Cloudy Scope Lens Help

[JCooperfan1911]

Well hi. I just bought a 1999 Steyr Scout Jeff Cooper package with factory mounted and installed Leupold 2.5 scout scope. The view through the scope looks great but, the rear lens (the front looks fine) has a sort of haze to it.



I tried cleaning it off with a Zeiss lens cleaning wipe and it was still there. It doesn’t seem to be condensation? Maybe it’s the lens coating getting cloudy over time? Or maybe the previous owned rubbed it with something?

The view through the scope looks very clear to me but still not sure if this is an issue. I know Leupold discontinued this scope a few years ago and I doubt they work on them but could be wrong.

Thoughts?

 

[Gun4Fun90]

Honestly it looks like someone used windex or some other ammonia or other chemical bases glass clean on it. Lots of these cleaners can damage the coating on the glass. It appears to me that’s what happened.

I would try contacting Leupold. Even if they don’t make the scope anymore they may be willing to fix it. It’s probably just an issue of polishing the glass and reapplying the coating.

I would say you could just take it to a glass shop for the polishing but these coating are all proprietary and kept secret by the manufactures so it would be difficult to get fixed properly without Leupold’s help.

 

[Varminterror]

Are you certain that is on the outside of the lens? That looks like an aspergillis bloom on the inside of the lens.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Are you certain that is on the outside of the lens? That looks like an aspergillis bloom on the inside of the lens.

Not sure it’s hard to tell, maybe not? Either way, I’ll ring Leupold.

If they can’t do anything, I’ll just mount my trust Burris Scout and sell the Leupy with full disclosure.

EDIT: I do believe yes it is on the inside.

 

[Skylerbone]

I can’t say for certain about your model but a huge number of the pedestrian model Leupolds share the same ocular lens size so they may be able to swap it out.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

I can’t say for certain about your model but a huge number of the pedestrian model Leupolds share the same ocular lens size so they may be able to swap it out.

Thanks, Skylerbone.

I actually just ordered a set of Warne low profile QD rings to pair with my Burris 2.75. I actually like the Burris a bit better than the Leupold. The crosshairs are a bit finer and it’s a little mand the factory rings right now are not QD, negating the benefit of the BUIS.

This may turn into a blessing in disguise.

I’m going to have Leupold hopefully fix up the scope and could very well just stow it and the factory rings inside the carrying case. That way if I ever sell it those two items will be pristine.

Also had a couple light strikes when test firing with some M80 ball yesterday. This is a well-known issue with the early Steyr Scouts. Thankfully, Steyr redesigned the firing pin and spring to give much stronger hits and also invented a new bolt cam to keep lifting forces down. Going to ring them and buy that new new pin setup.

Thanks guys!

 

[Laphroaig]

If it is on the inside they should fix it under warranty. Not sure what they'll do if it is outside, but hopefully they will take care of you there also.

 

[herrwalther]

I have never had to contact Leupold warranty. But know their service is quite good. Because of the age, they are more likely to replace it rather than try to repair it but still worth a call.

 

[LoonWulf]

Leupy will take care of you. While I'm not the biggest fan of their optics, I've owned a fair pile of them now, and sent two or three in for repair. Every time they took care of my issues with no complaints and very quickly.

My guess is that it probably just needs a cleaning. I had a vari-x ii where the lenses yellow from sitting in the sun....... Not even very long actually maybe two weeks... But anyway it didn't look like that.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Mold in a scope is something ive never even thought about... Weird.

I had Leupold repair the scope i got on a '79 Rem 700. Its old enough to be shiney and even has a bit if that "ruger purple" type of thing going on. It wasnt transmitting light properly. That was ten years ago or so. Still working good to this day.

 

[bihj]

Send it back to the mother ship. You will be taken care of.

 

[Bazoo]

The most obvious answer is an ignorant previous owner took the ocular bell off. Thus the gas escaped and it needs resealing.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Thanks gang. It’s headed back to Leupold. The Burris has been installed with Warne QD rings and it’s a really nice setup:

 

[ms6852]

The most obvious answer is an ignorant previous owner took the ocular bell off. Those the gas escaped and it needs resealing.

My thoughts exactly, seal appears to have been broken.