Barrel Lapping Bullets

[Aggiestad]

I was at the range today and the fella next to me asked how I like my Rem 700 .308 tactical. I told him I really liked how it shot and I was getting good groups, just working on load development.

He mentioned awhile back he was at the same range and a guy had the same gun as me and to break in the first 5 or so shots he used lapping bullets. He said after shooting these bullets and cleaning the barrel properly that rifle shot absolutely lights out.

This is the first I had ever heard of lapping bullets, but from the limited research I have been able to do, they apparently polish the barrel and help to smooth or fill any imperfections?

Does anyone have any experience shooting these and do they really help accuracy?

Thanks

[Walker]

The theory is sound but not sure how much control you have.over the whole lapping process. Id hand lap myself but just shooting with occasional cleanings is my method to break in a barrel

[ColinR]

I was at the range today and the fella next to me asked how I like my Rem 700 .308 tactical. I told him I really liked how it shot and I was getting good groups, just working on load development.

He mentioned awhile back he was at the same range and a guy had the same gun as me and to break in the first 5 or so shots he used lapping bullets. He said after shooting these bullets and cleaning the barrel properly that rifle shot absolutely lights out.

This is the first I had ever heard of lapping bullets, but from the limited research I have been able to do, they apparently polish the barrel and help to smooth or fill any imperfections?

Does anyone have any experience shooting these and do they really help accuracy?

Thanks

I saw first hand this exact same thing on a Remington 20" 5r. Guy came and set up next to me. Had his buddy there. They shot 5 shots cleaning between each shot with lapping bullets. Then shot some regular loads at a new target and they all went in the same raged hole. this was at 200 yards! I sat and watched thru my scope.

Started talking to him and this was the 3rd Remington 20" 5r he had done all with the same results. Said he had bought one for his son and it did this and he could not believe the accuracy so he went and bought one for himself and it did the same thing, one ragged hole at 200. So then his buddy bought one and asked him to break his in for him. That was the one I witnessed.

I had never heard of lapping bullets prior to that day either.

[Artos]

Personally, if a gun was shooting well then lapping bullets would not be an option I would be willing to take on an already good bbl...read about them some time ago & back then they were mostly used to 'hopefully' improve a bbl that was not satisfactory.

Maybe they have improved the process?? I know they had different grits & I sure wouldn't use anything aggressive. Mostly, it was determined that the process showed to lap more towards the throat vs equally down the entire bbl. This moved some away as the your bbl wear starts from the throat to the crown already.

Again, maybe they have improved the process / product??

[McClain]

I would never fire lap without first breaking in the barrel and then thoroughly spend the time to work up a load. Only after that and if groups were just not acceptable would I ever consider fire lapping, and then only with factory barrels. Would not do this with a custom barrel.

I have actually fire lapped a few barrels with mixed results. Some improved the grouping slightly and others had no effect. Have to say any improvement I found was never a drastic effect. Worked best for me on rimfire rifles.

[Cajun Blake]

David Tubb is a World Class high power shooter and advocates Final Finish bullet lapping for the barrel. http://www.davidtubb.com/final-finish-bulleterforming -kits

I’ve been shooting custom rifle barrels since the early 90’s and do not know of any barrel manufacturers that recommend bullet lapping. You will likely void the barrel warranty by performing a “barrel accuracy improvement method” not approved by the manufacturer.

If you have a factory barrel, go for it if you wish. I have zero experience with, or know anyone who has done bullet lapping

[SNIPER3388]

David Tubb is a World Class high power shooter and advocates Final Finish bullet lapping for the barrel. http://www.davidtubb.com/final-finish-bulleterforming -kits

I’ve been shooting custom rifle barrels since the early 90’s and do not know of any barrel manufacturers that recommend bullet lapping. You will likely void the barrel warranty by performing a “barrel accuracy improvement method” not approved by the manufacturer.

If you have a factory barrel, go for it if you wish. I have zero experience with, or know anyone who has done bullet lapping

X2. And I wouldnt dare do it on a custom barrel. Im fairly certain its a sales gimmick in the end. Just like h2n coating bullets.

[Aggiestad]

Thanks for all the input, I may have to look into loading up some lapping bullets just for kicks.


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[Mike D]

Barrel Lapping Bullets

Thanks for all the input, I may have to look into loading up some lapping bullets just for kicks.


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The Remington 5R rifles are known to shoot well. Mine do.

I wouldn’t do it personally especially on a custom barrel. I guess if you have a factory barrel that doesn’t shoot well, it might be worth trying but I wouldn’t expect miracles.


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[257]

There are several reasons to do bullet lapping. Fist it can help reduce copper fouling (which has worked on several factory guns I have done it to) second this can help with accuracy. Brownells sells boxed sets for this. I would not hesitate to do this on a factory gun because of past results. Custom barrels, well that could be another subject.

[Radar]

I know very little about fire lapping a rifle barrel, reckon if it was an old rifle with a dark bore it may help and even then I would use lead bullets and not copper.

I learned about fire lapping revolver barrels years ago from a man named Veral Smith, he created LBT bullets and had a book that went in to great detail about cast bullet performance and revolver accuracy.

One of the things about a revolver barrel is when it is screwed into the frame it creates a choke in the barrel just ahead of the forcing cone. If you slug a revolver barrel you can feel the slug drag as it get to the frame. Fire lapping will eliminate the choke and improve accuracy but it takes up to 25 rounds. Chamber mouths,cylinder gap and forcing cone angle also need to be corrected before fire lapping. It certainly works for shooting cast bullets, maybe not so much with jacketed bullets.

[softpoint]

I have fire lapped a couple of barrels. The barrels were not up to good accuracy standards is the reason it was done. No improvement was noted. New barrels MIGHT improve slightly, as many new barrels improve slightly after break-in. I would not fire lap a premium grade match barrel. If it needed to be fire lapped, it wasn't up to quality when it was purchased. Lapping revolvers to shoot lead bullets or hand lapping rifle barrels to shoot cast bullets is an animal of a different color, and can be useful.