Borescopes — What They Reveal May Surprise You
A quality borescope is a pricey tool, but once you get to use one, it’s hard to imagine how you ever did without it. To learn how a borescope can help you diagnose barrel issues, you should read a Rifle Shooter magazine feature story, What the Eye Can See.
In this article, writer Terry Wieland explains how to inspect for defects in new barrels, how to recognize different kinds of fouling (in both barrels and brass), and how to spot throat erosion in its early stages. Terry uses a Gradient Lens HawkEye BoreScope. The current generation of HawkEyes can be attached to a still or video camera to record digital images of your bore. The most interesting part of the article is on the second page. There, author Wieland provides photos of various types of internal flaws that can appear in barrels. This will help you spot pitting, excessive land wear, rust damage, and damage from corrosive primers.
Wieland notes that BoreScopes aren’t just for barrels: “The borescope has other uses as well. It can be used to examine the interior of a cartridge case to look for the beginnings of a case separation or to examine the interior of a loading die that is giving you trouble. When you consider the number of tubular objects that play such an important role in rifle shooting, it is a wonder we were ever able to function without such a method of studying bores.”
This Gradient Lens video shows how to correctly borescope your barrel:
Similar Posts:
- Borescope Basics — How to Diagnose Problems in Your Barrels
- Borescopes & Borecams — What They Reveal Inside Your Barrel
- Good Article on BoreScopes Reveals Fouling Characteristics
- BoreScope Story Shows Different Types of Fouling
- Ultimate Reloader Reviews Hawkeye Borescope Systems
Tags: Barrel, Borescope, Copper fouling, Gradient Lens Corp., Hawkeye, Terry Wieland
What drives me nuts (and will keep me out of borescoping for now) is the ridiculus cost of the tool itself.
I’ve used the Gradient lens tool, and it works well. I contend however that were someone to market a borescope to shooters at about the $200-300 dollar price point, they would sell them by the truckload. The Gradient tool is a professional grade item, we need a hobbiest grade item.
BTW, don’t bother telling me it can’t be done. There are several borescopes marketed toward the automotive repair industry that come in around that 250 number. Someone just needs to try.
Gabe
Get the high end scope with the video attachment and charge people a small price for pics and vids of their bores, dies etc.. Everyone wins and eventually they help you pay for your investment.
It would surprise you how many customers want you to bore scope their barrel and chamber but don’t want to pay you a dime for the servive. Slugging a barrel can tell you even more than bore scoping and is far less expensive.
Nat Lambeth
Nat has a point.
It’s like having a Gun Club membership. Got lots of friends that want to shoot. But, can’t get them to join.
And most club shoots are open to the public.
$5 for 6 tables of bowling pins is too much…
Get better friends ; )
If you are lucky enough to have a shooting buddy or two that are interested, the cost of a bore scope can be split, to everyone’s advantage. I can tell you for a fact, that looking at patches, or down barrels, will not tell you everything that you need to know in order to maintain the highest level of accuracy. The issue is not copper, or powder fouling, but hard carbon.
I agree, this is an item easily shared since it’s not something you use every day , but………I can’t believe with all the niche products available that someone can’t bring a borescope to market for under $500.
Make it stupid simple, no need for a nice travel box or extras. All that seems to be in the way is a 3-4mm “eye” since the automotive ones all start around 8mm.
I can’t fully understand the complaints about the cost of a Hawkeye borescope, when many think nothing of spending $1400 to well over $2500 for a rifle scope.
And, you don’t really “need” the 90 degree angled eyepiece, for a savings of $275 right there. The borescopes are available without the factory hard case for another savings.
Both of mine (17″ Deluxe focusing w/ the hard case) were delivered to my door for $620 each, with the $75 rebate that was in effect at the time.
It has more than paid for itself, many times over in savings. One of the best firearms related purchases I’ve ever made.
Purchasing a borescope is expensive, but as the other said, if you’re able to get one or two buddies to split the cost with you, or even rent it out, it’s very much worth it in the long run.
Why all the guess work? With bore scopes the methods should be done without error. How many times do ya need to lean the same thing.
I’ve got one coming from Bruno’s. To the fellow talking about the “high” price I have a story: I bought a Kowa TSN-1 for about $360 in the middle 90’s and sold it two years ago for $600. Good quality hardware doesn’t lose much value.
TA
I own this kit and it’s great. I use it often.
i use my borescope after every second shoot its amaizing what one can see after about 15 rounds
money well spent
IT would be great tough if they would offer the 30° or 60° lens instead of 90° in this package as those enable way more detail to be seen due to much better depth perception.
Also still waiting for 30° or 60° lens instead of the 90°. Or has this already happened?
I’m also shocked that gunsmiths have been able to do so much without borescopes. They really are great tools. I also think it is worth mentioning that they are used for things like inspecting car and plane engines. I’m also pretty sure my plumber uses one when inspecting my pipes. In short, it is a wonder that we have done anything without borescopes.