do we like "fire-lapping" new brrls? or not

[sansone]

I searched for threads, found none.. Is Tubbs Final Finish and similar abrasive bullets bad for new bores? They claim it only "polishes" but maybe premature wear is more accurate. Anybody here have experience with firing abrasive bullets with a new factory brrl?

 

[MrOldLude]

I'm sure there will be some argument, but the conclusion I reached was from a quality manufacturer, fire-lapping is not needed or desired. It can be done, but will go a long way towards wearing out the barrel that much earlier.

If you just bought a new barrel, I'd advise asking the manufacturer their opinion on it.

 

[TonyAngel]

From what I've found/heard, fire lapping is something that may or may not benefit you. I've never fire lapped a barrel for any of the ARs that I've built, but all of the barrels that I've used have either been chrome lined or premium barrels that came hand lapped or otherwise finish lapped.

My first foret into the true "off the shelf" world was with my Remington SPS Tactical and I'll tell you that the bore was rough. It would copper foul like no body's business. A barrel like this, I believe, would benefit from fire lapping. If fire lapping did reduce the useful life of the barrel, I'd consider it a fair trade in exchange for the smoother bore that would foul less.

 

[Al Thompson]

Agree with Tony. A factory barrel can usually use some help, a custom, no. I used the original NECO kit and it works. I had a .30-06 that coppered up badly and fire-lapping smoothed it right out. Interesting note, I also had great results in some .22LR barrels. Just used the finer grade grit and things tightened right up.

 

[Robert Wilson]

I really got into fire lapping a decade or so ago. I used the Tubb system and the NECO system, and came to prefer the NECO, as it allows "customizing" for various needs.

Two claims are commonly made for fire lapping. The first is that it smooths the barrel and decreases fouling. This is mostly, usually, depending on what you do and what you do it to, true. A bad fouler often responds to lapping, but sometimes doesn't. and sometimes it takes so much fire lapping that you end up moving the throat forward by a significant amount, which causes its own problems.

The second claim is that it increases accuracy, by creating a taper from breach to muzzle. This sounds plausible, but I could never prove it. Again, by the time you have removed that much metal from the bore, you can expect to have moved the throat forward by a bunch, which tends to negate any potential accuracy benefits from a tapered bore.

So I've pretty much given up on fire lapping. If the bore is so rough that it fouls badly, fire lapping may or may not solve it, and it's enough work that I tend not to see it as a worthwhile gamble. So these days, bad barrels get replaced or traded off. And if I'm looking for top accuracy, I start with a hand-lapped barrel anyway.

 

[ATCDoktor]

I used the NECO rimfire system on a brand new Ruger MKII pistol.

The bore in that gun was so rough that it would lead to the point you couldn't get a cleaning rod in it in 50 rounds.

Followed the directions, Fired the rounds in order and the barrel was good to go.

If you have a rough rimfire bbl, I'd recommend it.