I was talking with a gunsmith friend last evening, and have been thinking. (I know, dangerous) He mentioned that he wants to do a test on blued barrels, hand lapping before bluing vs after bluing. He also said that he believes bluing increases friction, and if the barrel was lapped then blued, it will shoot better once the bluing wears off. Just curious about your thoughts on this, is it reasonable to think so? And if the bluing does indeed increase friction between barrel and bullet, does it not stand to reason that as the barrel is shot more, velocity will increase? Just pondering here and would welcome some input. BTW, the gunsmith is a guy who does not just believe what he is told, he tests things out and arrives at his own conclusions. He just does not do enough blued barrels to do a test as most guys that want accuracy go with stainless.

......the occasional hunter wielding a hopelessly inaccurate rifle, living by the fantastical rule that this cartridge can deliver the goods, regardless of shot placement or rifle accuracy. The correct term for this is minute of ego.