I need some help with borescope education

[MtGun44]

90 degree will be used 80-90% of the time. Get the adjustable focus, too.

Bill

[cbrick]

It seems I remember someone recommending that one from Midway.

Yes, the 90* tube/mirror, I've never used the 90* eye Piece, might be handy, dunno. If you look at the picture on Midway's site with the scope in the case there is the scope on top and another tube on the bottom, that bottom tube slides over the tube on the scope. Look at the enlarged image of the bottom tube, on the right end see the mirror on the side of the tube? That's why/how you can see 90* & the side of the bore, not just look straight ahead and there is a huge difference in what you see. Also when the bottom tube is on the scope it spins 360* so you can look all the way around the bore & not just one side.

Yes it's more money than the ones you were looking at but if your gonna spend that much you should get the one that will do what you need it to do & will be happy with, not spend the next several years thinking coulda, woulda, shoulda.

I'm not hardly rich, I do have some nice stuff including the borescope but it is all stuff that I had to save up for. Coulda had a whole lot more stuff but I opted for things that would do what I wanted and that I would be happy with, not have to buy again later.

Rick

[fireball168]

It's a hard choice, because the Hawkeye is not going to provide any direct returns.

Mine sure does.

I do inspections with digital photos and video. I've had guys call me to shops to look at new and used rifles prior to trade in/purchase.

Those inspections can turn into parts/labor sales.

I buy a fair amount of new & used take off barrels. I generally ask for a three day return if the borescope doesn't agree with what the seller claims for barrel usage. Amazing how the story and price can change before the deal is made.

Mine has more than paid for itself several times over.

[DCM]

See there?
This is exactly why I ask from those who are in the know!
I didn't think the 90* viewer was an important feature (oh, you must mean the 90* mirror tip, and not the 90* eyepiece?),
SO how about THIS one?
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/303...ProductFinding

"you must mean the 90* mirror tip, and not the 90* eyepiece?", YUP!
That is the one I would highly recomend.

[MBTcustom]

It seems I remember someone recommending that one from Midway.
Rick

Yes I know, I hope you don't mind me making really dam sure that's the $770 unit you were referring to.

Yes, the 90* tube/mirror, I've never used the 90* eye Piece, might be handy, dunno. If you look at the picture on Midway's site with the scope in the case there is the scope on top and another tube on the bottom, that bottom tube slides over the tube on the scope. Look at the enlarged image of the bottom tube, on the right end see the mirror on the side of the tube? That's why/how you can see 90* & the side of the bore, not just look straight ahead and there is a huge difference in what you see. Also when the bottom tube is on the scope it spins 360* so you can look all the way around the bore & not just one side.

Oh I get it. Cooooooool!

Yes it's more money than the ones you were looking at but if your gonna spend that much you should get the one that will do what you need it to do & will be happy with, not spend the next several years thinking coulda, woulda, shoulda.

I completely agree. That's why I called this thread "borescope education". You get what you pay for, and now I understand much better what exactly I am paying for.

I'm not hardly rich, I do have some nice stuff including the borescope but it is all stuff that I had to save up for. Coulda had a whole lot more stuff but I opted for things that would do what I wanted and that I would be happy with, not have to buy again later.

Yeah, that was supposed to be a 10.5 SBH.
I'm definitely going to have to bust open the piggy bank for this one. I can afford it, it's just......painful!

[MBTcustom]

Mine sure does.

I do inspections with digital photos and video. I've had guys call me to shops to look at new and used rifles prior to trade in/purchase.

Those inspections can turn into parts/labor sales.

I buy a fair amount of new & used take off barrels. I generally ask for a three day return if the borescope doesn't agree with what the seller claims for barrel usage. Amazing how the story and price can change before the deal is made.

Mine has more than paid for itself several times over.

Good to know, Thanks!

[cbrick]

On a plus side this scope should be a nice tax deduction for the gunsmith business.

