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I haven’t seen this tip an there have been a couple of threads about inspection lights (thanks, I bought a Larry Light at the hardware store the other day to keep in my kit) and the bore inspection mirror (which I thought was pretty cool, wasn’t aware of such a thing) so I thought I’d ad my bore light tip. I carry a fishing bobber light with me in my wallet and I find it extremely useful for inspecting the bore when considering a rifle, especially here in CA where levers are usually zip-tied at a gun show (wishful thinking that I’ll find anything interesting at a CA gun show, however).
These little lights are about 1/8″ in diameter a little over an an inch long. They’re about $3 each and last a long time. You have to look around to find them in white, although I’ve used yellow ones without issue. Simple to click it on and drop it in the bore to inspect and doesn’t require the gymnastics of holding a borelight in the breech while trying to look down the barrel.
Just thought others might find this useful. Amazon sells 10 for $33 which is a little expensive considering that 10 is probably a lifetime supply, but I found them in packs of one or two at a tackle shop.
Steve
WACA Member. CFM Member. NRA Lifer.
Cool tip!
I bought an inexpensive bore scope on Amazon that attaches to a USB port. It has lights on the probe. In practice I find I get a better view if I use with a bore light entering the barrel from the other end, as the glare from the lights on the probe hitting the nearby metal in the bore can be pretty bad. In any event I’ve found it useful for inspecting the throat and middle area of a barrel that can’t easily be seen from the muzzle. Dunno if a show or gun show vendor would let me use it tho!
Best bore light is a piece of white paper inserted into the chamber end. Open action insert paper and look down the bore from the muzzle end. Move the rifle so light hits the paper and reflects into the bore. A lot easier to carry a 2″ x 3″ piece of paper, doesn’t run out of battery life, fits all guns and doesn’t have too much glare.
November 7, 2015
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I carry a good bore light when I’m prowling the orphanages but in good light a white business card curled up and placed at the end of the chamber works well enough. I think I need a few of those bobber lights, saw someone use one at a show around here once and was impressed. I think my pocket light lets me see the edges of the lands better but my eyes need a bit more light than they used to.
Mike
I like a bore light that I can drop down the bore, don’t have to cut the tie wrap. Saves time and the necessity to work the action unless buyer is serious. T/R
TR said
I like a bore light that I can drop down the bore, don’t have to cut the tie wrap. Saves time and the necessity to work the action unless buyer is serious. T/R
I actually discovered these bobber lights from Jim Autry at his table at a gun show years ago. Allowed for a quick inspection without taking off the zip tie until real interest was determined.
Steve
WACA Member. CFM Member. NRA Lifer.
Over the years I have had a few different drop in bore lights but they always seemed to fail after a short while. Most don’t work on the smallest calibers either.
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