How to Lap a Rifle Bore

Lapping a rifle bore, it is safe to say, is not standard fare for the average shooter or the average hunter. In fact, lapping a rifle barrel is designed to counteract the ill effects of long abuse. Rifles that are cleaned regularly, oiled properly and well maintained will never need to have their barrels lapped. There are many barrels, however, that have not received proper treatment, whether from long disuse or the travails of war, and these are in special need of lapping, being pitted and worn.

Things You'll Need

  • Correctly fitted lead shot
  • Standard gun oil
  • Gun cleaning tools (rod, brush, patches)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean the most conspicuous debris out of your barrel by plunging the ramrod down the barrel both from the muzzle end and from the breach end. Older rifle barrels may have a buildup of carbon and powder residue that can simply be pushed free.

    • 2

      Use a steel brush to finish the clean, scraping the surface of the bore to remove finer residue particles. Run the brush several times up and down the barrel, starting from both breach and muzzle ends.

    • 3

      Load the lead shot into the chamber, making sure that it is tightly fit around the chamber. If necessary, apply lubrication to allow the shot to slide into place.

    • 4

      Expel the lead shot through the barrel by firing the rifle, which will slide the heavy metal through the rifled grooves and repair the imperfections.

    • 5

      Run a dry patch through the barrel to remove remaining powder residue, then use several more patches with powder solvent to completely clean the newly lapped barrel.