{"id":1990,"date":"2024-01-18T10:38:46","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T10:38:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/?p=1990&#038;fishpig=1636996683&#038;preview=true"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:35:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:35:59","slug":"rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather\/","title":{"rendered":"Rifle Scopes and Extremely Cold Weather"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\"><div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather\/#Rifle_Scopes_and_Extremely_Cold_Weather\" >Rifle Scopes and Extremely Cold Weather<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather\/#Risks_of_Cold_Weather_on_Rifle_Scopes\" >Risks of Cold Weather on Rifle Scopes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather\/#Protect_Your_Scope\" >Protect Your Scope<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rifle_Scopes_and_Extremely_Cold_Weather\"><\/span>Rifle Scopes and Extremely Cold Weather<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p><strong>Do <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"rifle scopes\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"124\">rifle scopes<\/a> and extremely cold weather mix? Mastering the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-keep-your-feet-warm-in-winter\/\">winter<\/a> can make a difference in your scope\u2019s performance and reliability.<\/strong><\/p><p>Extremely cold weather can be tough \u2013 both on your body and your <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/18-turkey-hunting-gear-essentials\/\">gear<\/a>. Shooters who venture out when the mercury drops should be mindful of their environment and equipment to ensure proper performance.<\/p><p>Everything has a true minimum and maximum hot and cold tolerance. For the most part, <a title=\"Finding the Perfect 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle Scope\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/finding-the-perfect-6-5-creedmoor-rifle-scope\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"457\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle scopes<\/a> should function properly and perform at a high level to temperatures around 0\u00b0F. When subzero temperatures appear on the forecast, quality begins to separate the winners from the losers.<\/p><p>While performance and consistency can vary wildly between high-quality and low-quality <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-benefits-of-having-a-rifle-suppressor\/\">optics<\/a>, durability is also brought into question in extremely cold-weather environments. While shooters claim wonderful performance out of their <a title=\"Uses for a Low Power Variable Optic\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/uses-for-a-low-power-variable-optic\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"887\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">optics in temperatures as low<\/a> as -30\u00b0F, lower-quality optics tend to display significantly reduced durability in temperatures that extreme. Furthermore, a significant malfunction or breakage is more likely to occur in more cheaply made scopes.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_4653\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4653\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4653 size-large\" style=\"font-size: 16px\" title=\"Rifle Scopes and Extremely Cold Weather\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"rifle scopes and extremely cold weather\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4653\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-6-5mm-creedmoor-rifle-round\/\">Rifle Scopes<\/a> and Extremely Cold Weather<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><em>When subzero temperatures appear on the forecast, quality begins to separate the winners from the losers.<\/em><\/p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Risks_of_Cold_Weather_on_Rifle_Scopes\"><\/span>Risks of Cold Weather on Rifle Scopes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>When questioning the science behind cold weather and <a title=\"The Convenience of Scope Throw Levers 11\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/the-convenience-of-scope-throw-levers\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"518\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle scopes<\/a>, first identify what materials are used in their construction. In cold weather, metals contract. <a title=\"brittle glass\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/tag\/brittle-glass\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1579\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Glass and plastics become brittle<\/a>. Rubber, used in seals and internal coatings, can either expand or contract depending on the composition of the material. It\u2019s not hard to imagine how the internals of a <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"scope\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/riflescopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"253\">scope<\/a> can shift if not properly constructed.<\/p><p>The alterations cold weather makes on materials also carry the potential of impacting scope construction. Metal, an efficient conductor, contracts more quickly than glass. It can therefore introduce pressure and crack glass. Contracting seals risk compromising watertightness and allowing internal gasses to escape. Cracked plastics inside the scope can permanently affect accuracy and jeopardize the scope\u2019s construction.<\/p><p>Cold <a title=\"Why You Might Consider a Ballistic Calculator\u00a0\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/why-you-might-consider-a-ballistic-calculator\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1572\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">weather doesn\u2019t stop at a scope\u2019s<\/a> guts. Escaping heat from a shooter\u2019s breath will be more likely to fog glass. The moisture can then freeze on the surface. Contracting surfaces on both rings and mounts can also microscopically <a title=\"Rifle Scopes and Extremely Hot Weather\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-hot-weather\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1573\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shift the scope\u2019s positioning and impact accuracy<\/a>.