See your Bullet holes at 600+ without spending $800+

[Tesoro]

So I have a drone parts protype made up and tested that you can fit in a Lapua brass sized box that houses everything to take to range, including battery. Cost is max $200 for parts and 1/10 the size of the commercial ones and fully modular . The range is over a mile, tested. The 'picture' is analogue but more than sufficient to spot your .225/6mm sized shots on a white target. I cant get to my 600/1k range to use it cause the forestry has closed access due to road work for fires. I tried it out today at 1250 yds by my port/harbor and worked perfect. Camera is 30in from target and low in this pic of an old target board. The camera is the size of an olive and costs 30 bucks if you were to shoot way low and accidentally hit it. Twist 2 wires up with tape and back in biz! The viewer is only 4x4 inches with built in battery and lasts 2 1/2 hrs if left on continually. You can recharge it with a phone charger or run it on a $20 phone battery pack for all day use. I think it is pretty neat! When I get it all dialed in and packaged in a portable box I'll post pics of the end product.

 

[hoz53]

So I have a drone parts protype made up and tested that you can fit in a Lapua brass sized box that houses everything to take to range, including battery. Cost is max $200 for parts and 1/10 the size of the commercial ones and fully modular . The range is over a mile, tested. The 'picture' is analogue but more than sufficient to spot your .225/6mm sized shots on a white target. I cant get to my 600/1k range to use it cause the forestry has closed access due to road work for fires. I tried it out today at 1250 yds by my port/harbor and worked perfect. Camera is 30in from target and low in this pic of an old target board. The camera is the size of an olive and costs 30 bucks if you were to shoot way low and accidentally hit it. Twist 2 wires up with tape and back in biz! The viewer is only 4x4 inches with built in battery and lasts 2 1/2 hrs if left on continually. You can recharge it with a phone charger or run it on a $20 phone battery pack for all day use. I think it is pretty neat! When I get it all dialed in and packaged in a portable box I'll post pics of the end product.

View attachment 1475733

that is cool-- wat kind of signal does it use from cam box at target to viewer on the line?? ive seen guys using the cell phone system some how.. thanks

 

[moondog]

I've thought the RC camera idea would be cool. My son was into RC racing and the FPV cameras are cheap. This perks my interest again.

 

[Shinbone]

Looking forward to hearing more details on how this is made.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

So your using the camera from a drone kit but not the drone? Interesting.

Frank

 

[JFrank]

Very cool. Looking forward to your next report.

 

[K9TXS]

I hope you can provide additional information for a DIY. This is very cool.

 

[deadidarren]

I hope you can provide additional information for a DIY. This is very cool.

I'll second this

 

[JT27]

I built something very similar a couple years ago. Works great and I still use it. IIRC I think I spent a little over $100 total, bought everything off Amazon. Actually relatively simple, transmitter, receiver, drone camera lens, rear view monitor screen, and a couple of batteries. Housed everything in a couple of small ammo cans and mounted the camera lens in a bullet box. Had to play around with different lenses for the camera to get the proper field of view. I use this for our 600yd line which has a pit. So when it’s set up, it’s a good 10ft away. I had a parts list somewhere. I’ll see if I can dig it up.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I'll second this

Plus it wouldn’t take much of a heavy three sided piece of steel staked down to protect the camera system.

 

[Tesoro]

Yes I will do a full report/details after I have it all consolidated and shrink wrapped etc. I have 5 ft leads so cam can be mounted on a little pole away from the 'guts'. Can hide behind a stump or rock, or on range behind a barrier. I just ordered a telescoping 5 ft ss antenna type handle for magnetic pickup. Idea is to have the works fit in one compact box w/handle.

I am not sure how far I can get with extended wires before losing signal from camera. I am not familiar with 5v, only 12v, so can do some calcs and experimenting. The nice thing is dont have to be in the field for this part.

It just dawned on me that at 600+ the bullet is coming down onto the target at an angle so I could actually raise the cam to a more straight on view and be safe. Once you have your zero, the dispersion is going to be horizontal on average. In my case if I could put the camera right on the X ring it would be in the safest location.

