I have several bore lights of different sizes and styles. A few of them are actual bore lights made for muzzleloaders, mostly for .50 and above. I have tried out many mini flashlights (the one's that O'rielly's sells are very bright by the way) The official brass drop in lights are expensive, poorly made and most don't give out that much light. What has worked the best and been the most economical have been little bobber lights. They sell at sporting goods stores, Amazon, Ebay, etc. Shopping around you can get them for less than $2. They are very bright, last a long time and can be dropped into a .22 caliber barrel. (most of them I have found, not all) And they can be replaced for less than the batteries for the other lights cost. For me, the green ones give the most detail in the barrel and seem to be the brightest. I keep a bunch in the truck and even one in my wallet. I wind up giving a lot of them away, especially at shoots where they are always a hit with the other shooters. Just my $00.02 worth of opinion, but these little buggers impress me. Of course I always have been attracted to and distracted by shiny objects, but that's a story for another place & time.
I had the same experience with the O'Reilly lights. They are nice and thin, but VERY bright. TO fix that, I cut out a very small piece of translucent red plastic and put it over the lens. Much better. Then I found a green and yellow piece of translucent plastic and the best turned out to be the green.
Ron
Quote from: RonRC on December 02, 2016
I had the same experience with the O'Reilly lights. They are nice and thin, but VERY bright. TO fix that, I cut out a very small piece of translucent red plastic and put it over the lens. Much better. Then I found a green and yellow piece of translucent plastic and the best turned out to be the green.Ron
Ha, I did the same thing, but I didn't have anything green at the time and wound up using orange. It wasn't the best color but walking around with it at night did raise some eyebrows.
You are correct about the brass ones. I have one that works only intermittently. If I slide it too fast down the barrel, it will turn itself off when it hits the breech area. Also, it fits 50 cal fine, but you have to remove the threaded ring to fit into a 45 cal.
Ron
I have a couple of the bobber lights that I use regularly but it took me a while to find a store that carried them. I think they cost me $4 or $5 but are well worth it and they last me a long time, maybe 4-5 years considering that they are only on for a few seconds to a minute at a time.
https://www.amazon.com/Thill-Nite-Brite-Battery-Light-Red/dp/B00015HAP2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1480813018&sr=8-3&keywords=bobber+lights
prefer yellow if you can find this color
Hotfxr, could you be more specific about the bobber light. I am not sure that I'm looking at the right item, there is no description that is of any use on the listings I have found.
The little pin lights that O'Rileys sometimes carry, are difficult to fine batteries for. Amazon has them but won't ship them unless you have a large order. I did find a good one at Amazon with a flexible neck that fits small calibers and that's what I'm now using. I have two of the tiny "pin lights" but no more batteries for them. All of these, however, are great to have.
Quote from: rdstrain49 on December 04, 2016
Hotfxr, could you be more specific about the bobber light. I am not sure that I'm looking at the right item, there is no description that is of any use on the listings I have found.
think this is it ! https://www.amazon.com/Thill-Nite-Brite-Battery-Light-Red/dp/B00015HAP2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1480813018&sr=8-3&keywords=bobber+lights
Quote from: rdstrain49 on December 04, 2016
Hotfxr, could you be more specific about the bobber light. I am not sure that I'm looking at the right item, there is no description that is of any use on the listings I have found.
Like beowulf posted. I have bought these before also.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Bobber-Light-Rod-Tip-Thill-Nite-Brite-Replacement-Battery-Fishing-Centerpin-/262713735161?var=&hash=item3d2af577f9:m:mmVBqraSvHWyWfJZUj1Jm-Q
the "Thill" lights are sold at all the rondevoux I have been at for a bit less than $4.00,, my spell check didn't know how to spell rondevoux either,,, flwa
One other little side benefit, drop them in upside down, gently of course, and you can see all the way to the breech. Of course that will not be true for all, but for most of the .50 cal and above that my homies shoot, it works great and makes me look smarter than I am.
Finally found them, thanks. Work great.
I use those small chem light sticks for bobbers and rod tips. They last for several hours and light up the bores pretty good. Work good for gun shows and auctions, crack them, drop down the bore, inspect, drop it back out, put in you pocket and on to the next gun.
I buy mine in the fishing dept @ Wally World.
Quote from: hotfxr on December 04, 2016
Quote from: rdstrain49 on December 04, 2016
Hotfxr, could you be more specific about the bobber light. I am not sure that I'm looking at the right item, there is no description that is of any use on the listings I have found.
Like beowulf posted. I have bought these before also.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Bobber-Light-Rod-Tip-Thill-Nite-Brite-Replacement-Battery-Fishing-Centerpin-/262713735161?var=&hash=item3d2af577f9:m:mmVBqraSvHWyWfJZUj1Jm-Q
Question: What are you getting when you order these? Are they "batteries" or complete lights? What colors are the best?
Hanshi;
The Thill is a complete light. It measures .165" diameter and 1.32" long. One benefit that nobody mentioned is that you can put the light down the bore lens first and get a very good look at the breech plug and surrounding area. If you find these lights you may get one that doesn't seem to work. No worries, put the smallest drop of silicone you can at the base of the colored ring and be rather forceful pushing and pulling, turning on and off, a couple of times and the light will function perfectly.
Quote from: rdstrain49 on December 19, 2016
Hanshi;
The Thill is a complete light. It measures .165" diameter and 1.32" long. " One benefit that nobody mentioned is that you can put the light down the bore lens first and get a very good look at the breech plug and surrounding area." If you find these lights you may get one that doesn't seem to work. No worries, put the smallest drop of silicone you can at the base of the colored ring and be rather forceful pushing and pulling, turning on and off, a couple of times and the light will function perfectly.
