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Fire Lapping a barrel

rudiored
Has anyone had any experience with fire lapping a barrel ? i see the bullet kits in Cabela's and wonder if it is worth the money to do this ? A friend said barrels have tight spots and burrs on the edges of the lands, and the fire lapping smooths all of these problems out.....Need some advice or opinions....

You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.....
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • p3skyking
    Hand lap instead. More control and you only remove what you need to. In my opinion, fire lapping is for people not competent enough to hand lap.


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  • r_himmelreich
    While I hate to agree with a P-3 guy (I'm TACAIR), I agree with sky. I tried it once when Cabela's first listed the kits on a relatively new 7mm-08 barrel. I really didn't see any change in accuracy either way. I followed the directions to the letter too. I did notice the ease with which the barrel cleaned as I worked through the firelapping rounds though. After that I hand lapped a 280. I noticed a difference in both cleaning and accuracy. Not a lot but still noticeable. Is hand lapping worth it? I'd have to say yes and have since hand lapped all my rifles.
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  • D.S.COLE
    If your rifle is correctly bedded in the stock,has a good trigger and you have tried several loads and are not getting good enough groups then lapping may help.
    Generally with a new barrel I shoot a few rounds and give it a scrubbing with J & B ,then shoot a few more and J&B it again , most of the time that does it. If you have a rough barrel and dont know how to handlap it you can get a riflesmith to do it and pay him easier than fooling with the firelapping kit.
    If you get good groups already, remember " if it aint broke dont fix it"

    <BR>
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  • heavyiron
    Hi,

    Here is an atricle about fire lapping with a different product, but the same idea.

    http://www.rifleshootermag.com/gunsmithing/finish_0723/

    IMHO, I go along with most of the others and think that probably hand polishing the barrel with a good bore paste like JB is the way to go. However, the fire lapping would probably not hurt the barrel and may provide some benefit.

    Please read up on the difference between hand lapping and hand polishing which technically are different processes before you start.

    Regards,

    Heavyiron

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    "If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix
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  • rudiored
    Thanks guys for all the help......Can you buy the plugs, etc. needed to hand lap the barrel ??? Does Midway or Brownells have the stuff ??? I have about 4 guns I would like to do as I am not happy with the accuracy on them....Something to do this winter while I am layed off work for two months....[^]
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  • p3skyking
    This is how to hand lap a barrel for some real results. You don't buy the plugs, you make them to fit YOUR barrel.

    Obtain: Steel cleaning rod, lead, lapping paste (of valve grinding compound), propane torch, and aluminum foil.

    Insert steel cleaning rod from the breech end to the end of the barrel. Pack the aluminum foil around it about three inches down to form a plug. Stand rifle upright.

    Melt lead in suitable container. Pour lead into muzzle end of barrel until slightly below muzzle. Let cool.

    From the breech end, tap rod to push the lead encased cleaning rod out of the end. BE CAREFUL, IF PLUG COMES ALL THE WAY OUT YOU MUST START OVER.

    When 3/4 of plug is out, STOP. Coat with lapping paste. From the breech end pull plug aft feeling for the tight spots. AGAIN, IF YOU PULL THE PLUG OUT YOU MUST START AGAIN.

    Keep working the plug back and forth until it's nice and even throughout the whole length of the barrel. More paste may be applied if needed the same way you applied it originally.

    After you are satisfied with the job, withdraw plug completely and melt off the plug. Clean and degrease the barrel and go to the range.

    An M-14 cleaning rod with the swivel head works real good for 30 cal and above.

    Good luck and if I missed anything he should know guys, help me out.


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    BTW; [8D]
    Hey, TACAIR! No prob pal, Whenever they asked me if an Orion was too big to land on a bird farm, I wholeheartedly agreed![}:)]
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