borescopes

[lpreddick]

when i have a question i ask the experts. i'm going to buy a borescope. never thaught i would, but having used my gunsmith's, i need(want) one. i know there are many of you shooters who have and use them probably daily, so lead me in the right direction. i want the necessary length,diameter and must have a right angle veiwer. thanks in advance.[/quote] if i can see you, i can touch you. BANG!

 

[Jay Christopherson]

This works pretty good - 17" slim tube, includes 90 deg. mirror tube and right angled eyepiece:

http://www.hawkeyeblue.com/catalog/item/6188551/5996217.htm

 

[johara1]

All the above,but you can get by with out the 90 deg. eye piece and save $250.........jim

 

[people]

Get the longer one. I have a 12 inch model and it is great but a longer one would be nice. I would only opt for the right angle view port if I was going to use it all the time as part of my job.

 

[sailhertoo]

Unless you are very flexable and can torque your body in all manner of positions, I would definitely get the 90 degree eye piece!

 

[gmorganal]

+1 for the right angle lense. I tried it without for a while, and it's much easier to see and see well with the right angle lense setup. It's also somewhat cheaper to buy it all the first time and not have to go back and get the right angle lense later.

 

[commando57]

I can't see where it would do any good without the 90 deg mirror. To me it is a must have. The 17 inch is the one I got. I am not sure if it will do my 26 inch 40x tube but it will get most of it.

 

[fdshuster]

I'm with johara on the angled eyepiece issue. Bought one as a seperate item ( $255) and had problems with the very large diameter of the eyepiece bell housing. It would not clear the high combs on some of my stocks, making its use limited. I set the rifle, laying flat on a padded range box (MTM dry box) on top of my workbench, pull up a chair, sit down & look straight into the chamber/bore. As pictured in the Gradient Lens advertisements with the guy looking into the bore of Ruger #1. My method and it has worked fine for 6 years now, to each his own. Am very satisfied with the 17" Deluxe kit in the factory hard case, cost $620 delivered with the $75 rebate.

 

[fdshuster]

My method of using my borescope. Set it up, as shown, sit in the chair & look straight into the chamber/bore. Doing it this way, and I have no need for the $255 90 degree angled eyepiece. Black stock is a Bell & Carlson Medalist and with the straight eyepiece, at a 1 1/4" diameter, it just barely clears the comb. I cannot remember the diameter of the angled eyepiece housing, but it was approx. 1 5/8" or slightly larger, much too large to clear the comb. The only way it could be used without bending the tube, would be to remove the barrelled receiver from the stock each time you want to use it. For me, not an option. sailhertoo: If anything, I'm about the least "flexable" of anyone, having arthritis from my toes to my neck, and all points in between. No strain or pain with this method. Sit upright in a chair & look straight ahead.

 

[5spd]

I have the 17" kit w/90* extra eye piece also since it was a good price.
If you just get the basic kit at least get the one with the adjustable focus.
I kick myself for not getting a borescope in the early 80s!
Brunos is about the best prices online http://www.brunoshooters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BSS&Category_Code=6

 

[lpreddick]

]thanks everybody. i got the info needed to make an informed decision. placed my order today with bruno's and did get the angled eyepiece since i have used it before and my stocks are mostly h&s precision with a a few laminated ones. a pricey tool it is, but like most precision devices, it's resale value stays high. i fear i'll spend a few days just looking into all my barrels...what will i see? [/quote] if i can see you, i can touch you. BANG!

 

[sailhertoo]

What you will see will scare you to death and you will never think you have the barrel clean enough!

 

[clowdis]

$1,000 for any kind of usable borescope from Gradient lens is just out of my league from a financial standpoint. I just don't see the payback. What the market is wide open for is a borescope in the $400-$500 range. Anybody ever have a look at this one?
http://www.fiberscope.net/voyager-video-borescope.html

 

[5spd]

$1,000 for any kind of usable borescope from Gradient lens is just out of my league from a financial standpoint. I just don't see the payback. What the market is wide open for is a borescope in the $400-$500 range. Anybody ever have a look at this one?
http://www.fiberscope.net/voyager-video-borescope.html

I looked at tons of those kind of scopes online & in person at shops and not one was small enough to fit inside a .22 caliber bbl. They are all to fat to fit in most gun barrels.

 

[fdshuster]

$1,000 for any kind of usable borescope from Gradient lens is just out of my league from a financial standpoint. clowdis: I have no idea where you got the cost of $1000 for a "usable borescope from Gradient Lens". The 17" Deluxe, with the focusing eyepiece and hard case is available for approx. $650. Even less if the hard case is not included. I've bought two of those models over the past 6 years, gave one to my son, and I can assure you they are both perfectly usable. I've used them to inspect my 20 cal. bores, when I had a 204 Ruger chambering so it is usable for that caliber also.

 

[fayettefatts]

What about these?

voscope.com/page13.html

 

[Tozguy]

Just a few details,

By removing my prescription eyeglasses and focusing with the straight eyepiece I can get my temple against the comb and use the borescope right up to the riflescope.

I have an adjustable stand to hold the rifle at eye level when I am standing comfortably. My purpose is to have a dedicated set up that makes borescoping quick and easy. Considering how much they cost, might as well use it to the max.

 

[lloydx2]

Whatever you do. Use a bore guide when you use it

 

[msinc]

I have the 17" with the right angle mirror tube and I bought the 90 degree eyepiece off ebay. I lucked out and got it for $36.00 shipped, new in the box. I luck onto a deal like that about once every ten years and I'm due in about two more. The 90 degree eyepiece is nice but not really necessary. I also bought an LED conversion kit for the Mag light that makes things alot brighter. Hawkeye had a big terrible price on that too...I think they call it a super nova or something like that. I got mine at Lowe's for about $15.00 and it works great. Once you get a borescope the next thing you will spend alot of money on is bore cleaner, looking for that magic liquid that with just a few drops on a patch and two swipes thru the bore all your fouling will be gone...let me save you some more money, it dont exist.

 

[MrMajestic]

msinc,

After 30 years I will finally be able to tell the difference between piss and powder solvent. Thanks for pointing that out.

LE Hanson

LOL