Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Lapping a barrel

What type of lapping compound would I use for lapping a new SS barrel that coppers up (after only 4-5 shots) in the last 2-3 inches at the muzzle. The barrel has 150 rounds fired and cal. is 6.5-284. Shooting a 140 A-Max @ 2800 fps.
THANKS
JDY

You better leave the lapping to an experienced person.
Butch

i've used JB Bore Brite on heavy foulers. seems to help.

To follow up on Butch's thoughts,

"A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring"

There is much to learn on this subject. I had read volumes on it quite a few years back. Made some amatuer like attempts, and finally got pointed in the right direction by some good folks at Shilen.

Not a gun smith or an expert but the first answer is the right one.

I have only done a couple and would only do it on a throw away barrel or one that I was going to have re-chambered and 1-2 inches taken of the muzzle.

If it shoots then shoot it, if not then send it back. A couple of hundred rounds break in, clean with JB and then give UBC a try. That should reduce fouling some.

What is UBC?
THANKS
JDY

Ultra Bore Coat.

Factory re-do or an aftermarket barrel?

Still not recommending that you lap it either way, just curious.

If aftermarket, have you thought about talking to the manufacturer for some sort of resolution?

As an alternative, have you considered the abrasive coated bullets firelapping? Scares the crap out of me, but just might be an option for your situation if all else fails.

This is a hand lapped barrel from a major barrel maker. I'm going to return barrel. Will let you know how things turn out.
JDY

Best choice, let us know how it turns out.

Absolutely the best choice. Any large barrel maker that claims hand lapping should take it back with little fuss. Was this a factory second, though?

There are some that won't after it has been machined.

I received a call from Shilen yesterday. The barrel I sent back was out spec. The nice lady ask me to send my action to Shilen and they would chamber and install a new barrel.
Any barrel maker is subject to send out a bad barrel. I think that Shilen is doing what is the right thing to do. This is the reason Shilen has been around for a long time.

JDY
PS
A satisfied customer

FWIW, some years ago gunsmith friend of mine told me that anytime he sent a barrel, action, or whatever back to the manufacturer, he marked the item in an out of the way place with a clear ink that would only show up under a black light. He said you'd be surprised how much stuff he got back that was the same stuff he sent out, with a note saying it was a 'replacement'.

The barrel I returned has a accidental tool mark. If it was removed I could tell.
JDY

folks at Shilen are first rate!