Firelapping - The Firearms Forum

RunningOnMT · 12-07-2010, 09:53 AM

Somewhere in my recent internet travels I encountered an article about firelapping a barrel. I didn't save it and now I can't find it. Although I've heard of various barrel break-in techniques I had never heard of lapping by firing rounds with a substance in the barrel. Is anyone familiar with this procedure and does it improve accuracy?

carver · 12-07-2010, 09:57 AM

Yep! Midway has them. They were in a sales article I got on line the other day. From what I understand the bullets are coated with an abrasive, and there are about 3 or 4 bullets in the kit. You shoot the most coarse first, then the next, and so on.

grcsat · 12-07-2010, 10:10 AM

I think I may have seen the same artical as you. Something about using ammo with a mild abrasive impregnated in the ammo? Its suposed to polish the bore .remove rough spots and help reduce copper fouling.
I have heard all sorts of testamonys that sounded like a TV commercel.
I don't no if any of it is true or just snake oil.

I do lap all my own barrels but I use brown grocery paper and toothpaste for lapping. Its a lot of work but I like the results.

tankman · 12-07-2010, 10:36 AM

firelapping sounds like a logical gimmick. but the end result probably isnt that great. that seems like it would take away some of the experience of getting a new gun. this is coming from someone who just heard of the term 'lapping.' i thought shooting bullets is what broke in a barrel. the idea of sending something through the barrel to grind it smooth sounds sketchy. but i'm a newbie, anyone else think this?

carver · 12-07-2010, 10:44 AM

Don't really know! I've read up on this procedure, and there are Pros, and Cons. I know that I won't ever try it, my guns will out shoot me already. Even if this process makes a rifle more accurate, it wouldn't do me any good anyway!

Gabob · 12-07-2010, 11:03 AM

I have used the fire lap kit and got very good results. Also one of the most accurate rifles I ever saw was lapped by coating bullets with J-B Bore cleaner and firing. ( J-B is a very mild abrasive)

RunningOnMT · 12-07-2010, 11:11 AM

Carver, no disrespect intended but whenever I hear it said that a gun can "outshoot" someone it sounds a bit illogical to me. I assume what is meant is that if the gun was benched it is capable of shooting tighter groups than what the person is able to obtain without the piece being benched. a quite understandable case. However..let's say that you can shoot 6" groups with a particular rifle @ 100 yds standing, unsupported. Now suppose when mounted in a bench that same rifle is capable of 3" groups @100 yds. Now what if you could do something to that rifle to improve it's accuracy to 1" groups @the same range when benched. Sure the rifle is capable of more precision when benched than when you hold it in a standing position, so I guess that means it can "outshoot" you. But don't you think that by improving the benched accuracy (or actually precision) that you would also possibly see an improvement when unsupported? Now that may not necessarily be the case but it is quite possible. If you wobble and shake a great deal when holding the piece, certainly that motion will translate into a very loose group. However groups might be improved if an improvement to the rifles inherent precision was made. If you follow me.

carver · 12-07-2010, 11:36 AM

First, thanks for your reply! Your knowledge, and input are valuable to me, and the others on this forum. I follow you, I understand you, and I agree with you on what you have to say. What I'm talking about is my ability to shoot, not the guns ability. If I had a rifle that could not shoot better than a 3" group at 100yds, I would be about finding out why, and correcting the problem. My rifles all shoot min of angle at 100yds, or less, benched. If a professional shooter should shoot my rifles, he would no doubt get better results than I do, ie, smaller gourps. That is what I mean by "my guns will out shoot me already". I am not a professional! I'm sure that my breathing could use some work, and I really don't know how to shoot between heart beats!

RunningOnMT · 12-07-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carver

First, thanks for your reply! Your knowledge, and input are valuable to me, and the others on this forum. I follow you, I understand you, and I agree with you on what you have to say. What I'm talking about is my ability to shoot, not the guns ability. If I had a rifle that could not shoot better than a 3" group at 100yds, I would be about finding out why, and correcting the problem. My rifles all shoot min of angle at 100yds, or less, benched. If a professional shooter should shoot my rifles, he would no doubt get better results than I do, ie, smaller gourps. That is what I mean by "my guns will out shoot me already". I am not a professional! I'm sure that my breathing could use some work, and I really don't know how to shoot between heart beats!