<\/p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Protect_Your_Scope\"><\/span>Protect Your Scope<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>While extreme cold weather introduces many potential issues,<a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/all-products?product_list_dir=desc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> high-quality scope<\/a> companies design and build with durability in mind. Better materials and parts with more precise machining greatly reduce the negative impact cold weather has on scope construction and performance. Shooters who consistently toughen out the brunt of winter should begin by investing in top-quality <a title=\"Long Range Shooting in Hot Weather\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/long-range-shooting-in-hot-weather\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1575\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">optics<\/a>.<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4654 size-large\" title=\"How to Maximize Deer Hunting Season\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/rifle-scopes-and-extremely-cold-weather-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"rifle scopes and extremely cold weather\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><em>Shooters who consistently toughen out the brunt of winter should begin by investing in top-quality optics.<\/em><\/p><p>With higher-quality scopes, the risk does not necessarily come from the introduction of cold weather, but instead from the rapid introduction of cold weather. Conversely, the rapid introduction of heat to a cold scope can also have an inverse negative effect on performance and structure. The most important defense against extreme cold is the <a title=\"gradual temperature adjustment\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/tag\/gradual-temperature-adjustment\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1574\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gradual introduction of dropping temperatures<\/a> so each differing component slowly cools and adjusts simultaneously on a molecular level.<\/p><p>While shooters <a title=\"Rifle Scope Accessories You Might Consider\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-scope-accessories-you-might-consider\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"823\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">might be more inclined to leave a scope and rifle<\/a> in a warmer location during a cold snap, instead firearms and scopes should rest in a gradually cooling location. The inside of a vehicle or tent can provide a perfect <a title=\"A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Long-Range Shooting Gear\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-long-range-shooting-gear\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1578\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spot for slowly cooling a rifle setup<\/a>. Once outdoor activity is ceased, the <a title=\"5 Reasons Why You Missed the Shot\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/5-reasons-why-you-missed-the-shot\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"879\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle<\/a> should also be steadily warmed to prevent certain parts from heating up faster than others.<\/p><p>Instead of leaving the <a title=\"TORIC 30MM 2.5-15X44 SFP Rifle Scope turret Reset to Zero\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/videosview\/toric-30mm-2-5-15x44-sfp-rifle-scope-turret-reset-to-zero\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"820\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle and scope<\/a> in the front seat of the car next to the heater, place the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/7-ways-to-sharpen-your-rifle-shooting-skills\/\">rifle<\/a> in the rear of a truck or in the sun as morning temperatures rise. For scope base mounts, using a small amount of Non Permanent (Blue) Loctite on the screws and threads will greatly reduce the risk of shifting mounts. A torque wrench will help you tighten the screws on the <a title=\"30mm Ring Installation\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/videosview\/30mm-ring-installation\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1577\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rings and bases for all to the proper<\/a> value.<\/p><p>Most shooters will never experience <a title=\"extremely cold weather\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/tag\/extremely-cold-weather\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1576\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">weather that is cold<\/a> enough to pose a substantial risk to their scope\u2019s integrity. For a select few, however, these critical steps could prevent serious problems from showing up. Just don\u2019t forget to bundle up!<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_1372\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1372\" style=\"width: 970px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/riflescopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1372 size-full\" title=\"Rifles Scopes\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/TRACT-ELR_970x250.jpg\" alt=\"Rifle Scopes\" width=\"970\" height=\"250\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1372\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rifle Scopes<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><span style=\"color: #3366ff\"><a style=\"color: #3366ff\" title=\"Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tractoptics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\"><strong>FOLLOW US: FACEBOOK<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rifle Scopes and Extremely Cold Weather<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12030,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2265],"tags":[2529,2557,2558,2602,2627,2643,2657,2674,2797,2892,2922,2976,3004,3005,3058,3061,3115,3121,3136,3144,3174,3189,3271,3350],"class_list":["post-1990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rifle-scope","tag-brittle-glass","tag-cold-weather-impact-on-rifle-scopes","tag-cold-weather-protection","tag-durability","tag-extremely-cold-weather","tag-fogging-issues","tag-gradual-temperature-adjustment","tag-high-quality-optics","tag-hunting","tag-loctite-on-screws","tag-metal-contraction","tag-precision-machining-in-scopes","tag-rifle","tag-rifle-and-scope-maintenance","tag-rifle-scopes","tag-rifle-setup-in-winter","tag-scope-construction","tag-scope-durability","tag-scope-mount-stability","tag-scope-performance","tag-seal-integrity","tag-shooting","tag-subzero-temperatures","tag-winter-shooting-adjustments"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1990","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1990"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11313,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1990\/revisions\/11313"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}