Anyone ever firelap a new or used rifle?

[Sniper X]

I'm curious, have any of you used the firelap method instead of hand lapping for a new rifle barrel? Or, on a used barel?

 

[Dr. A]

I have firelapped numerous rifles and revolvers. All of mine were firelapped with the expressed intention of shooting cast bullets from them when I was done. It was used to smooth out constrictions and roughness in the bore. I used very slow moving cast bullets (500fps) impregnated with 320 grit from Beartooth bullets. This has the desired affect of smoothing not only the lands, but the grooves as well. This is somethiing not accomplished by jacketed firelapping. If done right, it accurizes your bore and gives you the tapered bore sought after for cast bullet shooting. Accuracy also increased an average of about 35%. All of my firelapped guns are either Marlin leverguns or Ruger revolvers. Marshall Stanton has a book offered over on the sight with alot of helpful information concerning the procedure.

 

[Sniper X]

There are two systems which come in a varity of calibers that are specifically for this as well. The have progressively smoother grit on them and are basically a loaded set of rounds which number in the 20 ct or so and to use them you simply start at one end of the box and shoot them and swab the barrel between shots and let the barrel cool. I hear they work quite well and may use one of them on my PSS even though it is very accurate now.

 

[slugcatcher]

I've used Tubb's system on an Colt HBAR and a Ruger M-77. It improved groups on both. I bought each rifle new. The Colt had ~300rds on it and the Ruger had ~250 rounds on it before firelapping. The barrel on the Colt is not chrome lined and the Ruger is stainless steel.

 

[Sniper X]

Cool, I think Ill do it.Thanks for the info!

 

[DogBonz]

I have wondered this myself

Please let us know how it works out.