Home Forums Hunting & Shooting BPCR Any need to lap a Shiloh barrel?

Won't take delivery till August, but just preparing and thinking ahead. I have a 45-90 on the way. Would there be any benefit to lapping the barrel before it ever goes to the bench? I realize they don't generate Weatherby screaming demon velocities, but have watched quite a few shooters and overheard lots of comments about lead and powder fouling after 8 or 10 rounds. Would it help to slick things up a bit? 1Minute

Check with Kirk at Shiloh at:
http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=4&sid=960c95973452a0ea017fcfe79705a7bc
For a "straight from the horse's mouth" recommendation.

+1 to what Joe said. FWIW, I have never heard of anyone lapping a Shiloh barrel. And while leading can be caused by a rough barrel, it can also be the result of gas cutting due to bullet fit with the bore, alloy composition, lube issues, etc. Point being, don't assume that leading is the result of a rough barrel, and that lapping will make things better. And if I got a Shiloh with a rough bore, which is mighty unlikely, I'd send it back to Shiloh with full confidence that they would fix things up right.

Paul

Well, from someone that has fought this battle, a rough bore is not the real problem with the Shilohs. The problem I have seen is tight barrels ahead of the chamber, loose in the middle and tight at the muzzle. Been down this road three times now and a lead lap and 220 grit valve grinding compound is the kindest thing you can do. Once you grind out that tight spot ahead of the chamber they will generally shoot. Almost as good as the Pedersolis out of the box.

I won't do a new Shiloh again. If I need another I'll buy used and have Krieger or Lilja cut the barrel. If Pedersoli could fit wood to metal and adjust triggers Shiloh would be in trouble.

SS

Thanks for the feedback guys. It's a new endeavor for me, and I'd like to learn a much as possible without doing the trial and error thing. Regardless, it should be fun. SharpShooter: Could you offer a hint or two on just how you identified those loose/tight issues? Thanks again, and I'm sure I'll be back with some really greenhorn questions.

1minute,

Just run a tight fitting patch through the barrels bore and you'll feel any loose and tight spots.

I have a couple of friends who fire lap their rifles prior to shooting their rifles in any competitions. I've fire lapped a couple rifle with Neco fire lapping bullets just to get the lands and grooves cleaned up after the chambering has been to the barrel. That process moves the chamber out about .010 or so and also eliminates leading problems in the chamber lead. I will shoot 25rounds of 600, 800, 1000 and 1200 grit bullets, cleaning between grits. Fire lapping doesn't take off all that much metal. Fire lapping is a different method then hand lapping, which Sharpshooter was alluding to. Hand lapping is used to take out any tight spots in a barrel and is labor intensive and you need to know what your doing or you'll screw up a barrel bad.

Kelley O.