Got my fire lapping kit, BUT.................

[Dusty Miller]

But, there ain't no instructions on how to make them the low power loads for shoot'n thru my Vaquero!!  Strange.

[Graybeard]

We're still about a month away from Veral's return. I suggest you contact his wife Judy and ask her if she can't send you some instructions, most likely she can.

[bob allen]

Graybeard;I have them papers right in front of me.Basicly it says just enough fast powder to get them out of the Bbl.use 1.5 grs.to 2.5 grs. of bullseye or 700x for straight wall and tiny cases2-4 grs.for rifle cases.hope this helps.

[calvon]

I have good luck shooting one grain of AA #7 behind a 140 grain bullet in the 9mm. Also one grain of AA #7 behind a 160 grain bullet in the .357 Sig. Same load behind a 185 grain bullet in the .40 S&W. I cast my lapping bullets from stick-on wheel weight metal. It's dead soft and nearly pure lead.

It doesn't make enough oomph to cycle the action, makes a low decibel "pop" and does a superb job of smoothing the bore.

Without having done so my guess that one grain of most any pistol powder in most any pistol caliber (excluding bottleneck rifle cases used in the TC Contender and similar weapons) would do the trick.

I use LBT molds to the exclusion of all others. And by all means, get Verals book "Jacketed Performance With Cast Bullets". It's a gold mine.

[Veral]

Dusty.  I hope you have your problem solved with the answers given by others, as they are correct.  It's somewhat of a guess job to get a load slow enough to prevent leading, and that's all that matters.

[Dusty Miller]

Well, my hectic schedule keeps me from this project BUT, I've high hopes that soon it'll be done.  So, do you think 1 grain of AA5 under my 250 gr. LSWC is what I need?  If so, I'll soon start putting those together.  BTW, this is a .45 Colt Vaquero I'm working on if that matters. 

[Veral]

  I haven't used AA5 powder, but will assume it is as fast as Unique or faster.  And if so, 1 gr should get bullets out the barrel.

  When fire lapping, use the fastest pistol powder you have, and just enough to get bullets out the barrel.  If you stick on, knock it out backwards using a steel rod and very heavy hammer with light taps, to achieve a pushing effect, rather than sharp rap as delivered by a light hammer, which can upset the soft lap bullet and lock it tight in the barrel.

  Don't load up a large lot of rounds to take to the range, then find all the bullets stick in the barrel, or speed is too high and the barrel leads. (LBT Lap compound is far from lubrication.  It cuts metal, and speeds have to be kept low to prevent leading.)  You can test fire a few rounds in the house by pushing the muzzle into a bundle of dry rags and tripping a round off.  A wad of cloth 6 inches thick will stop a fairly powerful bullet safely.  For extra precautions, place the wad of rags on a concrete floor against a concrete wall.  If bullets are getting out the barrel after three or four shots, load up a batch and take them to a range, if you have to, to get out of public view.  Understand that the first lap shot from a clean barrel goes much easier than after several shots have coated the bore full length with abrasive compound.  -  You'll get quite a bit of smoke in the house if you do it inside, but if you have a garage or good ventilation, there is no reason why not do the whole lap job inside.  The sound is no more than a toy cap gun.