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Looking to buy a Hawkeye

muleman69

USMC -1st marine Div. RVN
Time for me to step up to the plate and buy a borescope. Where would I find a Hawkeye at a reasonable price?
 
4th of july sale somewhere. Sign up for email blasts. Find the model that doesnt come with the case- the box works very well its not just a cardboard box so dont think youll have to get a case later. That saves a bunch
 
Dusty Stevens said:
4th of july sale somewhere. Sign up for email blasts. Find the model that doesnt come with the case- the box works very well its not just a cardboard box so dont think youll have to get a case later. That saves a bunch
Click to expand...
What is e-mail blast? How do I go about this?
 
A few used ones on eBay. But the Bruno price with free shipping is pretty close to what some sold for.

Your choice, but I never use my angle eyepiece. And it adds cost.
 
jepp2 said:
Your choice, but I never use my angle eyepiece. And it adds cost.
Click to expand...
I bought my Hawkeye without the angled eyepiece but after using my friend's Hawkeye with the angled eyepiece a few times I bought one and found the angled eyepiece so much easier and less cumbersome to use. My personnel recommendation for people looking to buy a Hawkeye is to find someone who has one with the angled eyepiece and try it with and without the angled eyepiece installed. Since jepp2 posted that he never uses his angled eyepiece maybe he would give you a good deal on it.
 
I have had one for quite a while now. I got mine from Brownell's, but I have dealer status. If I remember right it didn't matter...some things are cheaper from Brownell's for dealers and some don't give any break at all. I think the Hawkeye was one of them, so you can probably find one cheaper.
I am going to be odd man out here {as usual} and say that I suggest you get the hard case. That long tube that goes in the bore is not just a tube with lenses on the end like a small telescope, it is glass the entire length. That is what makes it so expensive, it is one long lens. Also, the tube that slides over it with the 90 degree mirror on the end is fragile too. If you kink or dent it it wont work anymore because it has to slide all the way on the main tube to function in the bore.
Bending the main tube will absolutely break the lens and then it is no good until it gets fixed for darn near what a new one cost. Gradient Lens Corp. doesn't give away anything. If you do not get the case at the very minimal least you should make arrangements to make your own wooden box to keep it protected in. It is just too much money to risk damage.
Second, I do use my 90 degree eyepiece every time I look at a bore. It is expensive and you do not have to have it, but when you start using the scope without it you will not be long wishing you had one. I lucked out and got mine on the bay for like $75.00.
Last, I definitely would not pay extra for the "LED" super bright light setup. Maybe by now they all have this feature. When I got mine it was about a $100 option. You can get the Nite Eyes {sic??} LED conversion for the AA Maglight at Lowe's for like $15-$20...might be more now. You want the LED light, it is definitely brighter and way easier on batteries...you just don't need to pay way too much for it. If I remember right Gradient called it the "Super Nova".
 
I agree on having a rigid case. Not necessarily the one sold by Gradient Lens but at least one that will have a rigid exterior and cradle the elements. Kind of like what I was taught when I started motocross racing as a youngster..."if you've got a $5 head....go on and get a $5 helmet....but...". I bit the bullet and bought the set-up with their case. I did swap out the light bulb with the LED kit and saved a bit there.
 
msinc said:
I have had one for quite a while now. I got mine from Brownell's, but I have dealer status. If I remember right it didn't matter...some things are cheaper from Brownell's for dealers and some don't give any break at all. I think the Hawkeye was one of them, so you can probably find one cheaper.
I am going to be odd man out here {as usual} and say that I suggest you get the hard case. That long tube that goes in the bore is not just a tube with lenses on the end like a small telescope, it is glass the entire length. That is what makes it so expensive, it is one long lens. Also, the tube that slides over it with the 90 degree mirror on the end is fragile too. If you kink or dent it it wont work anymore because it has to slide all the way on the main tube to function in the bore.
Bending the main tube will absolutely break the lens and then it is no good until it gets fixed for darn near what a new one cost. Gradient Lens Corp. doesn't give away anything. If you do not get the case at the very minimal least you should make arrangements to make your own wooden box to keep it protected in. It is just too much money to risk damage.
Second, I do use my 90 degree eyepiece every time I look at a bore. It is expensive and you do not have to have it, but when you start using the scope without it you will not be long wishing you had one. I lucked out and got mine on the bay for like $75.00.
Last, I definitely would not pay extra for the "LED" super bright light setup. Maybe by now they all have this feature. When I got mine it was about a $100 option. You can get the Nite Eyes {sic??} LED conversion for the AA Maglight at Lowe's for like $15-$20...might be more now. You want the LED light, it is definitely brighter and way easier on batteries...you just don't need to pay way too much for it. If I remember right Gradient called it the "Super Nova".
Click to expand...
I just checked at lowes and the led kit for the mini mag is 5.00$ :)
 
Jdne5b said:
Has anyone come up with a case as good and cheaper than the one Hawkeye sells?
Click to expand...

How rough on your stuff are you? A hawkeye is a precision instrument its not made to lay on a dirty table at a range or bouncing around in the bed of a truck- hard case or not. Ive used the rigid fitted cardboard box from gradient lens for 20yrs with no issue. My older model 90deg scope came in the hard case. Both seem to offer equal protection but then again im not hard on my stuff. A hawkeye isnt for everyone- even if they had a pelican case. The box is not like a flat rate cardboard from usps its that solid cardboard- not corrogated light stuff. The only damage mine has ever suffered was letting a customer borrow it and got solvent on the lens ruining it. And id say i use mine way more than most looking at every chamber ive ever done.
 
Dusty Stevens said:
How rough on your stuff are you? A hawkeye is a precision instrument its not made to lay on a dirty table at a range or bouncing around in the bed of a truck- hard case or not. Ive used the rigid fitted cardboard box from gradient lens for 20yrs with no issue. My older model 90deg scope came in the hard case. Both seem to offer equal protection but then again im not hard on my stuff. A hawkeye isnt for everyone- even if they had a pelican case. The box is not like a flat rate cardboard from usps its that solid cardboard- not corrogated light stuff. The only damage mine has ever suffered was letting a customer borrow it and got solvent on the lens ruining it. And id say i use mine way more than most looking at every chamber ive ever done.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Makes sense.
 
msinc said:
Wow...LED's have really come down in price in the last few years. One other thing about having the LED Maglight on your borescope, you no longer have to focus it first.
Click to expand...
What exactly am I looking for at lowes ? Mini mag blubs or max kit?
 
snakepit said:
I bought my Hawkeye without the angled eyepiece but after using my friend's Hawkeye with the angled eyepiece a few times I bought one and found the angled eyepiece so much easier and less cumbersome to use. My personnel recommendation for people looking to buy a Hawkeye is to find someone who has one with the angled eyepiece and try it with and without the angled eyepiece installed. Since jepp2 posted that he never uses his angled eyepiece maybe he would give you a good deal on it.
Click to expand...

This^^^ Be sure and and get the angled eyepiece. Unless you want to take the barreled action out of the stock every time the straight is almost usless.

And if you want a little more magnification wear a pair of cheaters. Works great!
 
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