barrel lapping reloads

T

tahoe2

New member
So; I'm not breaking in any new guns. I was just wondering if anyone has used abrasive lapping bullets (Tubbs) to bring life back into an old barrel.
I have several older rifles that I have no idea how much they have been shot.
A couple have some minor rust, and a couple have some copper fouling.
They all shoot minute of deer (anywhere between 1-1/2" to 3" @ 100yds)
but anything I can do to improve is always better, these are not long range
varment/target guns, just run of the mill hunting rifles and a few vintage
mausers. Recommended "copper solvents" also appreciated.
 
something you need to remember, regarding the copper fouled ones, is that the bore must be imacculate before lapping. NO fouling.
 
I have a .300 Weatherby that fouled like a pig and I couldn't get handloads under 1.5". I was going to rebarrel but found the fire lapping alternative (Final Finish). I followed to procedure by the book, it is a pain the @ss. My rifle now shoots sub 3/4" and the copper fouling is reasonable. My go to solvents are for powder fouling is a 2:1 ratio of Hoppes #9 and Hoppes Black powder solvent. For copper fouling it is Sweet's 7.62. I followed advice and do one wet patch of the hoppes then a dry patch, after that I go after the copper by soaking and patching with the Sweets. Once I get no more blue I use the same procedure with the Hoppes to get all the powder fouling out.
 
Tubbs Final Finish is a barrel Polishing process, not fire lapping. To lap you use a coarser set of compounds and a soft lead bullet fitted to the bore. In lapping, your objective is to get a uniform bore diameter/smooth out constrictions. In polishing, you assume a reasonably uniform bore and are cleaning up tool marks and rough rifling.

That said, I have used Tubbs FF on a brand new Colt HBAR that was so rough I couldn't even get patch down it. After that it shot sub-MOA (until I found out Colt had actually used a broken cutter to rifle the barrel and I replaced it with a Krieger). Even before, however, Tubbs enabled a bore cut with a broken flute to shoot "reasonably" well.

I've also used it on a Garand, and M1A, an older Ruger 243 M77, a new Model-70/30-06 and a Springfield`03. In no case has it worsened groups--in fact most improved from 20-45%. In ALL cases it improved cleaning and de-coppering,
 
Sweet's 7.62 copper solvent works great in my guns. I have also tried Hoppes benchrest solvent, stopped using it after I got some on my arm and had a nasty chemical burn. My fault not the solvent's fault but I ordered the Sweet just after that incident and have never gone back to Hoppes BR. I imagine all the copper solvents are pretty caustic so be careful, I now wear gloves and long sleeves when I use the stuff.

Stu
 
I fire lapped a Marlin 1895 45-70 using Beartooths fire lapping kit...it worked wonders on that rifle (eliminated barrel leading, increased the velocity of the loads)

Shooting sand down the bore can be helpful...but it must be done right.
 
I have used the Tubb's system,and it worked very well.I had handlapped the barrel twice,and it still was a copper mine,after the Tubb's,it doesn't and is easy to clean now.
 
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