Adjustable Barrel Lapping Tool

[Rudyard]

12" shifting spanner generally works I used a lot of Nocks patent plugs in 12 bore . I use linseed oil gone a bit thick to go onto the threads seems to work Freshing isn't some thing Ive done much of .
interesting piece on this.
Regards Rudyard

 

[WonkyEye]

This is a great post. I just recently created a lapping jig, like OPs. My issue is a bit different, it's an almost 50 year old barrel that was neglected by a previous owner, pitted, builds up crud and gets hard to load and clean faster than it should.
I started with brasso, and have gotten increasingly more aggressive with lapping pastes from 6k, I'm now at 220 grit wheeler lapping paste. So far I've been very carefully making sure the lapping compound is only on the high points, I don't want to grind the lands away.

I've spent about 1 hour and the lands are still well defined and the grooves are getting cleaned up. I still need a ton more work but it's promising.

There are obvious high spots and low spots in the grooves where it's polished one place but still very rough 12" away in the same groove.

Next time I'll post some before/after borescope pics that are blurry and pretty much worthless

 

[longcruise]

Thanks for the info. Do you have a retail source for the breach plug tools?

Rice offers this one on their site.

https://ricebarrels.com/

 

[longcruise]

This is a better link

https://ricebarrels.com/product/breech-plug-wrench/

 

[boberator]

That Rice one looks nice. I also like the octagonal barrel vise jaws. I was about to make that from wood but maybe theirs fits several barrel sizes better than my design.

 

[#blackpowderbill]

I have 2 green mountain barrels and neither one needed a lap in.
Most of my other guns I had to lap them to clean them because they were used.
If barrels weren't made wham bam thank you ma'am. They'd be ready to go.
Fire lapping is easier IMPO.

 

[longcruise]

Fire lapping is easier

I agree However, I'm getting ready to use this method on a 50 TC barrel that has two distinct tight spots. It's not corrosion and it's not lead. TC barrels (made by TC) are button rifled and I'm having a hard time envisioning how a button rifled barrel has tight spots but they absolutely are there.

I've firelapped a bunch of modern and ml barrels. The ml barrels smooth up nicely with pure lead bullets especially with hollow base bullets. I suspect the soft lead won't take out constrictions the way hard cast and jacketed do with suppository loads.

I might be wrong on that too. To find out I'll try firelapping first.

 

[Joemolf]

I don’t blame you. Sometime that breach just doesn’t want to come out from vise and breach plug wrench, when they have lots of corrosion. Then heat and other methods of encouragement are needed. I’ve never attempted it on an original.

Is it an old original or something that has seen abuse or neglect since the 1970’s or so? I don’t know anyone around here that does that but will touch base with you if I hear of someone.

With regards to removing stubborn breach plug Rice barrel company sells a couple of tools to help with this. An octagon clamp to secure the barrel and a breach plug tool. The breach plug tool is simply slipped over your breach plug and a length of 3/4 inch black pipe slips over the tail of the tool. I use a piece of black pipe that is about 2 feet long go longer if you like for better leverage. Then with barrel secured in your vice remove your breach plug; no marring of the barrel or the breach plug. Works on all types of breach plugs. The barrel clamp is designed for swamped or straight barrels. I wrap my brown bess barrel with thick leather. We’ve all heard about difficult breach plugs; this Rice tool eliminates the deculty and obviously the longer the piece of pipe you use makes a difference. I had the 2 foot piece laying around but if I had to purchase one I go longer. It makes removal a breeze as well as aligning the barrel to plug index marks.

 

[BS]

For more surface area, could you add one or two more balls?

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

For more surface area, could you add one or two more balls?

Best to custom pour a lead lap there … IMHO.