How To Clean A Rifle Scope Lens?

Gazing through the rifle scope lens, he tried to pick his target. The weather was just fine and would not be a hindrance in any way. He was a long way out from his target, but then, he was a dexterous marksman who took great pride in his abilities; taking out the target should be a piece of cake. “Target secured,” he muttered, letting out a sigh he squeezed the trigger on his sniper rifle.

The effect was instantaneous. Shards of glass shattering, the target dropped to the ground. However, the target wasn’t dead. The marksman had failed. He muttered a curse, visibly angry at his failure. If only he had cleaned his scope lens properly and gotten rid of the debris that now accumulated in his rifle scope lens.

PEC-PAD Lint Free Wipes 4"x4" 100per/Pkg

PEC-PAD Lint free Non-Abrasive Wipes are strong and soft wipes that are efficient in cleaning scope lenses. It is gentle on sensitive surfaces, and it is non-abrasive, thus leaving a smooth surface. This wipe softly removes dirt without leaving a trace of its existence. It is very effective and is the best wipe for a delicate surface like a scope lens.

Cleaning a rifle scope lens is a delicate act as a scope lens is fragile and can be scratched or become blurry, which can be fatal for a marksman. Lenses are manufactured from glass, making it susceptible to scratches when it comes into contact with something rough. Before beginning to clean a rifle scope lens, it is pertinent to check the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations.

Some rifles have specific instructions that must be followed when cleaning the rifle to ensure it is optimal. It is also essential to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations as some rifles come with a warranty, which may be based on the instruction manual’s recommendations. Besides, the manufacturer knows best about his product and thus cannot give misleading information about it.

When cleaning a rifle scope lens, everyone has almost different techniques; after all, there are several ways to kill a bird. In cleaning a scope lens, the first step is to gently brush off dust and particles that have accumulated on the surface of the lens. Gently do this repeatedly. You don’t want to apply force as the lens is quite fragile. A soft bristle brush like the SVP-3 should get the job done. It is soft and doesn’t scratch the surface of the lens.

However, ensure that your brush is free of oil and grease so that it doesn’t transfer to the lens’s surface. Brush the surface of the lens until you are crystal clear there is no dust or particles on the lens anymore. The next step is to get rid of minor stains and fingerprints or water blotches. The best tool to carry out this task is a soft but thick microfiber cloth or wipe or lens paper. The PEC-PAD non-abrasive lint-free wipe is your best bet for this, soft on the surface and does the job efficiently.

You can dampen the wipe with alcohol or a cleaning agent. However, Photographic Solutions Eclipse 0.5 oz. Experts have recommended optic Cleaner for Sensors and Lenses as a top-notch lens cleaner. Dampen the wipe with the optic cleaner. Do not soak it, just spray or sprinkle the optic cleaner onto the wipe. After that, gently use a dampened wipe to clean the surface of the lens. With a little bit of force, press the wipe on the surface of the lens.

This will enable the optic cleaner or alcohol solvent to get rid of the sauna or fingerprint blotches as the case may be. After cleaning the surface with a wipe, do not use the same wipe again; use a new one to prevent the stain already removed by the first wipe from coming into contact with the lens again. Where there is a stubborn stain, you can apply a bit more pressure, but do not ever scrub the lens’s surface.

After cleaning the lens scope, do not wipe it dry. Instead, allow the optic cleaner to evaporate. The two steps above are sufficient to clean a rifle scope lens. However, there may be dried mud splatters or some stubborn stains on the lens. In this case, before you perform step two above, you have to first get rid of the dried mud. The SPV-3 brush is useful here. Dampen it with the optic cleaner and gently brush the dried mud off, you have to do this gently.

After removing all the dried mud, you can then proceed to step two above and clean off the stains. Wash the dirt off the brush as it is essential to keep all your tools clean so that it is not dirty and stain the lens. When cleaning a scope lens with wipes or cloth, it is essential to ensure that it is clean and devoid of particles as clothes or wipes easily collect tiny silica particles blowing around in the surrounding air. Thus, cleaning them with such cloth can damage the lens. In cleaning a rifle scope lens, it is crucial to use the right tools for the job. Below I have outlined some of the best tools essential in cleaning a rifle scope lens.

