Sunshades on scopes

[Turbogeo]

Do sunshades help on scopes when hunting. Do they affect the field of view?

[noyb72]

Ah

Maybe and maybe?

If you are using a beanfield rifle at very long distance and shooting towards the East in the morning, a sun shade would probably be nice.

If you use a sunshade on a lower power scope then it may efect FOV, however, shades are usually used with high power scopes that don't have alot of FOV as is, so they usually aren't bothered. It depends on the angle that determines FOV and the length of the shade.

Ron

[bch7773]

I've always suspected that sunshades lower the amount of available light coming into the lens, making the scope less useful at dusk or dawn.
I'm not talking about direct light, but just ambient light.


anybody know if theres truth to that?

[Danjal]

Sun shades are made to kill direct sun in the scope, or reflections off the scopes main tube. They dont reduce incoming light enough to be a hindrance. A kill flash will though. Ive used some on my varminting ar setup and my weatherby. Theres no noticable difference with the sunshade unless im looking into the sun at say near dawn. If the sun is still in my scope while shooting then I would need a kill flash to tone down light transmission.

Another worthy note is that I have a stainless barrel and on some bright days it actually starts to blur up the scope without a sunshade on. Of course your applications may differ, but mine has helped much more so then hinder.

[Frisco Pete]

Sun shades are nice, but not really a necessity for hunting.  I use them on my varmint rigs and never seem to put them on the big game rifle scopes.
My experience correlates with that of Danjal.  I only have one that fits my Leupold 42mms, and it is not as long as some you see.   The shade does not affect FOV on my setup.  I like it when I am hunting in the late afternoon, low angle sunlight.  While it doesn't help when pointed somewhat directly toward the sun, it does help if you can get any reasonable angle.
It also helps eliminate heat waves from a hot barrel from interfering with the sight picture.  I have seen prairie dog shooters roll up paper or thin cardboard and tape it to their sunshades to extend the shade further to keep barrel heat waves at bay.
So there are certain times when they are terrific to have on the scope - they screw on and off easily, and the price is reasonable, so they are not a experiment that will sink you if you don't use them later on.

[Turbogeo]

Thanks guys. I was thinking of getting a shade for my Leupold VXI on my .270 Win. All my shots will be no longer than 300 yards and I wont shot towards the sun. I was considering buying a scope shade for the "Tacticool" factor and what ever other benefits they my have. I can get a 2.5" shade made by Leupold for $24.

[Onepoint]

I  bought several slip on rubber ones from CDNN on closeout for a buck a piece a few years ago, they work great if want a quick on and off option, and they do help everything but directly pointing into the sun.

[Danjal]

As far as most stuff goes, theres about no con to them unless you're into low light situations. They seem to darken the sight picture up a smidge, but hardly noticable until your light is almost out.

[Frisco Pete]

I just checked and the Leupold sunshade I have is a 2" shade.

[Turbogeo]

I just checked and the Leupold sunshade I have is a 4" shade.

I there any way you could post a picture when you get around to it?

[Frisco Pete]

Yeah I can, but it will be a week or so before I do because I am vacationing and travelin' around the mid-west - so I am away from my guns (but not my laptop!) 
Which makes me wonder if some of the people I see around might be members of this forum.
 

[Turbogeo]

Yeah I can, but it will be a week or so before I do because I am vacationing and travelin' around the mid-west - so I am away from my guns (but not my laptop!) 
Which makes me wonder if some of the people I see around might be members of this forum.
 

Thank you sir, when ever you can... Hope you have a great vacation. If you make it to So. California PM me and I will be more that happy to grill you some good Carne Asada!

[Onepoint]

Yeah I can, but it will be a week or so before I do because I am vacationing and travelin' around the mid-west -

WTF? There is no vacationing on this boat...Back to the oars!

[richtherake]

This is the sunshade I have on this .17 HMR. It's a little long for my liking but it is effective (I believe it is 5"). I bought it spur of the moment from my local gun shop because he had it in stock and I like to buy something every time I go there. It's just good business.

[Frisco Pete]

   Actually my sunshade is 2 (2.25") - actual measuring is good...
Here is a pic:



The whole rifle: