Scope Sunshade ?

Does a sunshade block any light 'gathering' abilities of a scope? If not, any reason to not just leave it on the scope 24/7? Scope is XTR II 4-20x50.

Maybe, never have tried my scopes in low light without the shade.

So you keep it on there 24/7?

I've wondered the same thing. I recently bought a Vortex Viper scope and it came with a sun shade. So far I've only shot it without the shade.

gets in the way, in a blind, okay from prone or bench

I don't even use my sunshade.

I've been meaning to post a pic. Here she is in all her glory.

I do not have mine on my XTR II, only because the cap didn't fit on easily and I havnt tried again or felt like I needed it.

Same here

Sweet setup man

Is that a magpul stock? If so, is it stiff enough for shooting off of a bipod?

Yes.

This evening I had the XTR II out, with sunshade on. At 100 yards I could see just fine at 3X or 15X, the last five minutes of legal light.

Good info, I may put mine on and leave it to cover all of my bases.

The real reason they are made , back in the day, benchrest shooters would roll up a paper target and stick it in the sunshade to direct mirage from the barrel around the front of the scope.

sounds made up but its true.

They also work for what their name implies. When shooting in the direction of the sun they help keep the image from getting washed out.

Yes & yes. Even w/the bull barrel it takes a lot of force to push the stock where it'll touch the barrel. Way more force then will ever be applied during a shot.