looking into a barrel

[lurcher]

I was wondering what people have tried as a cheap borescope?

I would love to have a play with a hawkeye borescope, but it's way out of my price range. I have read of people using a fibreoptic attachment on a maglight and a magnifying glass to look into the end of a barrel.

Also there is this thing,
http://www.the45-70book.com/Affordable-Borescope
which is too wide to enter the barrel of most rifles (its .45 diameter) but can be used to view the chamber and the first few inches of the barrel.


Are there other budget approaches?

 

[Kenny474]

Cabela's has something similar to what you have posted, and it will fit into a .22 barrel as well and will reach 16" into the barrel. Some of the reviews are not all that encouraging, but if you have an idea as to what to truly expect you probably won't be so disappointed.
http://www.cabelas.com/p-0053991229072a.shtml

In all reality, the Hawkeye is probably one of the lowest cost bore scopes on the market that actually work really well. The other options I have found don't look to be ideal, though the unit from Cabela's does look as though it could be useful. Most others are quite costly, some reaching several thousand dollars.

If someone else has a cheaper alternative that works well I am interested as well, as the 45 minute drive to access one has gotten old.

 

[fdshuster]

lurcher: If you're careful when you buy it, Gradient Lens/Hawkeye borescope offers a rebate of $75 with a mail-in coupon that is included with a new purchase. I bought my first Hawkeye almost 5 yrs. ago from Lester Bruno, (had the best price), the 17" Deluxe model with the hard case. His price, not including shipping was approx. $695, minus the rebate, and the actual price was within a few Dollars of $620: the cost of a good quality rifle scope. But, what I have learned, and continue to learn with the Hawkeye has made it far more valuable to me than a rifle scope in that price range. I could go on and on relating the money saved when buying a used rifle, selling a used rifle, cleaning knowledge,( first hand, not "I think"), evaluating the life remaining in a barrel, etc., but it would make for a very long post. If seriousely interested in buying a quality borescope, feel free to send a PM. I'm now on my second Hawkeye: gave the first to my son who is now also learning the value of having one. It's the old story of "cry once". The money is "gone", but the quality & knowledge remain, and it continues to retain a large portion of it's cost, in resale value.

 

[Nodak7mm]

I was looking in my barrels several weeks ago, WOW!!! what a learning experience!! I am lucky enough to have a friend who has a Hawkeye with video output, wow again!!
Sure has had me considering getting one.....
Regarding price, it wont get any cheaper for a quality scope like the Hawkeye. I used to work with Olympus & Matchida(spl?) units yrs back on hotsection inspections. Price one of those puppies out and then look at the Hawkeye again.... ;D

 

[Rustystud]

Look in to your barrels with your hands. Yes, slug your barrels. You can learn a lot that you can't see with your eyes. Lead slugs are cheep and can be melted down and reused.

Nat Lambeth

 

[fdshuster]

For a review of the Hawkeye borescope, see the article by Gordy Gritters in the April-June 2010 issue of "The Varmint Hunter" magazine titled "How to use a borescope", page 45. Another informative article published in the January 2006 issue of "Precision Shooting" magazine, page 8, by Irv Benzion, is also worth a look. And, I cannot forget the borescope video on this sites "barrels" page, by Dan Lilja, showing a new, unfired factory barrel, titled "factory barrel vs custom borescope video".

 

[Rust]

When chambering a new match quality barrel, it should be examined with a bore scope and slugged before spending a single cent on actual chambering.

A bore scope will reveal surface finish, defects in lands and grooves, and other gross defects in a new barrel. It will show the condition of the throat, leade, freebore and chamber is a freshly chambered or used barrel.

Slugging takes a little practice and touch. If the amount of force pushing the slug down the bore (from chamber to muzzle end) suddenly changes it can indicate that the land and groove diameters isn't uniform or that the land and groove widths have changed.

The cost of a new barrel and chambering pretty much equals the cost of a bore scope so depending on how much you have tied up in rifles a scope could easily pay for itself. Granted that the quality of barrels has improved over the last forty years or so, but occasionally one slips through.

If you don't have one yourself, any quality smith should have a scope. And be able to slug a bore. Like everything else that represents a substantial outlay of money, the less you take for granted the better.

 

[Rustystud]

My bore scope set cost over $2,200.00 from Hawkeye. Most customers don't want to pay the cost of borescoping a barrel. It takes a lot of $50.00 inspections to pay for a borescope.

Nat Lambeth

 

[fdshuster]

My Hawkeye borescopes (2), 17" Deluxe focusing, with the hard case(s) cost me approx. $620 each. They have already paid for themselves with savings when buying used rifles with shot-out barrels, after the seller tried to sell them for a premium price. After showing him the true condition of the barrels, I bought the rifles for the value of their receivers only! I've sold used rifles and make it a point to show the buyer the condition of the bores ( I don't sell junk), they then sell for top Dollar and the buyer knows what he is getting-- not some pig in the poke. Guy tried to sell me a set of used dies, claiming they were "like new", and priced accordingly. Went into the sizer and it looked like a Nickelson file with extreme scratches, and some rust. When I pointed out the real condition of the sizer he asked how much I would pay for them, and my answer was "nothing". Had a takeoff Remington Varmint contour 6mm barrel that to the naked eye looked really nice. Put it aside with the idea of setting it back & re-chambering it to 6BR some time in the future. Then got my first Hawkeye, and was ready to have the barrel work done, but first 'scoped the bore. It looked like a sewar pipe: no rifling for the first 3 1/2" in front of the chamber mouth, large chunks of steel ripped out of the bore, (filled with copper of course), a true piece of scrap metal. Without the borescope I would have expensive maching done then would be wondering why the barrel would not shoot & loaded up with copper. Again, money saved. I could go on and on with examples, but why bother: I don't need to convince myself.

 

[GerryM]

If you a serious shooter its worth the investment to buy the hawkeye
bore scope . each year at the NRA dinner here they donate one for auction. I bid on one and got it for $400 , Last yea one went for $350 at bid. They also made a model without the hard case for less money.
The hawkeye magnifys to 10X power. With it you can always find out how well your cleaning and maintaing your favorite shooter.
I enjoy mine very much. It also comes in handy when purchasing a used rifle. Now you can tell the true condition of a used rifles or pistol barrel before you purchase the firearm.

 

[deadlyswift]

I'm ordering a hawkeye this week. I have wished many times that I had one. I believe I have always spent more time needed or maybe even cleaning my barrels too much. I finally just put the hawkeye bore scope at the top of my priority list of tools or toys to have! It is expensive but it will pay for it's self in no time. Me I decided to invest in a bore scope for 1. I want to no how well I'm cleaning my barrels, and If I'm cleaning too much. 2. I spent $368 on a Broughton 5c blank. Then paid my smith $30 to scope it and tell me that it is in perfect condition. I could have done that myself. Also like Frank (fdshuster) has stated I can use it to prove the the conditon of my barrels to a buyier or not make the mistake of buying a used barrel, or rifle that is shot out when claimed it only has a few rounds down the tube. I do believe that the Hawkeye will pay for it's self In a matter of weeks, just from the knowledge I will gain from being able to look into my barrels and better take care of them. In my book Knowledge is power! So the more knowledge you have about your barrel or barrels the better you will be able to shoot. Being able to see what is going on with the throat, lands, fouling, rifling, etc. can only improve your shooting, and save yourself a lot of time, spent rounds, and head ache! A good bore scope is a must for me. I wish I had nickled, and dimed myslef a long time ago too buy one!
Mark