I wanted to share my recent experience with the David Tubb’s Final Bore Finish System, a fire lapping, 50 bullet system with five groups of varying polishing compounds impregnated into the bearing surface of the bullets. Reloaded with the starting load listed for any powder. Clean the barrel removing as much of the copper as possible. Shoot 10 rounds beginning with the coarsest first. Clean well. Shoot the next 10 rounds, etc. The cleaning does get easier with each 10 shot group.
I watched a friend use the pre-loaded 20-round system by David Tubb’s which uses the last 2 compounds. He was impressed with the improvement and convinced me to try it. I opted for the reloading package which has 5 compounds. I prefer to reload whenever I can! To date I have applied the Tubb’s system to 10 of my Encore barrels; 7.5x55, 30-06, 7mm08, 7mmBR, 270, 6.8, 6.5x284, 243, 6 Rem and this last go around, the 300 Win Mag. I noticed a dramatic improvement with each caliber. The 7mm-08 was just sitting in the safe because I could not find a bullet that would shoot well. After the Tubb’s treatment, I got my 140 Nosler Partition bullets to group 1.5 inches at 100 yds; enough for a successful Mule Deer hunt in November.
When I decided to work up the 300 Win Mag, I realized I had no proof of the change in performance. This time I shot 4 rounds of regular reloaded 180 Nosler Partitions and saved the target showing the string of holes. I went through the Tubb’s program and today I test fired the rifle using the same reloaded batch of Noslers. The results are obvious in the attached photo.
I highly recommend the David Tubb’s Final Finish System. My next project is the 375 H&H!
This is really a testament to how poorly T/C barrels are made. I hope I do not have accuracy problems with my new ProHunter. Tubb's Final Finish is a controversial product. In almost every case, the use of this product will push the throat back which is rarely desirable. However, you obviously have enjoyed a positive response in your barrels. I'll keep this stuff in mind if I have a problem with my new barrel(s).
Thanks for the report.
I don't know a lot about firelapping, as I haven't done it. I have heard both good and bad, but more good.
I don't think TC puts out bad barrels on purpose and every mfg'r has lemons. They are production (hunting) guns, not match grade. And overall, I think there quality is acceptable, if not more so.
I can't really see whereas firelapping would be all that detrimental to the throat and leade. If it alters it much, I would be surprised if it measured more than by microns, at the very worst a few .0001" of an inch. To me this would equate to maybe the equivalent of normal throat erosion a few hundred rounds(maybe). If it results in better accuracy and less cleaning time, I would be all for if I had a barrel I thought it needed sucha treatment.
I don't know David Tubb all that well, but have talked with him on the phone a number times. My general impression of him,,,,he's all about accuracy, and I don't see him as a "gimmick" type at all. If he feels this method can help questionable barrels, I would trust him.
But all this is the reason I go with custom match grade barrels. To me it's worth the couple hundred extra to eliminate such frustrations. It all boils down to what your expectations, needs, and goals are.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Dave