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Nitrogen vs Argon filled?

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Roy Finn View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/25/2009 at 10:49
I may be wrong but my understanding is that no matter what type of gas is used it's sole purpose is to eliminate any moisture as it is assembled from the factory. I'm not sure that whatever type is used actually stops fogging in itself. So in my way of thinking it really shouldn't matter whether nitrogen or argon is used so long as the process eliminates any moisture at the assembly process. I do, however applaud Leupold for tying something new to help the problem of internal fogging regardless of whether it is significantly better than the old standby of plain old nitrogen. One of the things I do that I think helps when hunting in extremely cold temps is to keep my rifles and bino's outside in a vehicle which I think that what Leupold is referring to when they advertise "thermal shock" meaning taking your scopes and bino's from a warm hunting camp directly into extremely cold temps. I think that this helps more so than whatever type of gas that is used to seal the optic.

Edited by Roy Finn - May/25/2009 at 10:59
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Connelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/25/2009 at 11:01
Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

I may be wrong but my understanding is that no matter what type of gas is used it's sole purpose is to eliminate any moisture as it is assembled from the factory. I'm not sure that whatever type is used actually stops fogging in itself. So in my way of thinking it really shouldn't matter whether nitrogen or argon is used so long as the process eliminates any moisture at the assembly process. I do, however applaud Leupold for tying something new to help the problem of internal fogging regardless of whether it is significantly better than the old standby of plain old nitrogen. One of the things I do that I think helps when hunting in extremely cold temps is to keep my rifles and bino's outside in a vehicle which I think that what Leupold is referring to when they advertise "thermal shock" meaning taking your scopes and bino's from a warm hunting camp directly into extremely cold temps. I think that this helps more so than whatever type of gas that is used to seal the optic.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tip69 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/25/2009 at 11:12

hope no-one knows your addresses!   I found out the hard way, leaving expensive guns outside is a good way to lose them, weather they are in a locked vehicle or not!

take em!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/25/2009 at 11:14
Originally posted by huff143 huff143 wrote:

  But, are argon molecules larger than nitrogen?


Argon is an element and compared to elemental nitrogen, has almost three times the atomic mass. Argon also has one more electron shell and as already mentioned, is inert and non-reactive.
Nitrogen is very reactive and this may be the reason for argon purging. Other than that, I am clueless on the reason.
I also applaud Leupold for using Argon.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/25/2009 at 11:20
Originally posted by Tip69 Tip69 wrote:

hope no-one knows your addresses!   I found out the hard way, leaving expensive guns outside is a good way to lose them, weather they are in a locked vehicle or not!



I keep mine outside in extreme cold, too. This is for both the optics and the "high tech" lubricants. If argon helps in this regard for optics, I'm all for it. I would like to see actual experience with it.
I would never leave a gun in my car in downtown Detroit. I digress, though.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Connelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/25/2009 at 11:56
Originally posted by Tip69 Tip69 wrote:

hope no-one knows your addresses!   I found out the hard way, leaving expensive guns outside is a good way to lose them, weather they are in a locked vehicle or not!

 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/25/2009 at 12:29
Originally posted by tahqua tahqua wrote:

Originally posted by huff143 huff143 wrote:

  But, are argon molecules larger than nitrogen?


Argon is an element and compared to elemental nitrogen, has almost three times the atomic mass. Argon also has one more electron shell and as already mentioned, is inert and non-reactive.
Nitrogen is very reactive and this may be the reason for argon purging. Other than that, I am clueless on the reason.
I also applaud Leupold for using Argon.



Nitrogen atoms are very reactive.  Nitrogen molecules (which is what nitrogen gas is made of) are very stable.  And are bigger in size than argon atoms.  I posted this earlier in the thread.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/27/2009 at 13:48
Originally posted by Al Nyhus Al Nyhus wrote:

Originally posted by Kickboxer Kickboxer wrote:

Al, do you only hunt in broad daylight, not bothering with the "temperature transition" times?    Emoticons
 
   'Mornin'.
 
      Not sure what you mean about "broad daylight" hunting? I just go when it's time to go.  Wink  As to "temperature transition"  times, I take a similarly simple approach to it by not considering it at all.  I do make a concession with my Winter predator rifles by not bringing them into a really warm area after hunting in cold weather....more for condensation on the rest of the gun that any optical considerations, though.
 
    I'm not poo-pooing scopes being purged at the factory. But as long as some sort of dry atmosphere is introduced,  I'm not convinced it makes any difference what it is. And the 'purged state' of a scope is not a forever thing. Seals leak due to age, we move the occular in and out on threads that are certainly not air tight (despite whatever sealing method is used), we move objective lenses with similar threads or via a side mounted turret (with seals) there's expansion/contraction due to heat and cold, etc. 
 
     As long as we don't have some sort of massive sealing issue, these things just keep on working for the most part.
 
     Good shootin'. Smile   -Al
 
   
 
    
 
  

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