Damn, you're a professional compared to me. I can barely hold a rifle on paper anymore @ 100 yds.

12-07-2010, 09:53 AM	#1
RunningOnMT Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Akron, Ohio Contributor Posts: 4,720	Firelapping Somewhere in my recent internet travels I encountered an article about firelapping a barrel. I didn't save it and now I can't find it. Although I've heard of various barrel break-in techniques I had never heard of lapping by firing rounds with a substance in the barrel. Is anyone familiar with this procedure and does it improve accuracy? -->

12-07-2010, 09:57 AM	#2
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,553	Re: Firelapping Yep! Midway has them. They were in a sales article I got on line the other day. From what I understand the bullets are coated with an abrasive, and there are about 3 or 4 bullets in the kit. You shoot the most coarse first, then the next, and so on. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. Last edited by carver; 12-07-2010 at 09:59 AM..

12-07-2010, 10:10 AM	#3
grcsat V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: far,far,North Posts: 377	Re: Firelapping I think I may have seen the same artical as you. Something about using ammo with a mild abrasive impregnated in the ammo? Its suposed to polish the bore .remove rough spots and help reduce copper fouling. I have heard all sorts of testamonys that sounded like a TV commercel. I don't no if any of it is true or just snake oil. I do lap all my own barrels but I use brown grocery paper and toothpaste for lapping. Its a lot of work but I like the results.

12-07-2010, 10:36 AM	#4
tankman Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 25	Re: Firelapping firelapping sounds like a logical gimmick. but the end result probably isnt that great. that seems like it would take away some of the experience of getting a new gun. this is coming from someone who just heard of the term 'lapping.' i thought shooting bullets is what broke in a barrel. the idea of sending something through the barrel to grind it smooth sounds sketchy. but i'm a newbie, anyone else think this? __________________ what do you feel when you kill a terrorist? recoil.

12-07-2010, 10:44 AM	#5
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,553	Re: Firelapping Don't really know! I've read up on this procedure, and there are Pros, and Cons. I know that I won't ever try it, my guns will out shoot me already. Even if this process makes a rifle more accurate, it wouldn't do me any good anyway! __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

12-07-2010, 11:03 AM	#6
Gabob Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW GA CSA Posts: 1,162	Re: Firelapping I have used the fire lap kit and got very good results. Also one of the most accurate rifles I ever saw was lapped by coating bullets with J-B Bore cleaner and firing. ( J-B is a very mild abrasive) __________________ NRA Endowment Member Keep Your Powder Dry

12-07-2010, 11:11 AM	#7
RunningOnMT Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Akron, Ohio Contributor Posts: 4,720	Re: Firelapping Carver, no disrespect intended but whenever I hear it said that a gun can "outshoot" someone it sounds a bit illogical to me. I assume what is meant is that if the gun was benched it is capable of shooting tighter groups than what the person is able to obtain without the piece being benched. a quite understandable case. However..let's say that you can shoot 6" groups with a particular rifle @ 100 yds standing, unsupported. Now suppose when mounted in a bench that same rifle is capable of 3" groups @100 yds. Now what if you could do something to that rifle to improve it's accuracy to 1" groups @the same range when benched. Sure the rifle is capable of more precision when benched than when you hold it in a standing position, so I guess that means it can "outshoot" you. But don't you think that by improving the benched accuracy (or actually precision) that you would also possibly see an improvement when unsupported? Now that may not necessarily be the case but it is quite possible. If you wobble and shake a great deal when holding the piece, certainly that motion will translate into a very loose group. However groups might be improved if an improvement to the rifles inherent precision was made. If you follow me. Last edited by RunningOnMT; 12-07-2010 at 11:13 AM..

12-07-2010, 11:36 AM	#8
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,553	Re: Firelapping First, thanks for your reply! Your knowledge, and input are valuable to me, and the others on this forum. I follow you, I understand you, and I agree with you on what you have to say. What I'm talking about is my ability to shoot, not the guns ability. If I had a rifle that could not shoot better than a 3" group at 100yds, I would be about finding out why, and correcting the problem. My rifles all shoot min of angle at 100yds, or less, benched. If a professional shooter should shoot my rifles, he would no doubt get better results than I do, ie, smaller gourps. That is what I mean by "my guns will out shoot me already". I am not a professional! I'm sure that my breathing could use some work, and I really don't know how to shoot between heart beats! __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.