Author Topic: Barrel Lapping (Read 724 times)

Rummer · « **on:** March 04, 2005, 04:29:26 PM »

Does anybody out there have any experience with the "wheeler engineering bore lapping kit"?

I was wondering if it was worth the trouble. Is it beneficial or damaging to the firearm?

Thanks
John

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2005, 06:04:43 PM »

I think you'll find it a lot easier to firelap your barrel. Check out Veral Smith's LBT forum for more information on it if you're not sure how. Even good barrels can be made better.

Rusty <><

gunnut69 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2005, 06:22:14 PM »

If you have a bad bore it may be improved by firelapping. The process quickly moves the rifling in the throat forward. This erosion is accompanied by the sharp edges being knocked off any pitts in the bore. It also applies a lot of wear to the rifling and bore surfaces. The abrasive breaks down as it procedes down the bore so the wear is greatest nearest the chamber. Normal lapping is actually more a polishing process and great care is taken to control the abrasion and keep it as even as possible. As in polishing a gun for bluing, very little metal is actually removed.. Firelapping is a quick cheap treatment that may save a badly damaged barrel and is very likely to ruin a good barrel..

TennesseeNuc · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2005, 09:10:55 PM »

Rummer,
Where have you seen this bore lapping kit advertised? I might be interested in one.
Best,
TnNuc

longgun · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2005, 12:06:55 AM »

Midway sells the bore lapping kit. They sell it as a fire lapping kit. I bought one a couple of years ago for fire lapping 22 lr. Didn't like using it as fire lapping. I now use it for lapping barrels with a special jag and cleaning rod. I use it mainly to bore lap cheaper grade new barrels so that they will not copper foul so bad. I have also used it on barreled actions to smooth out the bore to reduce copper fouling and improve accuracy . I took a # 8X 32 screw and made the head just barely larger than the screw and screwed it into a one piece cleaning rod. Put the rod into the barrel from chamber end and fastened the barrel into a vise vertical. Put some lead ( NOT SOLDIER) into a spoon and melt lead with a torch and pour the lead into the bore( enough to make about 4" long button). The lead will solidify in a few seconds. Then put the barrel in the vise wrapped with a rag in horizontal position. The lead will have a little ball on the end so just push the end of the jag out of the barrel a little and cut the ball off the end. next coat about two inches of the warm jag with wheeler 320 grit and lap the bore. Make about 100 strokes then clean it and repeat the process using 600 grit. Clean it again.... Works well for me. don

Rummer · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2005, 09:28:17 AM »

Tennesseenuc

Here is a link to the bore lapping compound at midway:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=646612

I asked about this because I am having a rifle rebarreled and was looking into lapping methods for the new barrel.

I would like to avoid lengthening the freebore in the rifle so i don't think that this wheeler kit is what I am looking for. I am really interested in longgun's technique though.

John

TennesseeNuc · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2005, 07:36:03 PM »

Rummer,
Thanks for the link. I was hoping that it was going to be a hand lapping kit. I wonder what production barrel makers use to lap their barrels. It couldn't be too complicated or labor intensive otherwise they couldn't produce in any volume.
Best,
TnNuc

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2005, 02:23:19 AM »

Contact one of the sponsers here on the board... LBT he sells the compound you need for lapping.

You can also visit www.leverguns.com

www.sixguns.com

www.sixgunner.com

All should have articles and success stories on lapping.

Rusty <><

Rummer · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2005, 04:25:26 AM »

TennesseeNuc,

Midway also sells WHeeler Enginering Lapping compound as a seperate item.

John