Lapping A Barrel

I have had some conversations with some very good BR shooters one told me his BR shooting friend had a barrel nitrited and when he got it back it coppered horrible.
He said they attributed it to being to slick inside, he said they could " rough it up" and it would be fine for about 50 rounds then start coppering horrible again.
 
L.Sherm said:
I have had some conversations with some very good BR shooters one told me his BR shooting friend had a barrel nitrited and when he got it back it coppered horrible.
He said they attributed it to being to slick inside, he said they could " rough it up" and it would be fine for about 50 rounds then start coppering horrible again.
Click to expand...
This is the exact opposite of what I thought would happen. I know most benchrest guys don't clean to bare metal and want to leave some copper, but I thought the mirror barrel finish would allow only so much to attach.
Be curious to see what Alex wheeler has to say also.
 
I know there is a "right way" and a " wrong way " to lap barrels.
In my opinion lead lapping a finished barrel is the right way on a finished barrel to keep it uniform from end to end.
 
I know there is or was a company in Wyoming that would take slightly undersized barrels and lead lap them to size they wanted.
I cant recall who it was.
 
I Polished a Pac Nor super match barrel once, poured a lap, just kept trying different grits. I got to 1200-1500 grit. Barrel ended up looking like a mirror in how it reflected the light from the bore scope.

Barrel shot very well, but was a copper mine. Bore turned solid gold in 75 shots chambered in 22 PPC shooting 52g Bergers at 3550.

There is a learning curve on using lead laps. Be prepared to pay the cost.
 
L.Sherm said:
I have had some conversations with some very good BR shooters one told me his BR shooting friend had a barrel nitrited and when he got it back it coppered horrible.
He said they attributed it to being to slick inside, he said they could " rough it up" and it would be fine for about 50 rounds then start coppering horrible again.
Click to expand...
I have had around 75 barrels Black Nitride treated, 6 of them for myself. In mine I have not had any problems with copper build up. I have not had any reports from customers about any fouling concerns. I think the only problem I heard of was when one had some trouble with load development,,,, and he was having trouble trying to find a load for a 130g bullet in a .300 UM case. And, he was kinda' unflexable when it came to what bullet he insisted upon using. Go figure! I have read reports of accuracy issues after nitride treating. I have not experienced any myself, but I'm not BR shooter,,,,, just an avid varmint hunter. As for surface finish, I am under the impression the custom barrel makers (Krieger, Hart, Batlein, Lilja, etc.) don't go beyond 320-400g when lapping.
 
Knowledge always has a cost. I have a 7-08ai that I just pulled out of the safe for the test. More finicky than I'd like so we'll use it. From my understanding, copper isn't the enemy like carbon. I am going off of forums on that one though, since I haven't tested it enough with the borescope
 
Barrel mftrs have guys whose job it is to lap barrels all day. Yet they cut off or mark 3/4 inch at the muzzle to be taken off. Now how does anyone realistically think someone is going to home or gun shop hand lap a finished barrel and not damage the crown and last 3/4 inch? Does not pass the common sense test yet everyone thinks they can do it
 
shortgrass said:
I have had around 75 barrels Black Nitride treated, 6 of them for myself. In mine I have not had any problems with copper build up. I have not had any reports from customers about any fouling concerns. I think the only problem I heard of was when one had some trouble with load development,,,, and he was having trouble trying to find a load for a 130g bullet in a .300 UM case. And, he was kinda' unflexable when it came to what bullet he insisted upon using. Go figure! I have read reports of accuracy issues after nitride treating. I have not experienced any myself, but I'm not BR shooter,,,,, just an avid varmint hunter. As for surface finish, I am under the impression the custom barrel makers (Krieger, Hart, Batlein, Lilja, etc.) don't go beyond 320-400g when lapping.
Click to expand...
Great info and personal experience. Thanks. Always looking for more experience
 
BountyHunter said:
Barrel mftrs have guys whose job it is to lap barrels all day. Yet they cut off or mark 3/4 inch at the muzzle to be taken off. Now how does anyone realistically think someone is going to home or gun shop hand lap a finished barrel and not damage the crown and last 3/4 inch? Does not pass the common sense test yet everyone thinks they can do it
Click to expand...
I'll throw her in the lathe and recrown :) Problem solved
 
Mram, Consider a Harrells tuner/brake on that finicky 7/08 AI....Get ready for the shock of a life time!

Can Black Nitride barrels be "set back" for a second/third chamber? Melonite barrels I read can not be set back, destroy's reamers...what I read.

With these high quality barrels, copper is not what I worry about as it easily comes out, the darn carbon is another can of worms.
 
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