Rifle Scopes Securing Vortex Defender Caps

Outcome

Monica
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 22, 2017
49
11
Colorado
I've been struggling with these for a few year, normally just ripping them off at the start of the stage because they slip. Before I just replace them with some aadmounts, tenebraex says the ones for the AMG are unavailable, what have you guys, who also have your defender caps slip, done to keep them in place. Yes I'm sure there are plenty of guys why have never had an issue, that has not been my observation though.
 
A very good fix, as some do slip, that a buddy told me is to take some hair spray and spray it on the inside of the cap body that grabs the scope. Just roll the soft part back so the inside is exposed and give it a spray and then put it on the scope. It really does help it stay and doesn't damage anything. I used it on one of my caps that was slipping and it hasn't since.
 
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I went with OD duct tape :ROFLMAO:
AC58A8EC-18A6-4BCC-AE53-7FCFF8C2F38F.jpeg
 
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I was getting so frustrated that I was thinking about just safety wiring them on but I'll try the masking tape and hairspray tricks first. I didnt have much luck with duct tape unfortunately.
 
What if you use electrical tape on the scope first and then put the caps over that. That would work better I think. The trick for me is to just flip them open quickly. If you press them open they will push off. If you flick them quickly they stay in place.
 
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I use electrical tape to increase the scope diameter until the caps fit snugly. Then, I add a strip of electrical tape to the outside of the cap, to tape the cap to the scope. Has worked so far. As an added benefit, once you set the diopter adjustment, a wrap of electrical tape prevents you from moving it inadvertently.
 
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The other thing I have done is to use a wood chisel to adjust the latching mechanism on the cap. The cap doesn't need as much engagement as is available to stay closed. By chiseling some smooth (the part on the left side in this case) I have extra leveredge to open the cap, and the cap has less resistance to opening. This defeats the tendency of the cap to try to pop off when I'm trying to open the lid. I'll try to add a picture tomorrow...
 
I took mine off my scope...and then threw them in the garbage. I think Vortex as a company has a great model and makes some good products. I was so utterly baffled they let these out into the real world I had a hard time getting my head around it. It's like they didn't even bother to test them before they put them in the package and marketed them. Mine either didn't open, or just came off completely when I tried to operate them. I'm not a real big "tape on scope" type dude so away they went. I will say this, that hairspray idea is a good one. I am sort of anti-hair product as well however, (not just on scopes) so that won't work for me either. ;)
 
I use electrical tape to increase the scope diameter until the caps fit snugly. Then, I add a strip of electrical tape to the outside of the cap, to tape the cap to the scope. Has worked so far. As an added benefit, once you set the diopter adjustment, a wrap of electrical tape prevents you from moving it inadvertently.


This the best method I have used and so far it works. I have not lost another cap since doing this mod.
 
A couple wraps of electrical tape on the scope to increase the tube OD works well (3M #2228 works very well as it's 1.6mm thick.) Another solution is a piece of large diameter heat shrink on the outside of the rubber collar.

Low profile inline-style zip ties work well too and are less snag prone than regular 90 degree entry zip ties.
 
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