Using a camera instead of a spotting scope?

L6steel

L6steel

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
5,855
I've been thinking about buying a small battery powered camera that transmits to a battery powered receiver that is hooked up to a small battery powered tv. I want to use this set up at the shooting range instead of a spotting scope. There's a couple reasons I was thinking about this. One is I shoot .17HMR at 200 meters and even with a 100 power scope I cannot see the bullet hole. Also, a quality spotting scope costs a small fortune where as this set up can be assembled for around a hundred bucks. Another reason I thought it would be a good idea is if I ever get down to Pascagoula, Ms, or any other thousand yard range, I could use the set up. I'd just have to get a longer cable and maybe better power supply.
Has anyone ever rigged something like this up?
Is a rig like this available from a supplier?
Thanks for your input!!
 
Sorry. You only get a few times optical magnification on the smallish cameras compared to that 100x optical zoom. At 200 m. Go take your camer and take a picture of something 200m away that has a 0.17" (4,3 mm) dot on it.

Doesn't cover much of the screen now does it. Even assuming 5 megapixels, by the time you zoom all the way out this isn;t going to be a very satisfactory solution.... real fuzzy ...

I am surprised you can not see those holes. I know I can see .260 holes at 300m with a 25 x scope. A 100 power scope might be lucky for you to find the target with I'd guess.

Solution--- but those targets that are black and show green or yellow outlines when penetrated. That really improves visibility.
 
Frac, the camera would be set up down by the target, say 10 yards away from it, and the receiver 75 yards from that. Then I'd run a wire back to my shooting stand and plug it into the little tv.
 
It should work. I would check into wireless. Maybe Walmart, Sams Club, Radio Shack. Tell us if it works out.
 
L6steel said:
Frac, the camera would be set up down by the target, say 10 yards away from it, and the receiver 75 yards from that. Then I'd run a wire back to my shooting stand and plug it into the little tv.
Click to expand...

And then 125 yards of wire...hmmm

1) don't shoot the camera
2) those reflective targets would be a lot simpler
3) you could put a camera in the dirt looking up at the target from maybe 10 feet and still see it really well.... and put a brick or two between the camera and you...
4) Just seems like overkill for 200m.


good luck, let us know how it turns out.
 
I think it's a workable idea if you don't mind hauling the thing back and forth, setting it up and taking it down. I wonder about that 100x scope that you can't see the bullet holes through, though. Did you get that at Walmart for $30? Magnification power isn't everything....
 
How well does that tiny .17 HMR do at 200 meters? What kind of groups are you getting? Seems like even a gentle breeze would cause a lot of wind drift with those tiny bullets that weighs about what a good turkey feather would. What sort of rifle and sight are you shooting? Not trying to challenge you or anything like that, I'm just curious about your experiences with that .17 HMR.
 
Better spotting scope.

I took my 0.17 air rifle and plinked a few scattered holes in a target and took them to the range and hung at 200 m where I was shooting the new .260

I can see them easily with my S&B 5-25x PM II.

a 100x spotting scope that is even as good as the mediocre Yukon would have no problems seeing them.

But if you have one of those cheapo models (probably anythng less than 300$ for sure) who knows what you can see. As has been said earlier---it ain't all the magnification -- and 25x on good glass is plenty to see what you want to see.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top