There are hobbyists who build their own drones so one can buy the parts, or replace them as they are modular. The main problem is heat dispersal for the transmitter, which is typically cooled by the down thrust of the propellor blades. But I found a good one which is put in the wing of rc airplanes and has a heat synch and built in fan. Problem solved. The other problem is most cameras have a very wide field of view but I found one with a longer focal plane so it is like 115deg vs 160deg and seems to work ok. I know there are others out there with interchangeable lenses but will hunt them later. of course this will mean more $ and the idea is to come up with one that we all can afford! I think my current system will work perfectly well.

FYI..the drone/rc world is all transmitted under diff channels in the 5.8ghz range. As long as you have line of sight and minimal interference from other electronic transmitters then good for quite a few miles. As we cannot shoot around hills then this system we great for the ELR guys. (an interest I would like to try out one day)

And finally I went analogue with lower resolution because the cost is 1/4. I could have gone HD but and they dont have stand alone mini viewers in HD without having to pay for controls you wont use. Plus you dont need HD.

I didnt know anything about this stuff but spent a few days reading up and then talked to a guy on phone in a store that sells parts. The forum guys booted me when I asked for help on a non-typical application.

 

[Tesoro]

I built something very similar a couple years ago. Works great and I still use it. IIRC I think I spent a little over $100 total, bought everything off Amazon. Actually relatively simple, transmitter, receiver, drone camera lens, rear view monitor screen, and a couple of batteries. Housed everything in a couple of small ammo cans and mounted the camera lens in a bullet box. Had to play around with different lenses for the camera to get the proper field of view. I use this for our 600yd line which has a pit. So when it’s set up, it’s a good 10ft away. I had a parts list somewhere. I’ll see if I can dig it up.

Nice. I would be interested to know about your camera and the 10 ft away bit. I have to put mine about 40 inches to see holes clearly.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Outstanding. Maybe we could sell the kit.

 

[Ccrider]

Can you use your iPhone as a viewer?

 

[hogpatrol]

I'm considering one of these units. Put it in a steel box and set it off to the side of the target.

Amazon.com

 

[Ggmac]

I made a camera kit in 06 , using ccd security cameras and a 1000 yd transmitter. Had a list on here a long time ago . I was using a auto 7” monitor for rear seat movie viewing . Ran off of a 12 v battery used for security systems or computer power back up . Total cost was about $120 including the 50 cal ammo box it fit in . Easy to do .

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have a friend who has a commercial drone video service, will ask him about a target setup.

 

[Tesoro]

I made a camera kit in 06 , using ccd security cameras and a 1000 yd transmitter. Had a list on here a long time ago . I was using a auto 7” monitor for rear seat movie viewing . Ran off of a 12 v battery used for security systems or computer power back up . Total cost was about $120 including the 50 cal ammo box it fit in . Easy to do .

Yeah I checked into them first and can get some 1 mile 5.8ghz type transmitters but much more $$ in 2023 pricing. A package will probably cost close to 800 when all done. But much larger and heavier setup. My goal is to have a small lightweight box in my shooting bag that will do what i need to do. No single component in my little setup costs more than $50.

 

[Ggmac]

Yeah I checked into them first and can get some 1 mile 5.8ghz type transmitters but much more $$ in 2023 pricing. A package will probably cost close to 800 when all done. But much larger and heavier setup. My goal is to have a small lightweight box in my shooting bag that will do what i need to do. No single component in my little setup costs more than $50.

what is the resolution of the system ? What cables and connectors does it use ? Being newer , it’s probably a better package than the larger one I was using . Good luck and most of all , have fun .

 

[Tesoro]

what is the resolution of the system ? What cables and connectors does it use ? Being newer , it’s probably a better package than the larger one I was using . Good luck and most of all , have fun .

Its low res 640 but good enuf to see holes in paper. Can see the pic i posted at start above. It uses really small 24awg and less wires and tiny connectors. thx!