Firelapping Question

[denton]

As I said in an earlier post, I have three rifles that I shot with very high graphite powder, and which are now "problem children". One one of them, I have scrubbed, and scrubbed, and scrubbed, and still get soot out the muzzle. This particular rifle is my pride and joy 6.5x55 Pac-Nor/FN.

I tried shooting it again Saturday, but the durn thing just would not settle down and shoot... 3-4 rounds within 1/2", and the next one 1 1/2" away. Copper fouled to beat the band. 20 rounds, and I had copper racing stripes down the inside of my barrel... and I did the shoot 1 and clean for 10 rounds, and shoot 3 and clean for 30 rounds thing on it, too.

I'm pretty ambivalent toward firelapping, and am looking for some info. What do you all think of this approach? Seems like it would restore the bores.

[BILLY D.]

HEY DENTON

HAD A RIFLE DO THAT TO ME ONCE, THE COPPER RACING STRIPES ROUTINE. USED A TRICK I LEARNED AT THE AMU.

NOW SIT DOWN, GRAB YOUR CHAIR ARMS REEEEAL TIGHT. ARE YOU READY.......PUT BRASSO ON YOUR CLEANING PATCH AND SWAB BACK AND FORTH, A NYLON BRISTLE BRUSH HOLDING THE PATCH WORKED BEST FOR ME. NOT ONLY IS THE BRASSO SLIGHTLY ABRASIVE BUT THE AMMONIA WORKS WONDERS ALONG WITH IT. ANOTHER TRICK IS TO SWAB THE BORE WITH HOUSEHOLD AMMONIA. A WARNING THOUGH, MAKE SURE YOU USE THE AMMONIA IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA. IT IS A BREATHTAKING EXPERIENCE. IF YOU DECIDE TO USE THESE METHODS MAKE SURE YOU USE HOUSEHOLD AMMONIA AND NOT THE INDUSTRIAL GRADE STUFF. IT MIGHT ETCH THE METAL.

I HAVE READ SOME NEGATIVE THINGS ON OTHER FORUMS ABOUT THE FIRE LAPPING PROCESS. SEVERAL PEOPLE MENTIONED YOU ARE ACTUALLY SHOOTING THE THROAT OUT OF YOUR RIFLE AND EXTENDING IT. MAKES SENSE TO ME.

I KNOW DAVID TUBB FIRE LAPS HIS BARRELS, BUT DAVID TUBB DOESN'T HAVE TO BUY HIS OWN BARRELS LIKE US MERE MORTALS DO. HE'S GOT SPONSORS.

GOOD LUCK, HOPE YOU FIND SOME METHOD TO WORK.

[PJgunner]

I have mixed feelings about firelapping, although in a really bad case, it has it's uses.
That Brasso idea is interesting, I'm going to have to try it, and I have just the rifle to try it on. Problem is though, all it will do is remove the fouling. I don't think it will do enough to smooth out the bore, and we need to get that bore smooth.
Firelapping will do this, but as has been said, will cause wear at the throat or leade. So, what to do?
I believe the instructions in most firelapping kits state to shoot ten bullets loaded with each grit at the slowest speed possible, with thorough cleaning of the chamber and barrel after each grade of grit has been run through the barrel. This did not strike me as being the best idea, so when I did a rifle in 7x57 Mauser that had a bore that looked like it was reamed by a rat tail file, I decided to firelap. I figured it couldn't hurt. However, I decided to do only five shots with each grit. The kit I have came from Midway and has only three grits, rough, medium and reasonably fine. I did a final lap with five bullets coated with JB Bore paste. The end reuslt was a better barrel with less damage to the throat. It still fouls, but more like a normal barrel now. Accuracy is fantastic, but I believe that rifle always had the potential to be a great shooter anyway.
How I would go about it today, with the kit that I have is I would tale a bronze bore brush that was a bit worn out and put the grit on a patch. I'd slowly work it back and forth maybe ten times, then super clean the barrel and chamber. Then I'd do it again with the medium grit, clean again and then use the fine grit. Finall after cleaning the fine grit, two or three sessions of ten strokes with the JB Bore paste and then one more super cleaning and oil the bore. While doing this, do not let the grit covered patch leave the muzzle. If possible, place the setup with the muzzle against something to block it to reduce the chance of messing up the crown of the barrel.
Anyway, that's how I'm going to take care of a barrel with a very rough bore.
Paul B.

[MarkL]

I'm not sure a patch on a brush will exert enough pressure against the bore to really do the job.

Denton, you might try some stuff, the name of which I can't remember, that you dip your bullets in and it significantly reduces copper fouling. If I remember, I'll look on the shelf when I get home and report back here. Somebody else will probably know what I'm talking about. It's a purple liquid. You heat your bullets up to about 150 degrees (F) and dunk them. It doesn't change the appearance of the bullets (i.e. it isn't Moly). It seems to have reduced copper fouling in my 223 by quite a bit.

[Skinny Shooter]

Here's what you need: http://www.jarheadtop.com/article_finalfinish.html
At the end of the article is purchasing info.

[MarkL]

Denton, the stuff I couldn't remember is called Fastex. There have been many discussions about it on this board.