The purpose of the caps is to protect the "function" of the optic, so that it can do it's job when you need it to. The purpose is not to protect the value of the optic... in this regard, it doesn't matter if it is a Bushnell or a Zeiss. The Alumina caps have proven to be very effective in that regard, particularly when there is a fleeting opportunity and you have to act quickly. If you are just walking in to a stand and removing or opening the caps for the duration, then the neoprene jacket works just as good. If however, you hunt hard and often, even in foul weather, the caps are worth their weight. To each their own.
Dude, no need to justify, all that matters is that you’re happy and it sounds like you are. BTW what is the top rifle in your post #15 with the iron sight heavy stainless barrel, looks great. Thanks
I have them on three of my rifles. The fit, finish and function is top notch. These were my reasons for purchasing them.
#1-I was tired of trying to use electricians tape or other materials to try and shim butler Creeks to fit properly and stay in position.
#2-I like my rifles to look nice and these are like a finishing touch to me.
#3-I cant stand the slip on type covers.(refer to item #2....lol)
#4-they function perfectly
As others have said, after I got one set and used them and feel the quality it is hard to go back to anything else. I will also say they were not $280 when I bought them, prices are getting up there.
#1-I was tired of trying to use electricians tape or other materials to try and shim butler Creeks to fit properly and stay in position.
#2-I like my rifles to look nice and these are like a finishing touch to me.
#3-I cant stand the slip on type covers.(refer to item #2....lol)
#4-they function perfectly
As others have said, after I got one set and used them and feel the quality it is hard to go back to anything else. I will also say they were not $280 when I bought them, prices are getting up there.
Years ago there was offered on the market stiff rubber caps held by a rubber band.
O-ring around the tube, stock and a link in between.
Flip wid yer thumb and awf they went.
Have a bunch and scoop them when I find them at gun shows.
Nawt Lewpee, but far better’n B/C.
I forget the name of these handy covers ?
O-ring around the tube, stock and a link in between.
Flip wid yer thumb and awf they went.
Have a bunch and scoop them when I find them at gun shows.
Nawt Lewpee, but far better’n B/C.
I forget the name of these handy covers ?
- Location
- Western Canada
I have Alumina covers on my Leupold VX5HD which is on my hunting rifle and I love them. Silent opening, opens flat to reduce snags, you can adjust what side the cap opens too and overall are very well made. I like that they thread into my scope and not just friction fit over the lens, as I had Vortex ones like that previously and they would just slide off in the cold or under certain conditions, had to secure them with tape.
Not to mention a set of plastic, junk feeling Vortex covers cost me $200 prior to this, so it wasn't that much more of a price jump to me for the notably better Leupold ones.
Yes, the Alumina's are expensive, I luckily get distributor pricing for them which helped, so I understand people's sticker shock, especially with added tariffs. But in my experience, they are worth it in the long run. Buy once, cry once type of thing imo, if you can swing them, I would recommend them.
That said, go with whatever suits your needs and budget the best for you personally.
Not to mention a set of plastic, junk feeling Vortex covers cost me $200 prior to this, so it wasn't that much more of a price jump to me for the notably better Leupold ones.
Yes, the Alumina's are expensive, I luckily get distributor pricing for them which helped, so I understand people's sticker shock, especially with added tariffs. But in my experience, they are worth it in the long run. Buy once, cry once type of thing imo, if you can swing them, I would recommend them.
That said, go with whatever suits your needs and budget the best for you personally.
Not justification, just conversation. People are going to use what they are going to use, for their own reasons.
That rifle is a Ruger M77 Mark II .458 WM Carbine with 20" Bob Jury barrel, NECG sights, B&C stock and a Leupold VX-3HD 1.5-5 IR scope... although the scope pictured there is a Leupold VX-R 2-7X33 IR, but that is now on my .350 RM carbine.
I started out, like so many others, using Weaver and Bushnell scopes and used the lens cover contraptions that came with them. As my working career improved I moved to Leupold scopes, the Vari-X models, and in the beginning still used those lens cover contraptions. I soon seen the need for improvement and used the Butler Creek ones and as Hossone did, shim the inside with electrical tape so they wouldn't fall off. What a PIA.
