Red Dot type scopes battery duration based on weather

[LJ Barrero]

Hi guys!

I have a question for guys that hunt in warmer areas.  One year I hunted deer with my S&W629 with a Burris 135 Red Dot sight.  Here in Iowa, the hunt is in December and by then, winter is anywhere from 30F down to (-)20F.  That day of the hunt, I turned the sight ON when some deer approached.  I was not able to make a shot but I also forgot to shut the Red Dot sight off.  Late in the afternoon, a nice deer shows up and it is a shooter.  I aim and then, there's no dot.  The battery was consumed within a few hours in the cold.  Even though it was my fault for not turning the sight off, I do hesitate to think about using it again (in the cold weather anyway).  My question to you is:

1.  How long does the battery last in a warmer weather?

I know that the manufacturer says that the battery should last about 50 hours but it does not hold true for cold weather in my experience.

Thank you for your responses.

LJB

[longwalker]

lj barrero

I have the same problem in SD. May I suggest you keep a spare set of batteries in your pants pocket of inside shirt pocket. Though I have not had the same dissappointing  experience you describe I have had "dim" sights in the early morning and late in the evening when walking out.

Now saying all that, My experience with battery life has been good. I carry a spare set and will most likely change out a set at least once during the deer season.  I don't leave the sight on all the time but when I am still hunting it is on. When I stand hunt I turn it off. If you hunt from a tree stand you shouldn't have a problem.

longwalker

[Questor]

Same thing here in Minnesota. That's why I use a scope instead of electronic sights.  There are other good reasons for using a scope too. In warm weather with my red dot target sights, the sight will stay on for over a week.

[Redhawk1]

i have left my Red-dot on for several days in warm weather. Cold weather will drain the battery quicker, but one thing to do is put in a fresh battery before hunting. I keep all the replaced batteries that are still good and use them on the range, until they do dead.  The key is a fresh battery.  

[Questor]

I'd be interested to know what hunters in cold climates have found using red dot sights temperatures at or below zero. My experience has been that the batteries become ineffective quickly, then regain their effectiveness when taken into a warm place.  The batteries I've used are all 2032's

[S.B.]

I'm no expert but, I've heard tell that cold weather eats up the batteries at double the rate of warmer weather. Electronics seems to be getting better and battery life seems to last longer but, I still don't trust my red dot to leave it on too long while hunting. Last year was my first experience with a red dot scope and still a little nervous with them? Also, I'm not fond of trying to find the knob to turn the scope on or to adjust the rheostat after a deer has appeared. Maybe some more experience will teach me a proper technique?