Lyman Borescope

[RockyMtnMan]

My bank account was just charged by Grafs so my scope should ship soon. Of course Grafs is already out of stock again. Nobody can keep those things on the shelf once they get them in. I got lucky this time due to a tip via PM from a forum member about Grafs stock. I would have missed it if it wasn't for the tip. Very thankful I expect I will be very pleased with the quality from all the great reviews. Can't wait

 

[amlevin]

Wish there was a way to plug the camera cable directly into a USB port on my laptop for possibly better color rendering in real time.

Hoot

Try playing with the light level. I find that "High" tends to wash out the colors and I get better rendering Low or Med.

Also. I use mine now at the range. I just use a "Power Bank" and haven't found out how long it will keep the Borecam running. When I get back from using it a lot, the battery still shows "Full". Sure beats having to find power at the range. I just happened to have one in my Target Camera box. You can buy them everywhere for ~$20 and they're great to charge a cell phone when the power's out or your out hunting.

 

[amlevin]

Got mine a couple of days ago, so far so good!

But WRT the Hawkeye: Yes, this Lyman is more convenient for digital captures. However, once the electronics fail (and they will) we're left with a very short fishing rod. The simple optical Hawkeye should last forever, or for the rest of my life, whichever comes first. I simply can't justify 7x the price for a 22" Hawkeye (or 3x for a 17" one.)

Funny thing about "electronics". If they don't fail within the first 40 hours, the likelihood they'll fail later goes down drastically. The biggest problem with the Borecam is the same problem you are most likely to have with a Hawkeye. Damage he lens/mirror from dropping or exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals.

Take care of the Borecam and it too will last a lifetime. Even if it doesn't you can replace it twice or more before hitting the same cost as the Hawkeye.

I have electronic instruments, some of which are approaching 35 years of age. Been used regularly and even sometimes abused. Still working fine.

 

[Brians356]

Works fine and easy. Now to learn how to interpret what I'm seeing! Like looking at aerial photography, it's hard to decide what's a pit and what's a bump.

I assume there are pits on the left, and the "worm" on the right is debris (lint from a patch?) or fouling.

 

[ericbc7]

How does the Lyman compare to innovative technologies bore scope?

 

[Brians356]

Also. I use mine now at the range. I just use a "Power Bank" and haven't found out how long it will keep the Borecam running. When I get back from using it a lot, the battery still shows "Full".

The BoreCam draws very little current,

How does the Lyman compare to innovative technologies bore scope?

It doesn't compare, really, unless Innovative now sells a 90-deg side view now. The one I know of looks down the bore and is flexible. At almost $300 one can get a lot cheaper one of the same type scope for < $50. I bought an "Eggsnow USB Inspection Camera" on Amazon (made in China of course) and it works fine for what it is, but you cannot really inspect the walls of the bore like you can with a side-view scope.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LAPF57W/?tag=accuratescom-20

However, it is 5.5mm diameter, and does not quite fit down a 22-cal bore unless you dress it up with a file a bit, but this type of scope is best for inspecting the chamber and lands anyway. Also it does not come with a display screen, you need to USB to a laptop and run software off a CD. Still, it's 1/6 the price.

 

[Twoboxer]

Someone said to me "Why spend $220 when you can get a bore scope for $20?"

So I also bought a "5.5mm bore scope" off Amazon - camera at the end of a 3.5 meter cable plus some attachments.

Here's a pic of $20 scope (.216" OD) down the barrel, and then again with its 90 degree mirror (.252 OD) attached.

Compared to the Lyman:

The problems with the $20 variants (so far) is the OD is too large, the minimum focal distance is too long, and the image when using the 90 degree mirror gets very blurry, eg:

Here is The $20 scope on the bench, and then with its 90 degree mirror added:

 

[Joe Salt]

Maybe when they get enough of them out there the'll come up with a battery pack to take to the range!

Joe Salt

 

[amlevin]

Maybe when they get enough of them out there the'll come up with a battery pack to take to the range!

Joe Salt

Just check the electronic's dept of your local big box store. They often have them for less money than Lyman would add to the price. Even Radio Shack has them on the rack. You can order models for very little $$ from Amazon. These "Power Banks" are becoming as ubiquitous as D-Cell batteries.

 

[Joe Salt]

I wish we had a Radio Shack, out of business. Big Box never heard of. Amazon I can do, if someone finds one let me know. Thanks Guys.