*Ahem* If you will look back at the lower part of the first page, read my last post, you will see that someone did indeed mention the upside down view benefit of these little lights. I will expect a jug of your best on my porch in the morning. ROFL
My apologies oh great one, I hope you can understand my mistake, since you usually spew forth pointless verbiage how is one to suspect there would have been ONE pearl of wisdom in your post. The jug is in the mail. Bet ya didn't put the measurements in yer post did ya. Suppose now I have ta go back and read em.
Quote from: rdstrain49 on December 19, 2016
My apologies oh great one, I hope you can understand my mistake, since you usually spew forth pointless verbiage how is one to suspect there would have been ONE pearl of wisdom in your post. The jug is in the mail. Bet ya didn't put the measurements in yer post did ya. Suppose now I have ta go back and read em.
I will expect 2 jugs in the morning post... when you mention "oh great one" around here you are talking about our beloved founder "Dryball" or the exhausted omnipresent Red Badger (who is exhausted from trying to keep you all on your toes....), not that Kalifornian imitator, Hotfxer who is still a wet behind the ear's young pup...
I think those Thill lights are in my future. Horror of horrors, I've imbibed the last of my George Dickell #12.
It is my understanding that hotfxr has a good eye for fine jugs. dntn
Ron
So there I was, trying to come up with a humorous reply to rd's "Oh Great One" without getting myself in trouble or getting tricked into another duel (thereby further reducing our membership) when our Illustrious Leader, the Great One, the epitome of perfection and leadership among large short limbed burrowing rodent type animals, the one, the only... Rrrred Badger!!! comes out of his hibernation and addresses the issue. :applause:
Now to deal with the "one pearl of wisdom" observation. Well it was a first for me and probably won't happen again so I will await delivery of the afore mentioned jug and celebrate my moment of glory in style. &)
Mr large rodent;
In point of fact I am the One a and Only True Great One. Not being one to expound up my own greatness I'm more inclined to sit quietly in the shadows and listen to lesser beings make pitiful attempts at Great Oneness. I will have three jugs in the mail to both you and ol whatsisname, not in the manner of payment, but rather to lessen the pain, shock and embarrassment of spewing forth in the presences of the true GreatOnenesshisself. You are both welcome. Any more nonsense on the part of either of ya's will be met with a swift and embarrassing Duel challenge so watch yer step pilgrims.
Quote from: rdstrain49 on December 21, 2016
Mr large rodent;
In point of fact I am the One a and Only True Great One. Not being one to expound up my own greatness I'm more inclined to sit quietly in the shadows and listen to lesser beings make pitiful attempts at Great Oneness. I will have three jugs in the mail to both you and ol whatsisname, not in the manner of payment, but rather to lessen the pain, shock and embarrassment of spewing forth in the presences of the true GreatOnenesshisself. You are both welcome. Any more nonsense on the part of either of ya's will be met with a swift and embarrassing Duel challenge so watch yer step pilgrims.
WOW.....lol..... ROFL.... wtch
If y'all had ANY learnin' what so ever, ya'd aknown that that a badger is a WEASLE critter an' not a RODENT critter. An' here ya are spoutin' 'bout yer "wisdom". blah
hntr Hey, fellers! Iffin yer skin a badger iss da pelt wurf innythang?
Quote from: Dogshirt on December 22, 2016
If y'all had ANY learnin' what so ever, ya'd aknown that that a badger is a WEASLE critter an' not a RODENT critter. An' here ya are spoutin' 'bout yer "wisdom". blah
Yes, the badger is from the family of Mustelidae, which includes badgers, otters, weasels, wolverines, and polecats. But being as the go noodling in Oklahoma, that proves that they are a lower life form of humanoids and since badgers burrow and tear up lawns & plants, I put them down there with gophers, which are rodents. It's really all in the perception my Northern Brother. strpot
We have digressed from the thread topic, so I can join the divergence.
You see, the badger really is a fictitious creature, not unlike the Griffin. The word badger came about when a group of students from University of Wisconsin were pining for a unique mascot. They wanted something imaginative, not the typical predatory animal like a tiger or a warrior figure used by so many sports teams.
There was a fraternity on campus that was known for its overly boisterous, foolish members. The fraternity, Signa Phi Nil, was represented by a chapter called Beta Jeta. On Campus, they became know instead as Bad Jerks. Aha, there was the name, Bad Jerks, Badgerks, Badgers.
They gave the mythical creature the teeth of a lion, the head of a mouse, and a body of a Platypus. And thus, the badger was born.
Ron
Quote from: hotfxr on December 22, 2016
Quote from: Dogshirt on December 22, 2016
If y'all had ANY learnin' what so ever, ya'd aknown that that a badger is a WEASLE critter an' not a RODENT critter. An' here ya are spoutin' 'bout yer "wisdom". blah
Yes, the badger is from the family of Mustelidae, which includes badgers, otters, weasels, wolverines, and polecats. But being as the go noodling in Oklahoma, that proves that they are a lower life form of humanoids and since badgers burrow and tear up lawns & plants, I put them down there with gophers, which are rodents. It's really all in the perception my Northern Brother. strpot
Yep, vermin is vermin no matters what ca callit.
OK to end this train wreck I will remind ya'll that this Badger does have teeth and also has the power to BAN miscreants who upset me... :mini-devil-28492:
Not that I ever would - I know ya'll don't mean it... Oh yea and remember I am originally from Wisconsin! Only ended up here in Tulsa by marriage