this may sound stupid but what is barrel "lapping" I often see discussed? I searched online and what I found was what appears to be polishing the bore. Is this what is discussed to further accurize a barrel? Simply polishing? Doesn't make sense I would think putting the barrel in a machine to true the bore to the most exterem tolerences would be what is meant by "lapping". I found one post over on rimfire central where one guy was posting groups with his stock 1022 barrel that was "lapped" tighter than groups from the big money barrels. Anyway if one of you knowledgeable fellows could inform a beginner on the scoop about barrel "lapping" appreciate it.
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Using either method of rifling a barrel (button or cut) leaves tool marks, however slight in the bore. Lapping is used to remove/polish these marks so that they have as little affect on the projectile as possible. Even the better barrel makers such as Lilja and Krieger lap their high end barrels as part of the manufacturing process. Because of their success in producing high grade barrels and winning many matches, most people (including me) are convinced of the value of this process. I don't think that hammer forged barels are lapped but, I could be wrong. Low or medium quality barrels, if they do not shoot very well may benefit from lapping as long as the one who does it knows what he is doing. I would not attempt it. There are kits, mainly from Tubb, that allow you to "Fire Lap" a barrel by shooting bullets impregnated with successively finer grades of lapping compund through your bore at low velocity to accomplish this. I have a .280 Remington with a Douglas #2 barrel that never shot any better than 1 1/2 MOA. Thinking I could improve this by Fire Lapping, I tried it. It didn't hurt and it didn't help. Now I buy better quality barrels if I expect better than minute of game animal accuracy.

HART barrels are fire lapped and are so polished inside it is recommended that if one is going to use a light to illuminate the bore one should be wearing sunglasses.....I learned this the hard way....I was almost blinded the first time.

Andy

quote:

HART barrels are fire lapped

Hart barrels are hand lapped.

Here's an explaination from one of the best.

Lapping