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S&W-Smithing Maintenance, Repair, and Enhancement of Smith & Wesson and Other Firearms.


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  #1  
Old 01-07-2021, 12:49 PM
Zackary Zackary is offline
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Default Good bore light

Looking to purchase a good quality bore light to use for both rifle and revolver inspections/purchases. Maxed out on online "reviews". Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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Old 01-07-2021, 12:52 PM
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I use a Streamlight Stylus. Mine has had the same batteries for 5 years and not required replacement. They come with a lifetime warranty. I have heard that there is a rechargeable model available as well. IIRC, I paid less than $20 for mine.
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Old 01-07-2021, 01:16 PM
LCC LCC is offline
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I've been using the Remington bore light for years, inexpensive, works fine.
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Old 01-07-2021, 01:29 PM
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I use a piece of white paper.

Simply look down the bore and hold the paper at the other end to reflect light.

Everyone seems to be looking for a gadget or a gizmo to accomplish a simple task that’s easily accomplished without modern technology.
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Old 01-07-2021, 01:42 PM
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+1 on the Streamlight Stylus. I've have a couple of them and they have been great.
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Old 01-07-2021, 03:17 PM
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I use my thumbnail to reflect light in to the chamber while I peer down the bore.

My thumbnail never needs a new battery.

John
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Old 01-07-2021, 03:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnHL View Post
I use my thumbnail to reflect light in to the chamber while I peer down the bore.

My thumbnail never needs a new battery.

John
Amen to that John!!
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Old 01-07-2021, 04:01 PM
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I’ve used a thumbnail or piece of white paper in a pinch, but a good bore light is far superior.

This Lux-Pro with a 90 degree adaptor and an unmarked flexible bore light have served me for years, but they’re now relegated to bench work. They’re too big to haul around and they don’t work with muzzle loaders.

Good bore light-a02db21d-102a-440d-8e4a-f94551a8014c-jpg

My new bore light of choice is an LED bobber light, intended for night fishing. You push the tip down for on, pull it out for off. They’re rated for 60 hours run time, cost about $2 when purchased in a multi-pack and are about the size of a stick match. They work great and fit nicely in an empty chapstick tube. I keep extras in my gun show kit bag, because people want one when they see it in action.

Good bore light-e6cbfa4f-b9e3-4820-a270-460415f34a65-jpg

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Old 01-07-2021, 04:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rpg View Post
I use a piece of white paper.

Simply look down the bore and hold the paper at the other end to reflect light.

Everyone seems to be looking for a gadget or a gizmo to accomplish a simple task that’s easily accomplished without modern technology.
I'm not even that sophisticated! I use my thumbnail to reflect overhead lighting into the barrel. I always have it with me unless I've mashed it with a hammer . . . again.

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Old 01-07-2021, 04:34 PM
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I’ve just learned a better way: thumbnails!
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Old 01-07-2021, 05:12 PM
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I just use an inexpensive flexible shaft bore light these days, however there WAS a day when I used just my thumbnail UNTIL one day trying to use this method to check out the bore on a M1 Garand!

I learned real quick way...way...back when that the original version of "Garand thumb" referred to loading a en-bloc clip, and that version is well known nowadays to all as Garand Thumb version 1.0........Garand Thumb version 2.0 comes by wiggling your dang thumb around while trying to check the bore!

Cheap bore light beats heck out of having to hold your Laphroaig Single Malt only in your right hand cause your left hurts too much!
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Old 01-07-2021, 05:38 PM
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I usually just use my phone if I need a quick and easy inspection. But I did purchase a Teslong bore cam about a year ago, and considering it costs 40$ the quality is really good https://www.teslong.com/Rifle-Boresc...LONG_borescope
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Old 01-07-2021, 05:56 PM
Walter Rego Walter Rego is online now
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I have one with the flexible stem like s&wchad shows above. I like it much better than the ones that have an L shaped clear plastic tip and use a couple of AA batteries, the longer, flexible tip is usable in many more types of firearms.

One thing I can mention is there is such a thing as too much light. I have one of the penlight with L shaped clear plastic tip bore lights and found that my pupil closes down from the brightness and it makes it harder to examine the bore. I ended up taking some sandpaper to both flat ends of the clear plastic tip to cut back some of the brightness but it still isn't optimal. That one is now relegated to home use and the other one is in my gun show backpack.
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