Another plus is that it does save a bunch of money and headaches on rifle purchases as was mentioned. I bought a Marlin 45 Colt Cowboy from Gun Broker, beautiful rifle. After I got it I ran the scope down the barrel and was shocked at what I saw. Looking down the barrel with the naked eye it looked like perfection but the scope showed what it really was. The rifling looked like it had been hacked out with a chisel. Not an abused bore, it was somehow made that way. I sent it back to Marlin for a new barrel on my dime. Got it back and the new barrel was worse than the original. To this day it sits in the safe waiting on an aftermarket barrel. A couple of years after that I was looking for a Marlin 45-70 & found a new one in the store, before buying it I looked down the bore with the scope . . . Worse than the 45 Colt, just terrible. Geez, what is Marlin doing with/to these barrels. Found two more brand new ones in different stores and the bores all were horrible. I still don't have a 45-70 or a good barrel on the 45 Colt or another Marlin.

So the scope while expensive can and does save you a bunch, even more so as a smith I would think.

Rick

[country gent]

When a friends Shop burnt ( 100% loss) his Hawkeye was in the shop. After things had settled down he called them and sent it back to be efurbished if possible. Hawkeye rebuilt free of charge for him. Thought knowing the service they give might help to make the purchase easier

[MBTcustom]

When a friends Shop burnt ( 100% loss) his Hawkeye was in the shop. After things had settled down he called them and sent it back to be efurbished if possible. Hawkeye rebuilt free of charge for him. Thought knowing the service they give might help to make the purchase easier

Things like that make the purchase much easier. Thank you very much!

Now, I have to ask, do I have to buy the $800 picture thingy in order to take pictures of what I see? Seems that being able to show what I see to a client would be an important capability.
How did you take that picture you posted Rick?

[cbrick]

It was rather difficult. Not so much because of the scope but rather my camera. My camera has no means of attaching anything to the lens, something I discovered when contemplating buying a spotting scope & wanting to take pictures of 200 meter targets. Besides the scope I would also need to buy a new camera so that never happened. But how cool would it be to sit on the firing line and take good close up pictures of your 200 meter groups. Ah well, the doctor says exercise is good for you, walk back and forth.

The picture in post #6 was taken with the rifle in a vice and the camera on a small tripod held up to the eye piece of the scope. I had to take several pictures because of the very small screen on the camera made it difficult to have the rifle, the scope and the camera all in the exact position, any one of them move slightly and it was out of focus and hard to see that on the camera screen. Also it takes a camera capable of taking quality close up pictures which my camera does, thus the good looking boolit porn.

I agree that as a gunsmith it would be invaluable to be able to either bring up the pictures on the computer or print them out but for me as a useful toy and hobbyist that cost was beyond reasonable. The bottom line is that it can be done but it was a PITA for me. If that's what you want to do it sounds like one step at a time & the correct camera set up on down the road. Before you spend that kind of money on their camera set up be certain that your camera can attach to it or you to will also be buying a new camera.

Rick

[MBTcustom]

It was rather difficult. Not so much because of the scope but rather my camera. My camera has no means of attaching anything to the lens, something I discovered when contemplating buying a spotting scope & wanting to take pictures of 200 meter targets. Besides the scope I would also need to buy a new camera so that never happened. But how cool would it be to sit on the firing line and take good close up pictures of your 200 meter groups. Ah well, the doctor says exercise is good for you, walk back and forth.

The picture in post #6 was taken with the rifle in a vice and the camera on a small tripod held up to the eye piece of the scope. I had to take several pictures because of the very small screen on the camera made it difficult to have the rifle, the scope and the camera all in the exact position, any one of them move slightly and it was out of focus and hard to see that on the camera screen. Also it takes a camera capable of taking quality close up pictures which my camera does, thus the good looking boolit porn.

I agree that as a gunsmith it would be invaluable to be able to either bring up the pictures on the computer or print them out but for me as a useful toy and hobbyist that cost was beyond reasonable. The bottom line is that it can be done but it was a PITA for me. If that's what you want to do it sounds like one step at a time & the correct camera set up on down the road. Before you spend that kind of money on their camera set up be certain that your camera can attach to it or you to will also be buying a new camera.

Rick

LOL! and now we know the rest of the story!
Good times.
Thanks for the info Rick. I think you're right. I could feasibly afford the full monty, but that would deplete my limited buffer more than I care to do. I should be in a position next year to buy additional stuff for it, but now, I think it would be wiser to just jump on the basic 17 Slim.

Ok, here I go. (geez, I'm going to limp away from this one. LOL!)

