Scope accessories

A riflescope spends hours on a high seat, rides in the car boot on the way to the grounds, and moves with you through wet grass and thick brush during a driven hunt. Without the right protection the lens gets scratched, moisture works its way inside, and the eyepiece fogs up at the exact moment an animal steps out at the tree line. This section gathers cases, rubber protectors and caps that keep a scope in working order from the drive out to the last shot.

What scope accessories are for

These accessories guard optics against three things: mechanical knocks while carrying the rifle through the forest, moisture while waiting near a pond or stream, and dust on a gravel road. A rifle with its scope thrown into the boot alongside other gear rubs against whatever sits next to it, and an uncovered eyepiece fogs or frosts overnight in a high seat or ground blind. A case, protector or cap extends the life of the scope and keeps the image clear exactly when you need it.

Types of cases and protectors

The range splits by purpose and build, so it helps to know how one type differs from the next.

Cases with hunting motifs

Cases with a deer or boar design, 36, 38 and 41 cm long, cover the whole scope for storage at home, in a cabinet, or during transport in the car. A soft lining protects against scratches, and the printed motif marks the case out from the rest of your gear bag.

Neoprene Niggeloh cases

Niggeloh cases are made from stretch neoprene that hugs the scope body, offered in sizes from S to 2XL and also in orange, useful when you want the scope easy to spot in a bag or car. Neoprene cushions impact and holds up against moisture better than thin fabric, so it suits both stand hunting and everyday carry in a rucksack.

Rubber eyepiece protectors

Rubber protectors for the eyepiece, in 38, 41 and 43 mm diameters, slip over the end of the scope and keep dust out while the scope hangs on the rifle sling through a whole driven hunt. They also soften the blow if recoil brings the eyepiece back against your face.

Lens caps and flip-open covers

The GFT 62 mm lens cap, Butler Creek Flip-Open covers, and caps from Tenebræx and Kahles all protect the front element. The Flip-Open design opens with one finger in a second, which matters when an animal has already appeared and there are only a few seconds left to aim.

How to choose the right accessory

• Measure the scope's objective and eyepiece diameter in millimetres first, since a cap or rubber protector has to match the housing exactly.
• Measure the full length of the scope in centimetres if you want a complete case rather than end protectors only.
• For Niggeloh cases check the size chart from S to 2XL against the scope's diameter and tube length.
• Think about how you hunt: a full case suits waiting on a high seat, while Flip-Open caps suit a driven hunt where the shot comes fast.
• Check the mounting method, since some caps slip over the housing and others screw onto a thread at the end of the tube.

Field advice

Fit the lens cap even for a short car ride to the hunting ground, since gravel-road dust and small stones can mark the lens coating within minutes. After stalking in wet weather, wipe the case dry with a cloth and leave it open so the neoprene lining can dry out, otherwise moisture and mould build up inside it. During a driven hunt keep Flip-Open caps open while you wait for the drivers and close them only during breaks, so the scope is ready the instant it is needed.

Brands

The range includes neoprene cases from the German maker Niggeloh, the US-made Butler Creek Flip-Open system, premium caps from Tenebræx and Kahles, and rubber protectors and lens caps from GFT. Each maker follows a different mounting logic, so match the accessory to your specific scope model rather than to a generic size.

Related sections: illuminated sights, scope mounts, optical scopes and reflex sights. If you are unsure which size fits your scope, write to us and we will advise.