Rifle Scopes Very disappointed with the new BC "tactical" flip ups....

[tylerw02]

First off, I'm not normally somebody that does reviews of products. Bear with me. After reading some of the snippets and seeing some SHOT coverage last year, I decided to pick up a set of the new Butler Creek "Tactical" flip-up lens covers for my S&B. Like most of you here, I've broken dozens of the old-style caps over the years.

The package came yesterday, so as soon as I got to the house I put them on. First, because they are the "stretchy" style that fit a range of styles, they were somewhat hard to get on the scope. That's no big deal to me, however, they wouldn't stay closed. Slinging and unslinging the rifle as if carrying was enough to make them flip open. Which brings me to the next issue I had with them: they barely open! Not only do they open slowly, they don't open all the way. Counting off, it took approximately ten seconds from them to go from closed to open, "open" being about 80 degrees. I guess one unintended benefit, they could be used a quasi-sunshade because they sure as heck aren't going to flip all the way open with the slightly rearward angle that fully clears the lenses.

Word of advice, save your money. I put back on an old Nightforce bikini cover I had laying around. These caps are going back. I'm disappointed in Butler Creek. I had high hopes Bushnell was a good enough company to put something out worth having. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Sorry, no pics. I was too disgusted that I will have wasted shipping cost on these things.

 

[smschulz]

Pics enhance reviews.

 

[ORD]

Well...that sucks to hear!! I had high hopes for these too, but based on your review...seems like BC has again missed the mark yet again (by a mile).

Has anyone else had any experiences with these yet? Just wondering if tylerw02's experience may have just been "a bad sample" or otherwise outside the norm for these new offerings.

 

[A10XRIFLE]

They are still working on designs, I have been running the new ones for about a year now, the front cap already failed. I have talked to Bushnell/BC about these and its Federal Government restricted materials that have ruined this product. There was a binding agent that they used to use that they had to pull out of the mix. At any rate they are still working on Ideas and formula.

 

[tylerw02]

Pics enhance reviews.

Yeah I didn't really anticipate writing anything up on them, but I was just packaging them up at my work today to send them back and thought it may save somebody else the trouble.


George, I sure hope Bushy can meet the mark somehow. The only good ones I've used were the Leupold Alumina caps--and those are ridiculous.

 

[MJY65]

The only good ones I've used were the Leupold Alumina caps--and those are ridiculous.

I would gladly pay the price of Alumina style caps for every scope I own as they work well and seem to provide great protection. If Nightforce and other manufacturers would just thread their eyepieces, we'd be in business.

 

[LibertyOptics]

They are still working on designs, I have been running the new ones for about a year now, the front cap already failed. I have talked to Bushnell/BC about these and its Federal Government restricted materials that have ruined this product. There was a binding agent that they used to use that they had to pull out of the mix. At any rate they are still working on Ideas and formula.

So it sounds like the design/material is inherently flawed. Wonder if Bushnell would take them back? I have like 50 sets of these I'm probably never going to sell now.

 

[hk dave]

I've broken so many Butler Creek products with light and basic use that i've sworn them off. I simply wont buy their crap product any longer.

 

[ORD]

I really think I'm just going back to a black zip-tie around the scope tube attaching the "bikini" type covers as my remaining store of BC caps fail (which they will...many have to date so its only a matter of time until the rest die off).

I too second the Alumina type screw-in (or comparable) product. The two sets I have are very nice, tight and do what they damn well should and I have yet to break a set of them. Only problem there is the considerable step up in price...but as the old saying goes...you get what you pay for.

 

[steve123]

I would gladly pay the price of Alumina style caps for every scope I own as they work well and seem to provide great protection. If Nightforce and other manufacturers would just thread their eyepieces, we'd be in business.

I gave up on BC's. Waist of money.

I'm hoping some manufacturer will come out with aluminum flip caps like the Leupold design. Otherwise I'll use bikini covers.

 

[CASDB]

I've broken so many Butler Creek products with light and basic use that i've sworn them off. I simply wont buy their crap product any longer.

I broke my front cap last year hunting. You would think I was rough with the rifle, but no. I casually turned into a twig. It was at most half the diameter of my pinky, and yet it apparently had enough power to snap the cap right at the hinge. I had been waiting for these new caps to come out because that obviously won't be an issue given their construction/materials used, but it seems they have issues all their own.

 

[deadnbrkn84]

If they KNOW that there is an issue with the materials then WHY THE HELL are they selling them? Other then to just proit off people they know are going to buy them and then be dissatisfied?

 

[Downzero]

I've broken so many Butler Creek products with light and basic use that i've sworn them off. I simply wont buy their crap product any longer.

I agree, but what else is there? The crap covers that come with a scope?

 

[buffybuster]

I agree, but what else is there? The crap covers that come with a scope?

The crap covers that come with the scope are better than these even crappier BC covers. I can't count how many have broken at the hinge. This new formulation is way too brittle. I'm not buying them anymore.

 

[MJY65]

The crap covers that come with the scope are better than these even crappier BC covers. I can't count how many have broken at the hinge. This new formulation is way too brittle. I'm not buying them anymore.

Agree on all points, yet no manufacturer (other than Leupold) seems to think it would be worth it to allow a decent lens cap to protect their multi thousand dollar scopes. They could have the opportunity to sell many of their customers a $50-$100 accessory for the cost of spinning some threads into the ends of the tube during assembly. This frustrates the heck out of me.

