Re: case for swarovski LRF
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: radmcg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Anyone know of a case or lens covers for a 8x30 swarovski LRF. Looked at BH and opticsplanet. All I see is the plastic "Holster" I was wanting something to protect the objective lenses and the body better.
AHA
Rad </div></div>
For general carry I keep my LG30 in a TAC READY case, which protects the body, but you lose that protection as soon as you remove the LG30 from the case whether it is the factory-supplied plastic holster or an aftermarket case such as the TAC READY. Overall, the most versatile protection that stays on the LG30 and protects the lenses while not in use and is still quick to pop on-and-off is to install Butler Creek Flip Opens on the objective and ocular lenses.
Below is a re-post of an old post of mine from a few years ago, which for a while was listed on the Sniper's Hide front page under "Sniper's Hide Articles", but of course it has been replaced with newer articles:
<span style="font-style: italic">Those of you fortunate enough to own a Swarovski 8x30 Laser Guide and are looking for a way to protect the glass while the LG is out of it's clip-in carrier or other protective device may be interested in my post. Some of you may have seen <span style="font-weight: bold">DWood's</span> post
<span style="font-weight: bold">"How Do You Carry Your Swaro Rangefinder?"</span> over on the Hide'. In his post, DWood used the Butler Creek #19 Objective on all three lenses, which provide a very snug fit. Butler Creek #19 Objective's spec is 1.646" I.D. For those that prefer to use the "Eye" Flip Open, the #16 Eye is a close fit too at 1.660" I.D., and will fit snugly on all lenses as well. I tried the #16 Eye on my Swaro for fit, but I prefer the #19 Objective because you won't accidently open the cover by bumping the (red) lever while in or out of a case.
Well, in order to make my Swaro LG fit in my Tac Ready LRF case with minimal top flap "bulge" I decided to trim a little unnecessary length of off the trailing edges of the Butler Creek Flip Opens'. There is a "ridge" molded into each BC Flip Open that acts as a "stop" (and determines the Flip Open's max insertion depth). This "stop" is present on all BC Flip Opens' regardless of whether they are "Objective" or "Eye".
The thing is, the front lens housings on the Swaro LG are nice and short - due to this the Flip Opens' cannot be seated to their full depth because they bottom-out on the front of the LG's housing. And because of this, there is roughly 7/32" gap between the lens housing edge at the front of the LG and the molded ridge/stop of the Flip Open. This gap can be eliminated by trimming the trailing edge of the Flip Opens, which will reduce the O.A.L. of the Swaro LG/BC combination slightly (6/32" or so). Not much, but it could mean the difference between a tight fit and a snug fit inside your case.
It should be noted that trimming an Ocular-mounted Flip Open will not reduce the Swaro LG/BC combination O.A.L., because the Flip Open is able to be seated to full depth without trimming. However, if you choose not to trim an Ocular-mounted Flip Open, whether Objective or Eye, be sure to adjust the diopter (if necessary) before you slide-on the BC, as the BCs' slide on deep enough to make turning the diopter adjustment difficult. A trimmed Ocular-mounted Flip Open will allows unhindered adjustment of the diopter. I don't use the adjustment, but I trimmed all of BCs' for a consistent look.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Heres a photo of the Swarovski 8x30 LG before I trimmed the Flip Opens:</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">And after:</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">Closeup of #19 Objective mounted on LG front before trimming. Note gap between LG front and "stop" of the Flip Open:</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">Closeup of #19 Objective mounted on LG front after trimming. Gap between LG front and "stop" of the Flip Open is gone:</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">Closeup of #19 Objective mounted on LG Ocular. Note the flush fit without any trimming at all:</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">Closeup of #19 Objective after trimming mounted on LG Ocular. Note that while trimming is not necessary on the Ocular-mounted Flip Open, trimming will allow unhindered diopter adjustment without removal of the Flip Open:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">I wanted nice, clean & straight cuts on the BCs', so I bought a 90º PVC elbow to support the Flip Opens' while I trimmed them:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Heres' a photo of a just-trimmed Flip Open and my trimming tools:</span></span>
The BC rubber is easy to cut - just take your time and be sure to score all the way through to the PVC before separating the cut-off portion from the Flip Open so the cut is clean. I used an X-Acto, but if you can get a hold of a surgical #10 blade, that would obviously cut more deeply faster. Watch it though!!!
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Closed Digital Camo TAC READY LRF Case with Trimmed BC Flip Opens':</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">When standing upright the Swaro's ocular piece is not quite flush with the top flap of the TAC READY LRF Case: without the Trimmed BC Flip Opens' it would bulge up another 1/2"</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Another:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Last overhead view shows the flush-fit best:</span></span>
Keith