Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters What a bore scope can show you

If I had read this yesterday, I would have expected photos of someone’s colonoscophy, but it’s 2 April and it’s Al posting so I knew it would be good stuff!

We truly live in a golden age when we can get a chronograph for ~$500 and a borescope for $200 when these just a number of years ago were beyond the reach of the average sportsman.

And even greater than that is the access to just about any expert at any level. For us, that’s folks like Al, Mule Deer, Scenarshooter, Eric Cortina, and George Gardner just to name a few.

We are truly blessed.

I wonder if you can save some $$$$ and do your own colonoscopy?

Ha! The borescopes I've used have all come with a warning not to "insert" them into any human orifice. (Which reminds me of the warning that came with our first cordless phone--not cell phone--many years ago, which came with a warning not to use the cradle as an ashtray....)

A good bore scope can show you a lot of stuff that you can't do a damn thing about!

Which kind of polyps are you talking about?

Borescope streaming to the big-screen? Check

Ex-Lax? Check

Air Compressor? Check

You first.

Well, I have met a lot of people that walk around with their heads up their arses-----so no need for a bore scope.

Call it a Birds Eye View!

Hip

This thread sure went in a "direction" I never expected!

because i have had a bore scope a long time and my friend Greg the machinist does too we both have looked at even new barrels that have not been shot yet . my question for the guys that use their bore scopes has anyone else check out new barrels too ? i have done some very expensive barrels that looked great but did not shot that good sometimes ,i also also have checked out some new cheap rifles like Savage barrels they look rough inside barrel channel but they shoot great ? another friend brought a very expensive rifle from North Dakota and his rifle could hardly shoot an 1 1/2 inch group at 100 yards, i purchased the same size cartridge in a cheap Savage both were 300 WSM and with the same ammo mine shot 3/4 inch at 100 yards . we looked thru both barrels with my bore scope his looked very nice my Savage barrel looked rough but it sure shot better. so sometimes ya the bore scope shows how well the channel looks but doesn`t always tell you how well the barrel will shoot. greg the machinist also has done some complicated measuring and using his bore scope to checked out new barrels that have come from barrel manufactures he now only uses two different brand barrels for himself but if someone brings in a different brand barrel he will install that barrel for them. i only use the barrels he recommends now too and i have had some great accurate barrels that Greg has done the machining on and installed. Pete53 > and those Savage rifles are a real mystery on how well those cheap rifles shoot right out of the box ???? as are the new cheap Ruger rifles ?????

When new barrels hit my door, they get bore scoped as soon as possible. -Al

Picked up a set of mirrors for my Telsong for $15.They give you a lot better view than the ones that came with the unit,especially when your looking at the larger bores.

For the most part. A bore scope won't even give you a suggestion as to whether a rifle will shoot good or not unless there are glaring issues

Here's the reason to bore scope a new barrel. This is a new one for this season.....the defect was about 1/4" back from where I wanted the muzzle to be.

Al,

Have seen things even worse in factory barrels. Probably mentioned one long ago in one of these threads: A major manufacturer's .300 Winchester Magnum barrel that had the lands totally missing about 1-1/2" from the the muzzle, probably due to reamer malfunction. The rifle wouldn't group better than 2" at 100 with any ammo until it was shortened enough to remove that "gap," and recrowned.

Those are great view of the canted side of the rifling on a 5R barrel. Hope it shoots well for you.

Good shootin' -Al

I bought a borescope last winter for curiosity Sake. I have a barrel my brother wore out on his benchrest rifle. It looks like a bad gravel road after cleaning. It shoots 5 into less than half inch with 80 grainers.
Yesterday I loaded up 5 105 barts bullets just to see how it shot. The group with cold bore was .365 and without cold bore the 4 shots were .185.
It’s shoots better than the nice looking barrels. Kinda funny after looking at the bore. It’s a 6 br by the way. Edk

Yes....bad looking doesn't necessarily mean bad shooting. All I expect either borescope to do is:

(1) Identify a significant defect in a barrel
(2) Qualify my cleaning process
(3) Help monitor the crowns condition

Good shootin' -Al

friend purchased a new Remington 700 and came over to show me this barrel was threaded fine but the rifle had never been chambered it was flat in the back. on the barrel and yes Remington chambered his rifle.

What do you expect from a new owner...perfection??

There`s a learning curve ya know.

That's a good one! I like a flat tenon on a 700 (no bolt nose counterbore) for several reasons. But they do have chambers in there! -Al