Optimizing your gun’s optics

ALBANY — Although today’s optics are more durable than their predecessors, proper care and maintenance are still important, not only for optimized clarity but also for long-term performance. Considering the technological advances and associated costs, it’s no surprise optic care is now more important than ever.

As a result of these considerations, a growing line of specialty products are being marketed to address the optical maintenance demands of hunters and shooters. Today, many optical devices are more complex than combining a mixture of mirrors and lenses within a sealed tube. Even moderately priced scopes, binoculars, and range finders contain a variety of electronic components, including lights, lasers, computers, and Bluetooth connections.

In a pinch, warm soapy water and rubbing alcohol can be used in moderation with any available soft cloth, including your old T-shirts. However, to be more thorough, a variety of specialty optics-grade items are available for use at home and in the field. One of the best investments you can make to assist you in cleaning your optics is an optical cleaning kit. Most will include a lens brush with an optics-grade sponge on the other end. They should also include optical-grade wipes and cleaning cloth.

When doing a full cleaning, start with the exterior, moving to the lenses last. Rangefinders and other modern optics laser emitters and receiver lenses must be kept clean for optimal performance. Pretreated wipes are great for this.

Optical-grade pretreated wipes and defoggers, which can be purchased in bulk, should be included in your gun-cleaning kits and your hunting kits for use in the field. Air dusters, ranging from rubber bulb blowers to compressed air canisters, are also a terrific way to remove dirt and debris without danger of scratching lenses.

When you do an in-depth cleaning, it might be a suitable time to replace any batteries required for the device’s operation. If you are not going to use a scope, rangefinder or other optical equipment with electronics for a few months, it is a good idea to remove any batteries to avoid corrosion.

Staff Photo: Tom Seegmueller