[Bill M]

I have firelapped a bunch of handguns and rifles, including my 444 Marlin Outfitter. jack and Mike are right on the money with powders and amounts. I have also used a lot of Red Dot in firelapping.

I hope you are using Marshall's latest lapping compound. It cuts great with less leading the old LBT lapping compound I used previously. I have only recently learned to bristle brush the bore a lot more than typically recommended. With revolvers, I brush any lead out every 6 shots. Next time I firelapp a rifle, I'll brush out the lead every 2 or 3 shots at the most. I was amazed how much faster the firelapping went. By the way, this does not mean I saw much lead in the barrels. It must be that the thin flashings of lead are very hard to see in a barrel (especially near the breach) and when there is even the thinnest coating of lead in the barrel, firelapping takes so much longer.

So have fun. Remember that it's a lot harder to put metal back on than to remove it. If I were to firelapp my 444 again, I would bristle brush the bore between each shot and only firelapp 10 round before retesting for accuracy and leading.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Best.......... Bill

 

[Bill M]

Sorry, I forgot to add. Personally I'd stay away from the polyester batting. It is not needed to properly ignite the powder and may well get in the way of the lapping process. I never used it and never felt any need for it in the 444.

Best........ Bill

 

[Bill M]

Hi John,
Please let us know how it turns out for you.

By the way, there is no need or desire to scrimp on the lapping compound you work into the bullet. I like to have the compound filling most of the grease grooves. Though that does not replace the rolling of the bullet into the compound.

As was mentioned, before you shoot each lapping load, be sure to completely wipe any traces of the lapping compound off the loaded cartridge. If you are getting some resistance to loading the round, it's a good time to clean the chamber again (and again and again if you are lapping more rounds like in a revolver). The barrel too of course.

Best of luck to you........ Bill