 

[tylerw02]

If they KNOW that there is an issue with the materials then WHY THE HELL are they selling them? Other then to just proit off people they know are going to buy them and then be dissatisfied?

My thoughts exactly. What the hell, BC?

 

[MosesTheTank]

With all the machinists on here making bolt knobs, bottom metal,... I'm surprised no one has come up with a solution. I would gladly pay a premium for some good covers, and it sounds like a lot of other guys would as well. It might be that there are so many different sizes that a small shop might have a hard time stocking them. Until a better solution arrives it's the stock NF bikini covers.

 

[HighGroundMan]

I too have been very disappointed in BC flip covers. I can't believe someone hasn't come up with a better more reliable product in this niche market. The materials and function are so simple. There's room for someone to make a killing in this market. Not sure I understand George's comment about the government not allowing something. Its not the cover to a nuclear missile silo.

 

[dang472]

Might I suggest another route..............http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...l-tenga-protectors-scopes-rifles-pistols.html

 

[Soct]

Does anyone know if the Alumina caps will fit Trijicon Accupoints? I have a TR23-2G.

 

[Downzero]

With all the machinists on here making bolt knobs, bottom metal,... I'm surprised no one has come up with a solution. I would gladly pay a premium for some good covers, and it sounds like a lot of other guys would as well. It might be that there are so many different sizes that a small shop might have a hard time stocking them. Until a better solution arrives it's the stock NF bikini covers.

I agree. I would gladly pay $50 a pair or maybe more to protect my $1000 scope. Those of you out there with S&Bs and USOs and the like might even pay more. The fact that there's nothing available is just sad!

 

[stickbow46]

Like everyone else I've had nothing good to say about BC covers.I have switched over to all Vortex covers,the're not perfect but they are much better than the new BC covers.

 

[CMH]

Anybody running the Tennebraex covers?

 

[phreakmode]

Anybody running the Tennebraex covers?

Yes, on 2 3-15 premiers. They work well and have held up good. If an optic does not have the ridge on the objective, I use a bikini cover which I prefer.

 

[sawman556]

I've given up on flip-ups and just stay with bikini covers. We can put a man on the moon and all kinds of crazy shit but nobody can make a stupid flip-up scope cover that actually works. Maybe that dude that made the T1 io covers could do it???Maybe Gaston Glock???

 

[slowr1der]

I've never tried the BC Tactical covers, but I can't say I'm surprised. I've never been happy with anything I've ever purchased that had Bushnell written on the box.

That said, I like the idea of the Butler Creek Flip up's, but I just wish someone would make a set other than just Leupold, that would hold up.

 

[jdr724]

A buddy of mine has an accupoint with 50mm objective. My alumina Obj cover fit it perfect so he ordered one.

Does anyone know if the Alumina caps will fit Trijicon Accupoints? I have a TR23-2G.

 

[jdr724]

they are ok but they are bulky. Might not fit onto the objective if you're distance to the rail/barrel is to little.

 

[Soct]

Thank you. I have been searching for a straight answer on this for awhile.

 

[VJJPunisher]

I use the box the scope came in to protect it. What I does is mount the scope and then cut out a rectangle in the box that will slip over the scope while its mounted on the rifle, I then lock it down with two bunjee straps around the box/rifle. If one was to cut lookee holes on each each I'd wager that you could run the VJJ improvised scope cover on at all times

 

[hk dave]

Anybody running the Tennebraex covers?

I try to whenever i can... just wish they weren't so friggin thick.

 

[Jerry R]

Anybody running the Tennebraex covers?

Yes, on most of my S&B's and they do hold up! I like the fact that they lock open and stay open.

A little pricey but you get what you pay for.

 

[mdmorrow]

I've yet to have much luck with flip open scope caps. I like the see through kind on a bungee so that I can get a shot off while I'm moving to my spot and then they come off once I'm settled.

 

[turbo54]

They are still working on designs, I have been running the new ones for about a year now, the front cap already failed. I have talked to Bushnell/BC about these and its Federal Government restricted materials that have ruined this product. There was a binding agent that they used to use that they had to pull out of the mix. At any rate they are still working on Ideas and formula.

I don't doubt they told you that, but it's a load of horseshit.

We live in a polymer world, and I have all kinds of plastic things in my car and house that would be better suited to the covers than the formula/alloy BC currently uses.

Call me a cynic, but I personally believe that BC has little vested interest in making a cover that lasts long term. They currently have the market about 90% cornered with a product that routinely fails, and is summarily replaced. Why would they put time/money/effort into a product that lasts forever?

 

[MJY65]

They are still working on designs, I have been running the new ones for about a year now, the front cap already failed. I have talked to Bushnell/BC about these and its Federal Government restricted materials that have ruined this product. There was a binding agent that they used to use that they had to pull out of the mix. At any rate they are still working on Ideas and formula.

The idea of some EPA restriction on a raw material might hold some water if they were actually manufactured in the US. The last ones I bought were from the Philippines.

 

[postal]

I still have an old set of BC that work great.

I heard all about the new ones that dont last....

Thinking about who I would like to see offer a product in this market.... Though I'm not particularly a 'magpul fanboy'... they know plastic......

I sent them an email to consider designing and offering a flip up scope cover.

The more people that say they want it, the better the odds they'll look into it.

 

[phreakmode]

In my opinion plastic is not the optimal material, an appropriate rubber is.