Newbie question

[Leafy Cronmer]

I apologize in advance if this question has been addressed already, I did not find anything with the search tool.

It is obviously not a good idea to be looking down the barrel of a gun. When purchasing a used gun, what is the proper way to inspect inside the barrel?

 

[NavyLCDR]

With the slide or the cylinder open. Preferably with a bore light installed in the chamber/forcing cone.

You can also disassemble a semi-auto and remove the barrel, but that tends to rub some dealers the wrong way.

 

[Echo9]

Sometimes if you can find the right angle, you can simulate a bore light by reflecting light off your thumb nail and into the bore.

 

[NavyLCDR]

you can simulate a bore light by reflecting light off your thumb nail and into the bore.

Hi-gloss nail polish helps immensely!

 

[ilikepancakes]

I agree with NavyLT, lock back the slide or open the cylinder, then look down the barrel.

Or if you aren't comfortable doing that and the gun is an auto you could ask the owner remove the barrel for inspection.

 

[azyogi]

+1 on the thumb nail, I did find a .99 cent store flash light that had a bunch of fiber optics stuck to the end, it makes a fair bore light. Think it was meant as a party favor looks silly till you get a bunch jammed in the chamber, whats great about it if you're looking in a 22 just use what will fit. 30 cals don't quite take all but .357 will take the whole bunch. They bend and can be wormed into a 10/22 type action. Thing was it is cheaper to buy another than batteries for it [????????]

 

[Mt Shooter]

Hold a piece of white paper about 1/2 inch from the bore and look down the opposite end. "lights" it up quite nicely. No battery's needed and the price.....any scrape of paper will work, so its free.

 

[ClayInTX]

I haunt the pawn shops and have found most guns there have dirty barrels which makes it difficult to check the condition; dirty does not automatically equal bad.

I have bore snakes in the car for each caliber I’m interested in. If the dealer doesn’t have a boresnake and objects to me using mine then that’s all I need to know.

I also carry a small laser light to shine into the breech end of the barrel while I look down the idiot end.

I’m going to have to find one of those fiber optic jobs azyogi spoke of, though, because my laser doesn’t always fit into the breech and I have to aim it at an angle.

Anyway, although it’s not a good idea to look down the barrel of a gun it’s necessary when inspecting for condition or cleanliness and you do check that it unloaded; and with the breech open or the cylinder swung out it’s sort of a given that it’s not in position to fire.

/signed/
One-Eyed Clay

 

[wishin]

Ask him if you can take it out back and fire a 3 round group!

 

[mcdonl]

Once you clear the gun, there is nothing wrong with looking down the barrel to inspect it. Like MT shooter said, white paper works well. I use cleaning patches.

 

[NavyLCDR]

/signed/
One-Eyed Clay

I would also recommend you remove any bayonets from the gun for inspecting the bore!

 

[gordy]

I like to remove the barrel on a auto to get a good look. If the man behind the shelf wont let me. I ask him to do it. On a revolver I open the cyinder and place my thumb over the firing pin. It will reflect the light. I try to bring a bore light along if I am shopping for a firearm. If they wont let me look, I will go find a shop that is more inline of my way of doing it.

 

[Leafy Cronmer]

Thanks for the advice everyone