I have a Leupold vari-x III 3.5-10x40 scope mounted on a rifle

Sadly it has been in a shed with no climate control for the last month and probably reached 110 degrees for several days in a row last month.

Did I damage it? Any seals, etc.

Is it likely to be off zero now? It was perfectly sighted in.

I checked the Leupold web site and the specs list no storage temperature.

I am not an authority, but there is a fair amount of discussion on the Internet: search for “heat damage riflescope.”

I do believe, though, that if a scope will be damaged by heat, it must be significantly hotter than indirect 110° temperatures. By “indirect” I mean inside a building where it’s not being baked by direct sunlight. The latter can raise temperatures much higher in places like on the dashboard of an enclosed car. Camera manufacturers used to caution about leaving cameras and film on a place like that. Leupold scopes have been used extensively by military snipers in places where the air temperatures get far above 110°, and that doesn’t even consider how those optics have been left in the sun for long periods.

Although I don’t recall the source(s) now, I have read about the dangers of allowing direct sunlight to shine into the interior of optics like scopes for prolonged periods, possibly because of how the heat may be concentrated by lenses. I’m careful to minimize my spotting scopes’ and rifle sights’ exposure to that sort of thing. Air temperatures are thankfully usually very moderate here, but the sun is fierce.

I seriously doubt you have anything to worry about, but of course when it comes to questions about sighting zeroes, the only way to be sure is to test yourself. Like so many things, positive reports of damage demonstrate what can happen, but the much more common, “It has never happened to me,” sort are about worthless unless we know that the conditions and device were exactly the same as ours.

As a final thought, the best thing would be to contact Leupold directly by phone or email. I have done that a few times and always gotten good responses.

Can't be good for it. warping would be a concern for me. I think I would be more concerned about the rifle if there is considerable humidity. Rust would be a concern. Since rescued I would just clean it up and inspect it thoroughly. Shot it to determine if all is still good.

IMO there is not a chance that temp would bother it. Otherwise all our friends in the SW and middle east would be discussing what's wrong on Leupold scopes since the outside air could be that for shooting never mind storage.

quote:

Originally posted by hrcjon:
Otherwise all our friends in the SW and middle east would be discussing what's wrong on Leupold scopes...

There's plenty doing that, and not just in those places.

OK I'll spot you that, but its not heat damage that's on the table...

quote:

Will storage in the heat damage my Leupold scope?

Being indoors, therefore out of direct sunlight and the diurnal temperature variation (difference between daytime and nighttime) minimized, no.

I'd say it's fine. Indoors for 30 days, out of direct sunlight should be no problem for a Leupold, or any other high quality scope.

Tony.