scope question

[kopodd]

I just got my Browning X bolt in a 280 Rem and now need to put a scope on it. Last year when the WCE scopes were on sale I bought two of them. The 2.5 X 10 X 50 I put on my Rem 700. I bought Warne high rings for it and the distance between the end of the scope and the barrel is about 5/16 to 3/8 of an inch. The scope I want to put on it is the 2.5 X 10 X 56. How much clearance do I need between the scope and the barrel so I don't damage any thing? I really don't want to go to extra high rings because my cheek gets so high off the stock. If I could get away with just high rings I'd be happy.


One other question, when I was out west last fall the first day of my hunt was in very heavy snowfall. Like an idiot I failed to buy scope caps and at one point both ends of my scope ( the wce 2.5 x 50 ) were full of snow. The only thing I had was a napkin in my pocket to clean the snow off with. There were bucks in front of me and I wasn't very careful about cleaning it off. Now I see when I look at the lenses of my scope blueish marks like stains on a glass out out of a dishwasher. Have I ruined the emusions on my scope? I don't see a difference when I look through it but will it continue to degrade in the future, and can it be repaired? Any help welcome thanks

[bigiron]

Can't ans. your lens issue but I have a Leupold 3-9 50mm un a 700 Classic 25-06 in med. rings. I can get "one" piece of paper between it & the barrel. The rifle shoots super.

[whelenman]

Any clearance will be enough. The only thing with a hunting rifle is that you may need to leave enough clearance for a scope cover which you mentioned. I personally like the little rubber stretchy scope covers since they seal good and tight, come off easily, and fit in a pocket nicely. Have you tried cleaning the lens well? It may just be a contaminant on the lens surface. I'd first just try breathing on it and then wiping it with a good lens paper to see what happens and go from there. I always keep a small pack of lens paper in my wallet for just such an occasion in the field.

[youp50]

I started crawling into 'pop up' blinds with a propane heater. Always fogs the scope. I use a soft cotton hanky to clean the lens. Sometimes a get a smear, maybe a booger. I use a little lens cleaning solution and a cloth that came with a Nikon scope. It comes clean. You may have had a little breakfast on the napkin and it will come off. IMO you have to be worried about scratching the coating more than 'boggering it up'

Sorry, pun intended.

[Tarheel]

Sometimes when my scope lens are nasty I put a squirt of windex on the lens and wipe off lightly with a Bounty paper towel or you may find a lens pen with the whiskers on one end and a felt plunger on the other. On scope clearence, I take a thick business card and lay under the objective end without the rings tightened, if it doesn't hit then I can tighten the rings without the scope hitttng the barrel.