Borescope questions

[djtjr]

I want to purchase a borescope to see what my barrels look like for fouling wear etc. i have read a lot about them but do not really know what to look for and what the various conditions look like. i cant seem to find a tutorial or pictures a book etc of what i am looking for. Does anyone have pics or a link of where to find these? Trying to learn but this one seems to be a tough one to get much info on. Any help or info would be appreciated.

 

[fdshuster]

djtjr: There was an excellent in-depth article in "Precision Shooting" magazine about 4 to 5 yrs ago about the Hawkeye borescopes. Just went thru my records, and as usually happens, when you are looking for something, you know it's there, but cannot find it. Believe me once you have a borescope, it will be a very short period of experience to know the difference between good and bad. It is all very obvious. The round pictures in the Gradient Lens advertisements, showing the guy, with a beard, looking into a Ruger #1 have been prime examples of what you will see. I'll keep looking for the PS article & will post the date of the publication.

 

[artbosco]

I want to purchase a borescope to see what my barrels look like for fouling wear etc. i have read a lot about them but do not really know what to look for and what the various conditions look like. i cant seem to find a tutorial or pictures a book etc of what i am looking for. Does anyone have pics or a link of where to find these? Trying to learn but this one seems to be a tough one to get much info on. Any help or info would be appreciated.

The Hawkeye Borescope is highly recommended.

A video is available at this link: http://www.gradientlens.com/precisionshooting.asp

I prefer the 90 degree view.

The BEST pricing is at Bruno's: http://www.brunoshooters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BSS&Category_Code=6

They're not inexpensive.

However, you'll find that it will be used each time you clean and you'll discover areas that need cleaning that you never knew existed. No more guessing or wondering what it looks like inside the barrel, the bolt, or a cartridge case.

They're worth every penny ... if you're interested in accuracy. There are scopes to suit each budget. Hope this is helpful.

 

[spclark]

Once you make the investment (worth two, maybe three new barrels!) treat yours with the care a fine optical instrument deserves.

No matter the outward appearance of sturdiness, the rigid type can - and will - suffer from mishandling.

I've had my Hawkeye 17" for about four years. Went to use it a few weeks ago, only to find the image I expected to see had gone completely black. Always been careful to avoid bending it at all, always tried to treat it gently & keep the imaging parts clean.

They can be repaired should they become damaged, but as with buying a new one, it's not inexpensive.

Learning to use one and interpreting what you see inside your bores takes time. You may want to consider adding some kind of camera system or adapter too, so you can record what you see to share with others. In this way you can take advantage of the experience other users have acquired without having to have them present while you're examining your bores.

 

[Silverfox]

If you have need for a borescope that will fit the .172" and .204" barrels and include the mirror tube with the kit, you'll be paying considerably more than the price of two or three new barrels for it. I bought the Hawkeye Pro Super Slim 17" kit from Bruno's and could buy four or five barrels for what that cost me. However, I'm glad I finally bit the bullet and bought one. It is an invaluable tool for letting you know when your barrel is clean along with other things you can inspect!!

The SuperNova light and charger and the fancy carrying case came in my kit and the MiniMaglight was also included. I am sure I could have gotten along just fine without the SuperNova light and charger which probably added over $200 to the price of the kit. However, I'm not sure they would have sold the scope to me without the SuperNova light and charger, but then I never asked either. Old to soon and smart too late!!!