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He wouldn’t have had a blurry lens through which to pick out his target. He would have added this to his growing list of successful hits. How could he have been sloppy?

A speck of dust can be just the difference between success and failure; a slight scratch can be the difference between life and death. Properly cleaning a rifle scope lens can prove to be a lifesaver in the most unusual circumstances. Excellent marksmen take great interest in the cleaning of their tools. They ensure that it is in the best possible state at all times. A stitch in time saves nine. Well, in this case, it can keep or rescue a life.

The importance of having clean weapons cannot be overemphasized. In some military training, the first assignment to recruits is to disassemble and efficiently clean their weapons. This may seem a waste of time, but it has proven to be a lifesaver. Snipers specifically have a hard job in identifying and successfully taking out targets who may be miles away; a blurry scope lens makes this more and largely difficult than it already is.

Here are our top three best tools for cleaning a rifle scope.

Top 3 Best Tools for Cleaning Rifle Scopes

4 Best Tools for Cleaning Rifle Scope Lens

1. The PEC-PAD Lint Free Wipes

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SPECIFICATIONS:

Dimensions: 4 x 4 inches (10 cm.Sq.) & 9 x 9 inches (25 cm.Sq.)
Weight: 0.15 lb

The PEC-PAD wipe is a non-abrasive lint free wipe, which is perfect for cleaning scope lens. It is ultra-soft, so there is no fear that it may scratch the lens’s surface. It is available in two sizes, the 4 x 4 inch (10 cm.Sq.) wipes are flawless for cleaning 35mm and other small areas; The 9 x 9 inch (25 cm.Sq.) wipes are best suited for larger film or print formats, murals, scanners, etc.

It is handy in cleaning scope lens because its soft texture is the best wipe recommended for cleaning delicate and sensitive surfaces such as the scope lens. It can be used with alcohol or a cleaning solution for the best results. Even professional photographers make use of it in cleaning their camera lens, which is also sensitive. There have been very positive reviews given by several professionals concerning the PEC-PAD lint free wipe.

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2. Giottos AA1903 Rocket Air Blaster

SPECIFICATIONS:

Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 12 inches
Weight: 4.8 ounces

The Giottos AA1903 Rocket Air Blaster is a large air blaster used to remove dust, dirt, and debris from cameras and lenses. It is an excellent tool to use when cleaning a rifle lens scope. It is made of rubber and includes a one-way valve, which prevents the air blaster from inhaling dust and blasting it onto the lens. It is 7.5 inches long with a 2.5-inch nozzle, 2.4-Inch diameter. It stands upright and is manufactured from high-grade long-life silicon rubber. It weighs 4.8 ounces.

It can prove very useful for cleaning a rifle scope lens effectively. It has a one-way valve which blasts clean air onto the lens and blows away dust and debris from the lens. Instead of aggressively trying to remove diets using a cloth or wipe, this Air Blaster blows it all away in one blast of air.

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3. Photographic Solutions Eclipse 0.5 oz. Optic Cleaner for Sensors and Lenses

SPECIFICATIONS:

Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Weight: 0.64 ounces

Photographic Solutions Eclipse 0.5 oz. Optic Cleaner for Sensors and Lenses is a cleaning agent used for getting rid of dirt or residues on lens or sensors. Photographic Solutions Eclipse 0.5 oz. Optic Cleaner for Sensors and Lenses is very effective for cleaning a rifle scope lens. It gets rid of all the dirt without leaving a trace or contaminating the lens’s surface.

It gets rid of residues without leaving a trace. This cleaning solution also dries quickly, and it is very easy to use. It works very well with PEC-PAD Lint Free Wipe (described above). Experts recommend it for cleaning rifle scope lens together with the PEC-PAD Lint Free Wipe.