Joe Salt

 

[RockyMtnMan]

Just check the electronic's dept of your local big box store. They often have them for less money than Lyman would add to the price. Even Radio Shack has them on the rack. You can order models for very little $$ from Amazon. These "Power Banks" are becoming as ubiquitous as D-Cell batteries.

I agree. Tons of battery packs out there. Not hard to find or figure out. Just pay attention to the output voltage on the power supply and purchase battery packs accordingly.

By the way folks. Just noticed Cabelas website says they have a "limited" supply of the Lyman borcams in stock. Unfortunately, Cabelas wants $299 for one, plus shipping if there's no free shipping promotions going on. I guess if a person wanted one RIGHT NOW bad enough, then $299 aint that bad. Otherwise wait and hope to get your hands on one somewhere else for a better price.

 

[Brians356]

This is a Rem XR-100 chamber, leade to the left, neck on the right. What the heck is that blob at the end of the chamber? It's not carbon, I don't believe, looks like metal. Also notice what look like pits, one in the big blob, and another in the neck wall. Or are they bumps, not pits?


The second pic is the same chamber, but a different position around the circumference. Notice the nice clean, sharp end of the chamber here. Also the fire cracking on the leade ramp.



Any comments appreciated!

 

[Ggmac]

Run a dry patch thru it , see if it moves , mark the outside of scope for ref. Is it a factory barrel , what does your fired brass look like in the aprx vicinity of what looks like a drilled hole ?

 

[Brians356]

Run a dry patch thru it , see if it moves , mark the outside of scope for ref. Is it a factory barrel , what does your fired brass look like in the aprx vicinity of what looks like a drilled hole ?

Oh, I've been all over it. It's shiny clean, and the blob ain't movin'. I believe it's steel. There are no marks on the necks which correlate, what we see through the scope is well past the end of the necks - a Sinclair chamber length gauge stops at 1.935", the cases are only 1.900" long.

This is a new-to-me gun, I inherited it from my deceased hunting buddy, but have not started loading for it.

 

[Ggmac]

Is there a scope base or rear sight above or near the hole ? Is it all factory ? What about the trig hanger on the xp , if the hole is on the bottom .
The blob could be cerrosafe , chamber cast stuff . I'm just guessing unless he shot lead bullets
Change light intensity or Color if you can by inserting opaque Mylar , plastic for the light to reflect off of .

 

[itchyTF]

Still "playing" with the new borecam. Looked at the gas port on two AR barrels and don't particularly like what I see in a .20P.



This one is down a little farther -


Yuck!

This was a .223 -

How normal is this? The .20P looks a lot worse compared to the .223.

 

[hogpatrol]

Still "playing" with the new borecam. Looked at the gas port on two AR barrels and don't particularly like what I see in a .20P.

View attachment 975049

This one is down a little farther -
View attachment 975050

Yuck!

This was a .223 -
View attachment 975051
How normal is this? The .20P looks a lot worse compared to the .223.

Don't know but everyone who just got their borecams has discovered their barrels are crap.

 

[Catfur]

I think the custom barrel mfrs. are behind this new, inexpensive borescope coming to market.

 

[Brians356]

Is there a scope base or rear sight above or near the hole ?

No! the "hole" is way out near the end of the chamber, well into the tapered part of the barrel, and inches ahead of the forward scope mount hole.

Is it all factory ?

Yes, bone stock, purchased brand new.

What about the trig hanger on the xp , if the hole is on the bottom .

Trigger is a good 4 or 5 inches aft of the chamber neck.

The blob could be cerrosafe , chamber cast stuff . I'm just guessing unless he shot lead bullets

He never owned any CerroSafe, and never took it to any gunsmith.

Change light intensity or Color if you can by inserting opaque Mylar , plastic for the light to reflect off of .

I can change light intensity, but you'll have to explain the Mylar insert part. Do you have one of these BoreCams? Where do you "insert" something opaque without blocking the camera?

 

[Brians356]

I think the custom barrel mfrs. are behind this new, inexpensive borescope coming to market.

I'll tell you one thing, I'd never buy another used gun at a gun show, or from a private party, if they wouldn't let me plug this scope in and inspect it. It is too bad it doesn't run on batteries, but finding AC power is a minor inconvenience except in the bush.