What Borescope to Buy?

P

P Corncob Bob

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Looking for recommendations from others experiences on borescopes.

What specific manufacturer and model seem to work well for barrel application?

Cob
 
The Hawkeye borescopes work well. I have one. But think about these four cases:

1. Barrel shoots badly - Borescope doesn't show a problem.
2. Barrel shoots great - Borescope doesn't show a problem.
3. barrel shoots badly - Borescope shows barrel is pitted or chamber is miscentered
4. barrel shoots great - Borescope shows barrel is pitted or chamber is miscentered.

I've seen all four (six?) conditions.

In cases 2 and 4 I just continue to shoot the rilfe. I'm happy with condition 2, condition 4 only causes worry.

In conditions 1 and 3 I re-barrel the rifle. With condition one I scratch my head wondering why the borescope didn't show a prroblem and I waste time checking for anytihng else which could possibly be wrong. With condition 3 I say, yep, that was the problem, but I'd have rebarreled it anyway. I still have to check for other problems.

The borescope costs about as much as two new barrels. In total my borescope has caused more worry over good barrels than it has identified repairable problems with bad barrels. Even if it does find a real and fixable problem I generally replace the barrel anyway. The logic is that if a barrel shoots bad, what the borescope shows may or may not be the barrel's only problem.

I don't reget buying the borescope. It has more than paid for itself in non-firearms related tasks related to electrical wiring and automotive repair.
 
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Borescope

Bought a new Hawkeye, 17" Deluxe from Lester Bruno, 3 years ago. At that time he beat other "best prices", by at least $80, and have never regretted the purchase. Yes, I agree, sometimes a really ugly barrel will shoot consistant 1/2 moa 5 shot groups ( like my factory Re. 700, 222 Rem), and other times a perfect-looking bore, made by a highly regarded barrel maker cannot be made to shoot- no matter what is done. It has more than paid for itself: Looking at a used Rem 700 that the owner claimed he "only put a couple of boxes thru it". Must have been "boxes" of several thousand rounds, cause the barrel looked like a sewer pipe! Had to resist calling him a liar, after showing him what his barrel condition really was ( with the borescope), I paid him for the receiver only. Another time, received a custom barrel, and before the g'smith began his very costly machining (Ruger#1) discovered reamer and tool marks across the lands & grooves- this with a barrel that was claimed to have been "hand-lapped". Back it went, later returned, 'scoped, now was perfect, and the Ruger#1 ( believe it or not) is very accurate: averages under moa w/ 5 shot groups (223 Rem 1-9 twist). it does provide unarguable evidence of cleaning results: I know what works, and what does not work, for me. Those who make wild, off-the-wall claims about cleaning results, when using "Product/ solvent, etc. X ", have no idea what they are talking about, unless they are able to inspect the bore under lighted 25x magnification. Guess that may be some of the reasons you will seldom see a used "Hawkeye" advertised for sale. One went thru an estate sale last summer, and selling price was only a few dollars less than new. I'm sold on them and would not be without.:)
 
Well I have recovered the cost of the bore scope I got from Lester. I keep mine handy at the gunshows. It has gotten me some sweet deals. Caused sellers to lower the asking price on rifles they are trying to sell.

The best thing that a bore scope has done for me. It's ended a lot of BS on cleaning solvents, helped to reduce the amount of time cleaning barrels.
 
Borescope benefits

Big Al said:
Well I have recovered the cost of the bore scope I got from Lester. I keep mine handy at the gunshows. It has gotten me some sweet deals. Caused sellers to lower the asking price on rifles they are trying to sell.

The best thing that a bore scope has done for me. It's ended a lot of BS on cleaning solvents, helped to reduce the amount of time cleaning barrels.
Click to expand...

I agree with all the above. I use mine to monitor throat erosion, firecracking, cleaning technique, etc. It will definitely cut through the bull about barrels that have only a few rounds through them. It is a valuable tool that, in the right hands, will work as good as any other tool.

Lou Baccino
 
Lou and Al:

What manufacturer and model of borescope do you use?

Thanks!

Cob
 
I use the 17" Hawkeye borescope designed for .22 caliber, but of course it works on anything lorger that that. The light shaft measures .188" diameter, and I tried all of the Hawkeye attachments (didn't like the way the attachments performed). The only modification I added was a rear button on the Maglite and a high performance LED front end kit.

- Innovative
 
provision

Anyone ever used a provision. The price is real low.
 
When I bought my Hawkeye borescope, I shopped everywhere trying to find an inexpensive device that would work as a bore scope. I was (and still am) convinced that there are no alternatives. The main limiting factor seemed to be trying to locate one that will focus close enough for use as a bore scope.

It's a shame that the Gradient Kawkeye scopes are so expensive. It's a very simple product to build, and there's no magic involved. Why the heck are they so expensive? Well . . . . I found out. The only competition for Gradient Corp. is companies that make similar products for the medical profession, and any medical product means big $$$$.

If you want a bore scope, save youself a lot of time, pay the price and get it over with. You'll be surprised to see that cleaning some rifles is a whole lot easier than you think, and others that you think MUST be clean - aren't even close. I use my bore scope whenever I buy a firearm. Just because a rifle is brand new doesn't mean the barrel is impressive. Inspecting how some rifle chambers are cut is very illuminating.

- Innovative
 
Cleaning rifles

Larry Willis said:
You'll be surprised to see that cleaning some rifles is a whole lot easier than you think, and others that you think MUST be clean - aren't even close. I use my bore scope whenever I buy a firearm. Just because a rifle is brand new doesn't mean the barrel is impressive. Inspecting how some rifle chambers are cut is very illuminating.

- Innovative
Click to expand...

Larry,
My whole cleaning regimen has changed since using a borescope. It turns out I was cleaning way too much and ineffective at best. If the scope shows some carbon forming in the throat area, I go after it with JB or Slip 2000. Just looking at a brand new match grade bore, chambered by a reputable gunsmith, is an interesting experience. It will certainly be the deciding factor when a seller tells you that only a box of ammo has been put down the tube.

Lou Baccino
 
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