Is it feasible/desirable for an amateur to lap a rifle bore? What would I need and how is it done?

Wink - It can be done, but it is better to let a gunsmith lead slug lap the bore. The question is, why do you feel the need to do this?

Zero Drift,
It's mostly curiosity. I've got 5 rifles and the winter is setting in here in Europe. The usual weather forecast for the next few months is: "bullet casting weather". Since I am tired of casting bullets I figured it was time to find another "vital" improvement to my .416 Rigby or my .375 H&H or my .300 WinMag. Heck, maybe it will slow down copper fouling.

Wink - Lapping works because it is abrasive. Unless you had a target or high volume rifle which fouls quickly resulting in accuracy falloff, I would find something else to concentrate on. Hunting rifles generally are not high volume shooters effected by fouling.



If cleaning copper fouling is the problem, then simply use a good solvent. Shooting and proper cleaning is an excellent solution for polishing a bore - more fun too.

I'm gonna add this kinda tongue-in-cheek, but do you think maybe you got a bunch of ER Shaw barrels?

Seriously, it is a job left to a professional. When lapping, you will find that you will wash out the throat and crown if not careful, or worse yet, lap more in one spot than another resulting if different bore size.

Jim

You might consider fire lapping. There is some data on this in the FAQ section of this site. I�ve used this method on two varmint rifles with a noticeable increase in accuracy and easier cleaning.

I agree with Ca_Reloader, if you don't have Glen Zedikers book on reloading, I think youu can view his write-up on his web-site. He is a big fan of firelapping, and so is David Tubb, who damn well knows what it takes to make a rifle the best it can be. He also happens to make a firelapping 'kit' a set of various grit bullets you reload into cartridges to fire through your rifle. I'll try and get the links and post them for you.



Good Luck--D.

Her is the link--his sight is called Superior Shooting Systems, and the firelapping system is called the 'Final Finish' system.

Regards--Don



http://www.davidtubb.com/

Gunsmiths who do a lot of rebarreling also believe that fire lapping is a wonderful invention.

No less an authority than Harry Pope used to say that more barrels were ruined with a cleaning rod than any other method. The idea of any abrasive stronger than JB Compound on a barrel lap gives me the willies!!

Wink,

Here's an article from Beartooth Bullets that might give you a little insight on fire lapping.

http://beartoothbullets.com/faq/index.htm

Wink, just in case you should decide to want to firelap, I have a Neco (I think?) firelapping kit, that I no longer need. I'll make you a good deal on it - whatever that might be, at least we'll save shipping from the States.
- mike