Dumb question - bore checking

[Vicious-Peanut]

Hello everyone, I was curious how you check the bore on old rifles. Do you just open the action and look down the bore? That would seem odd to me since one of the rules is "never point at something you don't intend to shoot" I know it is dumb since the action is open, but it would still be unnatural. What is the 'proper' way to check it?

 

[W.E.G.]

Remove the bolt, then do whatever you want.

Somebody will still find a way to drop the rifle in such a way that it pokes them in the eye.

 

[dstorm1911]

open the action and look down the bore is pretty much the only way ya are going to be able to look at the bore otherwise your left takin the sellers word for the bore condition....... which generally seldom works out well

 

[alucard0822]

remove the bolt if possible, bring a bore light with you to gun shows, shops or wherever you might find something interesting. I use a little 90 degree bent peice of clear plastic to inspect bores, it also acts as an "unloaded" indicator. A little flashlight can also help you see the gap between parts and the condition of internal parts visible from the outside if the seller won't field strip the gun for inspection.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

If the bore has been oiled it will hide a frosty bore. It's an old trick. Ask to run a patch down the barrel first.

 

[sacp81170a]

"never point at something you don't intend to shoot"

That's Rule #2, and common sense tells you that you have to "break" it sometimes, even for safety's sake, as in checking the bore of a weapon for obstructions before you fire it. That's why there's a Rule #1, "Treat every gun as if it were loaded until you confirm otherwise." If you haven't checked it yourself, it's loaded.

 

[JTW Jr.]

if at a show without a bore light and the seller will not let me pull the bolt , after triple checking it is empty and the bolt back , I slip the back side of a white business card in the action ( white side toward the chamber ) ... most times you will get enuff light reflecting off the card from the overhead lights to see the bore clearly from the muzzle end.