Polishing barrel

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Poke-E

Poke-E

Member
Sep 18, 2023
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Lake Charles LA
So I watched a couple of videos on Polish your barrel. They said it would increase accuracy allow for a better variety of ammo to be shot more consistently so I decided to give it a go!!! I haya Texan .457 CF long barrel. I have a Witt Machine muscle break as well attached. I proceeded as the video said and got it all done, and mannn did the inside of the barrel look GOOD!!! I was finally time to test it out!! After 20 shots it's was alllll over the place, then 30, 40, 50!!! Now I'm stressing about this new $400 barrel I am going to have to buy!! After shot 58 it seemed to be somewhat better but my tank was out and I had to call it quits!! Today I finally had time to fill my tank and try again!!! I was amazed!!! Attached is the target I shot. All 3 shot groups at 50yds!!! Top right is 6 3 shot groups of two types of ammo from lethal Air, center is Nielsen, top and bottom Right is Mr Hollow Point, and bottom Right is Pro slugs!!! Looks like polishing the barrel did exactly what everyone said it would do!! I was honestly shocked and just wanted to share with everyone. If you were thinking about doing it do not hesitate, you will not be disappointed!!!!!!!

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boscoebrea said:
so how was it shooting before the polish?What per cent improvement did you get?
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It was not shooting terrible just not always consistent. I would say the Polish improved that by at least 50%. I had three shots go in the exact same hole with the Mr Hollow point. I have never even been remotely close to that!!!!
 
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50% is a lot,so I guess the biggest gain was in being consistent.I can see that because you smoothed out the lands and grooves .I wonder if the most important part is the smooth transition in the crown area.I think I may try some of polish idea in some of my less consistent rifles.I am also thinking as you have found out ,you need a build up of some "lead" to farther smooth things out and get a wee bit tighter bore.....??,I guess the waxing is sort of a build up in itself.:unsure:
 
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Yes, the consistency is actually what I was looking for! It is definitely more accurate as well. I would think that the smooth transition towards the crown is what does it. At the breach it's 80 strokes, then 60, then 40, then 20 as you get closer to the crown without letting it exit the front of the barrel. Yes, they said that you would have to re-led the barrel but after 50 shots I was getting a little worried!!🤣. Hmmmm, interesting point for sure. I would logically have to think the same thing!
 
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Just as a point of clarification: "Firelapping" is firing projectiles embedded with lapping compound down the bore. It is *not* the process shown in the linked video, which is simply "lapping". I consider "lapping" worthwhile (particularly in airguns) and consider "firelapping" a last-ditch resort to trying to make a powder-burner with a lousy barrel shoot acceptably.

GsT
 
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Yeah, just to explain the main difference...
the goal of polishing is to reduce surface roughness. The goal of lapping is to improve surface flatness or form.

Polishing is done with the abrasive applied to a soft carrier (cotton or felts) so the scrubbing action can conform to the entire surface, whereas lapping is done with a rigid carrier (typically lead) so material is preferentially removed from high spots / tight spots.
 
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Having been involved in BR shooting years back, I can share my experience with polishing, which is essentially just cleaning. Most of my BR barrels were very good custom barrels, some were lead-lapped. On average, I could tell no difference in accuracy between abrasive polishing and a good brush-and-solvent cleaning. I had one barrel that was not of great quality, and polishing helped remove fouling quicker than rod and brush cleaning. Based on my results, I quit doing any barrel prep beyond conventional cleaning, and I've generally carried that over to air rifle barrels. I had one air rifle barrel that had some sign of rough machining and fouled quickly. I found that the best solution was the dumpster. The frustration of trying to live with a bad barrel makes the cost of a new one justified. I don't mean to discourage polishing a barrel, but expectations should be realistic.
 
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THIS IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE I HAVE TRAVELED WITH GOOD AND BAD RESULTS.......
First, be careful what polish you use. there is "Imbedding" and "Non-Imbedding" types. Barrel bores need "Non-Imbedding. The name will suggest what it does to the surface it is applied to.
I have made the accuracy worse on some guns I obviously don't have anymore as well as made better on others.
If accuracy is what one is after, ALL variables should be checked BEFORE considering to polish a barrel. Scope mounts, hammer, hammer spring, barrel shroud, barrel harmonics, pellet weights/size, etc....
Every barrel is different and there is NO magical number of strokes to get the polishing results one may be looking for. I once did 75 strokes on a barrel and ruined it. I did 15 to 20 on another and it was just the thing. Personally I use polishing as a last result.
Good luck and keep us posted! (y)
 
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Hello @JCarlin2778

I have had nothing but great results on every PCP airgun that I polished the barrel bore. I do a lot of paper target benchrest shooting and I keep most of my shot targets. So before I polish a bore I know exactly how accurate the gun is shooting. I do a very engaging review of the accuracy after the polish job and as stated, I have always noticed an improvement. I do a bit different process than you did and spend a lot of time cleaning the bore after the polishing.

ThomasT
 
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ThomasT said:
Hello @JCarlin2778

I have had nothing but great results on every PCP airgun that I polished the barrel bore. I do a lot of paper target benchrest shooting and I keep most of my shot targets. So before I polish a bore I know exactly how accurate the gun is shooting. I do a very engaging review of the accuracy after the polish job and as stated, I have always noticed an improvement. I do a bit different process than you did and spend a lot of time cleaning the bore after the polishing.

ThomasT
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That's sounds interesting, do you care to share your process? What exactly do u mean when you say spend time cleaning the bore? I cleaned with balistol until the pads were as clean coming out as going in.
 
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JCarlin2778 said:
That's sounds interesting, do you care to share your process? What exactly do u mean when you say spend time cleaning the bore? I cleaned with balistol until the pads were as clean coming out as going in.
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Hello @JCarlin2778

For the polishing process I first clean the barrel with Burlite and several swabs followed with patches until they show no residue.

Then I start the polishing, again using swabs coated with JB, I will do 10 strokes but I do the full length of the barrel. Next I run a new swab soaked with Ballistol several times through the bore, followed with clean patches. I repeat this process, 10 full strokes, again, followed by the cleaning. I do this a third time and a fourth time but only if I think it is needed. After the third time I examine the swab closely to see how much, if any, dirty material is on the swab. If a lot of material is still showing on the swab then I will repeat the process for a fourth time.

Lastly I wash out the bore again with some Burlite until it looks clean. Then I will use several patches coated with Ballistol and finally just clean patches until they come out perfectly clean. I will shoot several magazines of a lighter weight pellet to ensure the bore is free of all polishing and cleaning materials.

Hope this will help,
ThomasT
 
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