Carl Aldridge
40 Cal.
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- Nov 12, 2004
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Any of you all ever fire lapped your bores? If so, did it improve accuracy ,ease of loading? Where can I get one of the kits?
Fire Lapping
- Thread starter Carl Aldridge
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:imo: fire lapping is inappropriate for muzzleloaders. It is a labor saver for breechloaders, but with a muzzleloader you have to push the load down the bore anyway. Why not just do it slow and properly once you've gone to that much effort.
I prefer a careful and cautious approach with J-B Paste and a very tight fitting multi-patched jag. Fire-lapping is a lazy way of removing metal quickly. It doesn't grow back if you get too much at once.
I prefer a careful and cautious approach with J-B Paste and a very tight fitting multi-patched jag. Fire-lapping is a lazy way of removing metal quickly. It doesn't grow back if you get too much at once.
Carl Aldridge
40 Cal.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2004
- Messages
- 107
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Is there any particular grit you use or does J-B paste come in only one grit?
I fire lapped my pedersoli .50 cal Kentucky and a euro arms Mississippi in 54 cal.
I use Norton companys diamond lapping compound that is sold by MSC.
It comes in syringes and there are a number of different grits. I used a med grit for 3 shots then cleaned and used the fine for 3 shots and cleaned and then used the extra fine for 3 shots.I just put some of the compound on the patch and used a light load to push the ball through the barrel.
I noticed an inprovement in loading ease and cleaning.It's great stuff,easy to use, a little pricy,but Made in the USA and a little goes a long way.
I wish I had a bore scope to check the before and after.
I have a thompson hawken and haven't firelaped it. I assumed because it was amercian made it didn't need it, however now I am thinking a couple of shots with the extra fine probably wouldn't hurt.
I have seen a number of articles about handlapping your barrels before the breech plug is installed and I would do that if I was building my own, which I will someday.
I would recomend it, in addition there are a number of reloading catalogs that sell fire lapping kits, but they are all geared for modern centerfire cartidges. I would think you could addapt them for muzzel loaders.
good luck
I use Norton companys diamond lapping compound that is sold by MSC.
It comes in syringes and there are a number of different grits. I used a med grit for 3 shots then cleaned and used the fine for 3 shots and cleaned and then used the extra fine for 3 shots.I just put some of the compound on the patch and used a light load to push the ball through the barrel.
I noticed an inprovement in loading ease and cleaning.It's great stuff,easy to use, a little pricy,but Made in the USA and a little goes a long way.
I wish I had a bore scope to check the before and after.
I have a thompson hawken and haven't firelaped it. I assumed because it was amercian made it didn't need it, however now I am thinking a couple of shots with the extra fine probably wouldn't hurt.
I have seen a number of articles about handlapping your barrels before the breech plug is installed and I would do that if I was building my own, which I will someday.
I would recomend it, in addition there are a number of reloading catalogs that sell fire lapping kits, but they are all geared for modern centerfire cartidges. I would think you could addapt them for muzzel loaders.
good luck