Later on I bought two used high end Swavroski scopes. They were excellent scopes and cut thru the early morning and late afternoon sun glare but were exceedingly heavy and, again, lacked proper lens protective covers.
Then Leupold upgraded their scopes to the VX line that allowed for their new Alumina lens covers. I began to upgrade to both and when the VX-3 line came available I soon realized the VX-3 did everything my two Swavroskis did at half the weight and I continued to upgrade to this day, including Alumina covers for all. One of my favorites is a Leupold VX-7 2-12x45 that came from Leupold with Alumina covers.
Everyone can use what they want or can afford or what they place value on and that's great but I place good value on my Alumina lens covers. They work for me.
Later on I bought two used high end Swavroski scopes. They were excellent scopes and cut thru the early morning and late afternoon sun glare but were exceedingly heavy and, again, lacked proper lens protective covers.
Then Leupold upgraded their scopes to the VX line that allowed for their new Alumina lens covers. I began to upgrade to both and when the VX-3 line came available I soon realized the VX-3 did everything my two Swavroskis did at half the weight and I continued to upgrade to this day, including Alumina covers for all. One of my favorites is a Leupold VX-7 2-12x45 that came from Leupold with Alumina covers.
Everyone can use what they want or can afford or what they place value on and that's great but I place good value on my Alumina lens covers. They work for me.
I’ve got several sets; they seem to have migrated to my Mark 4s where shots are never in a hurry. By and large I hunt with bare scopes. Maybe the odd time I’ll use a neoprene foam cover if I’m carrying a pack where I expect it to be beat up.
I didn’t know they were so expensive now, all of mine were a fraction of that and sometimes free.
I didn’t know they were so expensive now, all of mine were a fraction of that and sometimes free.
sam menard
CGN Regular
I have a set of these on my scope. They complement the scope nicely. Sure you can buy a set of Buttler Creek cover at much cheaper price but imo they don’t look as nice.
Incidentally, after 15 years of use, the spring mechanism on the front cover wore out so am getting it replaced under warranty. You can’t complain about the Leupold workmanship or warranty!
When Leupold upgraded their scopes from the Vari-X to the VX line they threaded the inside of the scope bells to accept the Alumina covers. The older Vari-X scopes will not accept Alumina covers.
I ran Alumina covers on all of my scopes when I still owned leupolds and/or redfields.
They are by far the best scope covers I have ever seen or tried.
But like the scopes they fit, they are grossly overpriced in the current market.
I have no idea why no one has copied them. The patent has to have expired long since.
I have since moved all of my leupolds along
They are by far the best scope covers I have ever seen or tried.
But like the scopes they fit, they are grossly overpriced in the current market.
I have no idea why no one has copied them. The patent has to have expired long since.
I have since moved all of my leupolds along
every single time I thought covers were a good thing, I've ripped them all off as just feel they will have me meet Murphy and cost me filling a tag, have a bunch of butlers and some key alumina leupolds (36mm and 33mm and prolly some 40mm too) still here but I don't run em, the neoprene cover for transport time maybe best idea and used on blaser k95 when all was in pieces in pack but otherwise it's a nope, rather clean lenses once in awhile afield and not have to flick anything open when I'm in a hurry, some vision better than no vision and time lost 
butlers are easier to flip in a hurry imo, cant the objective one to wherever you thumb naturally jabs forward in a hurry to hit that nubbin, leupolds too, get that wrong on leupolds and you might peel your thumbnail back, aluminum is unforgiving and leupolds have meat that hangs out full time, butlers don't, just sayin
butlers are easier to flip in a hurry imo, cant the objective one to wherever you thumb naturally jabs forward in a hurry to hit that nubbin, leupolds too, get that wrong on leupolds and you might peel your thumbnail back, aluminum is unforgiving and leupolds have meat that hangs out full time, butlers don't, just sayin
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