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| REPLACEMENT LENS HOUSING CAPS FOR YOUR "TRADITIONAL" RIFLE SCOPE By Wayne McLerran |
10/22/13
I now own three externally adjustable Fecker ¾” scopes. Two are
mounted on BPCR silhouette rifles and one on a Stevens 44 .22LR.
Only one came with lens housing caps (end caps). Needing two sets of
caps I ran across a thread on the American Single Shot Rifle
Association (ASSRA) forum indicating a fellow by the name of Sam
Marshall (aka nuclearcricket) makes steel caps for what I consider to
be an unbeatable price. Sam has experience making caps for Unertl
scopes but not for Feckers, which are different. So I sent him an
original cap and the necessary funds for two new sets.
In a couple of weeks the new caps arrived. They looked great and fit
perfectly. They’re in the “white” (unblued) with a knurled edge so
you’ll have to blue them if desired. As of this writing the caps are $10
each ($20 for a set of two) plus shipping, regardless of the size. I did
not ask but Sam may be willing to make them in aluminum if you
prefer.
Sam has the dimensions for Unertl’s 1&1/4” target scope and now
Fecker’s 3/4” 20.5” long scope. Note: it’s not Fecker’s Small Game
Scope but may use the same caps. Also note that Unertl and Fecker
caps are not the same – dimensions and thread pitch are different.
Sam indicated, “For any other sizes I am willing to work with the
owner to get caps to fit”. If you frequent the ASSRA discussion forum,
he can be reached with a PM using his “nuclearcricket” handle.
Otherwise his contact information is listed below.
Sam Marshall
519 Filbert St.
Curwensville, PA 16833
smarshall07@atlanticbb.net
If you’re like me, the caps get misplaced in range boxes or
inadvertently dropped on the ground, never to be found again. So
while you’re ordering, have Sam make one or two spares. You can’t
beat the price. And keep in mind, the caps not only help to eliminate
dust and other contaminates from collecting on the lenses, they
protect the rim and threads of the lens housing from damage.
Hopefully you’ll never need to remove the lenses for repair or
replacement, but if you do it will almost be impossible if the threads
are damaged. And a bent lens housing detracts from the overall
appearance of a nice looking rifle scope combination.
By the way, it should be obvious but I’ll caution you anyway. If the
rim of your scopes lens housing is bent or the threads are damaged,
don’t expect the caps Sam sends you to fit easily or at all without a
good bit of work on your part. If they do thread in but are tight or hit
tight spots, they can be lapped in using automotive valve grinding
compound or better yet, J-B Bore Cleaning Compound. Use the
compound sparingly on the cap threads and be sure to protect the
scope lenses. The abrasive material in the compounds will damage the
lens coating. One technique to help protect the lens is to tape over
it. Repeatedly screwing the cap in and out should remove the tight
spots if it’s not too bad. I use Q-Tips soaked in solvent to gently
remove the compound afterwards while ensuring the solvent does not
contact the lens as it may remove the lens coatings. Only alcohol is
applied to the lenses in my scopes when cleaning.
Wishing you great shooting,
Wayne
I now own three externally adjustable Fecker ¾” scopes. Two are
mounted on BPCR silhouette rifles and one on a Stevens 44 .22LR.
Only one came with lens housing caps (end caps). Needing two sets of
caps I ran across a thread on the American Single Shot Rifle
Association (ASSRA) forum indicating a fellow by the name of Sam
Marshall (aka nuclearcricket) makes steel caps for what I consider to
be an unbeatable price. Sam has experience making caps for Unertl
scopes but not for Feckers, which are different. So I sent him an
original cap and the necessary funds for two new sets.
In a couple of weeks the new caps arrived. They looked great and fit
perfectly. They’re in the “white” (unblued) with a knurled edge so
you’ll have to blue them if desired. As of this writing the caps are $10
each ($20 for a set of two) plus shipping, regardless of the size. I did
not ask but Sam may be willing to make them in aluminum if you
prefer.
Sam has the dimensions for Unertl’s 1&1/4” target scope and now
Fecker’s 3/4” 20.5” long scope. Note: it’s not Fecker’s Small Game
Scope but may use the same caps. Also note that Unertl and Fecker
caps are not the same – dimensions and thread pitch are different.
Sam indicated, “For any other sizes I am willing to work with the
owner to get caps to fit”. If you frequent the ASSRA discussion forum,
he can be reached with a PM using his “nuclearcricket” handle.
Otherwise his contact information is listed below.
Sam Marshall
519 Filbert St.
Curwensville, PA 16833
smarshall07@atlanticbb.net
If you’re like me, the caps get misplaced in range boxes or
inadvertently dropped on the ground, never to be found again. So
while you’re ordering, have Sam make one or two spares. You can’t
beat the price. And keep in mind, the caps not only help to eliminate
dust and other contaminates from collecting on the lenses, they
protect the rim and threads of the lens housing from damage.
Hopefully you’ll never need to remove the lenses for repair or
replacement, but if you do it will almost be impossible if the threads
are damaged. And a bent lens housing detracts from the overall
appearance of a nice looking rifle scope combination.
By the way, it should be obvious but I’ll caution you anyway. If the
rim of your scopes lens housing is bent or the threads are damaged,
don’t expect the caps Sam sends you to fit easily or at all without a
good bit of work on your part. If they do thread in but are tight or hit
tight spots, they can be lapped in using automotive valve grinding
compound or better yet, J-B Bore Cleaning Compound. Use the
compound sparingly on the cap threads and be sure to protect the
scope lenses. The abrasive material in the compounds will damage the
lens coating. One technique to help protect the lens is to tape over
it. Repeatedly screwing the cap in and out should remove the tight
spots if it’s not too bad. I use Q-Tips soaked in solvent to gently
remove the compound afterwards while ensuring the solvent does not
contact the lens as it may remove the lens coatings. Only alcohol is
applied to the lenses in my scopes when cleaning.
Wishing you great shooting,
Wayne