Thermal rifle scopes offer advantages to nocturnal hunters that no other piece of gear can. They can give you eyes in the darkness, making positive identification of warm-blooded targets, then executing a shot, even in complete darkness. Many are even equipped with advanced features like rangefingers and on-board video and audio recording.
The catch is that thermal rifle scopes are expensive, and in many cases they will cost as much as or more than the gun you pair with them. That being the case, it’s in your best interest to know how to properly care for your thermal scope. Here are some high-level notes.
How Often Should I Clean and Care for My Thermal Rifle Scope?
The best schedule to keep to, with respect to basic cleaning, is to clean the scope every time you come in from the field. Otherwise, you should render the basic care and maintenance outlined in this guide at least twice per year.
Basic Thermal Rifle Scope Cleaning and Care
Fortunately, basic care and maintenance of a thermal rifle scope is fairly straightforward and shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes when you get back from an outing.
- Wipe the exterior clean. The first step in thermal scope care is simply to wipe off the exterior. In most instances, this can be done with a dry microfiber rag. If the scope is dusty, muddy or dirty, you can use a damp microfiber rag, just make sure to avoid harsh chemicals, detergents, or solvents. If there’s dust or dirt in any corners or crevices, or around the rings, use a soft nylon brush to dislodge it.
- Clean the lenses. Take care when cleaning your thermal scope’s lens, as this is a fairly fragile component, and if you leave any smudges or residue on it the sensor or sight picture might be compromised when you use the scope again. Use cleaners and cloth specifically designed for optics if you are going to do so. Another alternative, and one that is guaranteed not to leave any residue, is to use compressed air to dislodge any dust from the lens. The Zeiss anti-fog wipes and lens cleaning pens we sell here are great for cleaning the lenses of optics (as well as eyewear, by the way). You also might want to consider applying an anti-fog treatment to the lens or eyepiece, which will help keep your sight picture clear, even in adverse, wet conditions.
- Clean the battery pack’s terminals and the scope’s contacts. A thermal scope’s weakest areas are its electric contacts. You will however want to make sure that both the battery’s contacts and the scope’s contacts are free of dirt or corrosion that can incapacitate the scope. Wipe them clean, and if necessary, use a non-greasy organic solvent that will not leave a residue in order to ensure they are fully clean. Before replacing the battery into the battery compartment, you should also make sure that it is completely dry.
Other General Notes for Maintenance
In addition to basic cleaning, there are some other observations for thermal scope maintenance that you should follow in order to guarantee operability and ensure that your scope enjoys a long service life.
- Keep firmware up-to-date. Periodically, your scope may need firmware updates in order to function as intended. Make these updates in a timely manner. It is also advisable to keep your scope plugged in and charging during the update as it can be very problematic if a scope dies in the middle of an update.
- Follow a charging routine. Don’t leave your scope plugged in when you aren’t using it, as this can adversely affect discharge potential and battery life. Moreover, don’t let your battery sit dead for any period of time. If you let a battery sit dead for too long, you may not be able to give it a charge. Rather, charge your battery fully before use, then don’t charge it again until you’ve got it down to about 20%. Keeping to this routine will help ensure optimal battery health and performance.
- Keep the scope covered at all times except when in use. This includes in the field. Incidental knocks and jostling can damage any scope, let alone a thermal scope, and keeping it covered will help protect the lens from dust and dirt, anyway. Get a scope cover for your thermal scope, a standard scope cover will work as long as the dimensions are compatible, and keep the scope covered unless you are actively using it. We sell hinged lens caps here that not only provide a high level of protection in the field, but which can be integrated with the optic itself so that they’re harder to lose, especially in the dark.
- Store the thermal rifle scope responsibly. Lastly, store your rifle scope somewhere safe and secure where it will not be crushed, contacted, or accidentally dropped. Mounted on your rifle is acceptable as long as you keep your rifle in a secure location as well. It should be cool and dry where you store it as well, as, like all electronics, thermal scopes can be damaged by high humidity and extreme temperatures.
Explore Thermal Scopes, Monoculars and Binoculars Here
These high-level tips should help you keep your thermal rifle scope in working order for longer. If you’re here for a new one, check out our full collection of thermal imaging products, including thermal monoculars and binoculars in addition to scopes, here. View our complete collection and get in touch with us if you have any questions.