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4. Quality Sets Of 10 Brushes SVP3 – Sable/Camel Round & Shaders

SPECIFICATIONS:

Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Weight: 0.64 ounces

SVP-3 Sable/Camel Brushes are small detail brushes covering all angles and details when used. It is 9 x 5 x 0.4 inches, it weighs 1.6 ounces, it is acrylic with sable hairs. These brushes are useful for brushing smudges and stains off rifle scope lens.

It is also soft and doesn’t leave scratches on the surface of the lens. It does a clean, efficient and neat job of getting rid of stains or dried mud on rifle scope lens.

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FAQs

Cleaning the lens more time with liquid can affect the lens efficiency?

When cleaning a rifle scope lens, the tip is “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it”. Don’t clean it unless there are specks of dust, dirt, smudges, or blotches on it. However, frequent cleaning of the rifle scope lens with liquid can generate corrosion and damage it. Thus, it would be best if you didn’t use liquid all the time when cleaning your rifle scope lens. Also, don’t clean the rifle scope lens unless it has accumulated dust.

The importance of effectively cleaning your rifle scope lens can not be overemphasized. Marksmen know the effects in the throes of crucial moments. A wipe may well prove to be the difference between hitting the bull’s-eye and missing the target. It is essential to ensure that the right tools are also used not to dent the lens or make it worse instead of cleaning.

How do I clean my rifle scope lenses without messing it up?

You have to be very careful when cleaning a rifle scope lens as it is a sensitive and delicate surface which is susceptible to scratches. In cleaning your rifle scope lens, you should start by brushing off any dust or dirt or particles which have accumulated on the surface of the rifle scope lens. You should use a soft and bristle brush so that the lens’s surface doesn’t get scratched. The SVP-3 Sable/Camel Brushes is highly recommended. It is soft and bristle and also gentle on delicate and sensitive surfaces.

However, it is essential to ensure that the brush is free of oil or grease not to stain the lens’s surface when brushing specks of dirt off. After brushing the dirt particles off, the next stage is to get rid of smudges, stains, fingerprints, blotches, and any other blemish on the surface of the lens. A soft fabric should be used for this next step. The PEC-PAD Lint Free Wipes is perfect for this. It is suitable for cleaning any lens. It is soft and thus impossible to make any scratch on the surface of the lens. It also carries every dust away from the lens, leaving no residue behind.

You can damp the wipe with a cleaning agent or alcohol. The Photographic Solutions Eclipse 0.5 oz. Optic Cleaner for Sensors and Lenses is a very good cleaning agent for lenses and sensors. It dries quickly and leaves no traces behind. It also cleans all dust and dirt. This is how to effectively clean your rifle scope lens without damaging it or messing it up.

How do you clear smudges from rifle scope lenses?

To clear smudges from your rifle scope lens, you need the PEC-PAD Lint Free Wipes and the Photographic Solutions Eclipse 0.5 oz. Optic Cleaner for Sensors and Lenses. Spray the Optic cleaner onto the wipe making it damp. Use the damp wipe to gently clean the surface, in circular motions, clean the entire lens. Make sure you clean the entire lens so that all the smudges and stains will be removed. Make sure the wipe doesn’t become dirty so that instead of cleaning, it either stains the lens. After wiping the lens clean, you should immediately use a new wipe to clean and get rid of any fluid whatsoever may remain on the lens’s surface. Do this until the surface of the lens is thoroughly clean and polished.

Conclusion

It is very good to take care and clean your rifle scope lens occasionally. However, it would help if you cleaned it only when necessary, as frequent cleaning can damage the lens. Also, don’t add too much liquid to the lens as it can cause corrosion. I have outlined the best tools recommended by experts and have major positive reviews by its users.

When used properly, these tools would ensure that your weapons are in the best possible shape and give optimal performance, and when in tandem with your skill, well, you can guess the result.

Author Profile

Gabriel Tackett

Double major in Engineering and Geology at the University of Minnesota. Experienced shooter & hunter for over 15 years. Certified NRA officer for over 10 years working as a writer at Ballachy.com .