[cbrick]

Well, like I posted earlier. I had tremendous buyers remorse after I ordered the scope. Just couldn't believe that I spent that much money on something that I really could have done without. All that evaporated the very first time I looked into a bore. I actually use mine much more than I ever thought I would, what an education I get from it. It will be far more useful to you, it's a worthwhile investment.

Rick

[btroj]

My wife told me no. More like hell no.
I do have a few guns I would like to scope, I have a feeling I know what I would find. My Marlin 357 has a very steep throat, it any, I bet. That would explain the picky nature it has when it comes to bullets it likes.

[MBTcustom]

It's done.
I ordered from Brownells because I get a dealer discount, and I needed some more rifle shipping cases.
I feel kind of excited and clammy all at the same time. Can't believe I just dropped $750 on a tube with a mirror and a mini mag light. That's half what I spent on the bluing operation.

So, now I'm off to mourn the passing of my chance to own a SBH.
At least now when I get the opportunity to buy another one, I'll be able to check it out thoroughly and know that it is in fact all that and a bag of chips.

[cbrick]

That looks like the same kit even though it doesn't mention focus adjustment.

Ok, here's a couple of things you NEED to know. When sliding it into a bore use much caution that the tube is sliding into the bore straight. It bends very easily and bent tubes are not covered under the warranty. Be very careful that the leading edge of the tube (the end of it) does not scrape the bore collecting particles on the mirror or you'll see nothing and have to clean it. Never rub the mirror, those particles your trying to clean off will scratch the mirror. 90-95% of my cleaning of the mirror is done with a can of compressed air (not ever with the shop air compressor) available from the camera dept. of your favorite store. On the rare (if your careful) occasion you do need to clean it use a clean Q-tip very gently with a good camera lens cleaner - Don't rub on it, gently, lightly. Do this and it will outlast you, it is a high quality instrument and deserves high quality TLC.

Rick

Edit to add: Since it sounds like we don't have you completely broke yet go to this web site . . .

Gradient Lens Lighting Options

And order the Hawkeye® LED Light.

Relative Intensity: 12x
Adjustable Intensity: Yes
Power Source: AA Alkaline
Run Time (cont.): 3hrs
Lamp Life: 50,000hrs.
Weight: 4oz. (113 g)
Model #: HAWKEYE-LED
Price: $95

As I mentioned earlier in post #6, second paragraph, about a 500% improvement and well worth the money, even more so if you plan on taking pictures with it.

[btroj]

Tim, I expect photos of a certain rifle throat......

I have a feeling that borescope will pay huge dividends in the future for you as a gunsmith. If nothing else you can show customers photos of how bad their factory barrel and chamber are.

Give the scope a few years, it will bring in enough cash to pay for itself AND a 10.5 inch BH.

[cbrick]

My wife told me no. More like hell no.

I wonder if Gradient lens takes wives in trade for bore scopes? No, I have no idea why I'm still single!

Tim, I expect photos of a certain rifle throat......

If you want a photo of rifle chambers I could send you some . . . Or just see post #6.

Rick

[detox]

My Hawkeye came with cleaning kit (pointed Qtips and bottle of cleaner).

The 90 degree mirror is very fragile, i cracked mine when looking at crown of rifle barrel, but it still works.

When using the 90 mirror, use different size rubber O rings to center scope tube mirror in barrel while inspecting.

The optional 90 degree eye piece is helpful to inspect chamber of rifle more easily without removing stock or squating down.

I want the LED light option

Midway is currently running $45.00 discount coupons if you spend over $300.00

[country gent]

One plus to the camera attachment or unit to show on computer screen is in your buisness showing to a customer they dont have to handle the scope, most are carefull but dont understand fragile either. We replaced a bore scope several time when certain trades tried to "spring " it around angles to get into holes.

[MtGun44]

Note that the scope apparently a solid piece of glass inside the tube, so do NOT bend
it even slightly.

VERY nice instrument, you will learn a lot about barrels (like almost all old BP and
milsurp barrels, even the ones that shine and look nearly mint - are pitted at least
a little bit when you look closely) and throats and chambers, and gas ports (amazingly
eroded!) and cleaning barrels. The cracked mudpuddle look of a modern high velocity
rifle throat that has been shot a lot is shocking, but some that look really bad will
still shoot. Turns out you can't see squat from the ends. And some really crummy
looking barrels can shoot well, too.

You'll love it.

Bill