Lapped a AR barrel

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Lapped a AR barrel

Postby chopper on Tue Feb 02, 2021 12:15 pm

I have a SOTA ARMS AR barrel .223 1-9tw that has always shot like crap, I bought a borescope a couple weeks ago and found the barrel is badly copper fouled so I cleaned it and lapped the barrel with 220 grit, 320 grit, and 600 grit and went and shot it again it still shoots 3 inches at 50 yds at 100 yds all over the paper so I bore scoped it again and the it looked just as bad as before I cleaned the copper out the first time this was with 30 rounds down the pipe. Any suggestions ??? I am thinking of replacing with a Wilson Match 20 inch 1-8 in stainless.
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby Rip Van Winkle on Tue Feb 02, 2021 12:32 pm

Replace it.
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby samginko on Tue Feb 02, 2021 12:52 pm

I can't recommend D-tech in Bemidji enough. Doing ladder test, all the rounds Grouped 1 moa. Shooting 1/4" at 100yds.
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby chopper on Tue Feb 02, 2021 3:15 pm

samginko wrote:I can't recommend D-tech in Bemidji enough. Doing ladder test, all the rounds Grouped 1 moa. Shooting 1/4" at 100yds.

Will check them out.
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby Bearcatrp on Tue Feb 02, 2021 5:25 pm

Change bullets!
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby Rowdy Roddy on Tue Feb 02, 2021 8:25 pm

Some guys swear by these, I haven't had the need.

http://www.davidtubb.com/final-finish-bullet-kits
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby chopper on Wed Feb 03, 2021 9:55 am

Rowdy Roddy wrote:Some guys swear by these, I haven't had the need.

http://www.davidtubb.com/final-finish-bullet-kits


I looked at those online and and the wheeler bore lapping kit ended up doing the lead lapping 100 to 125 x 2 in and out strokes each grit, was not impressed with the look of the bore still rough it did reduce the copper around the gas port though.
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby Rip Van Winkle on Wed Feb 03, 2021 11:46 am

You have a cheap, low quality barrel. If hand lapping the rifling didn't improve the accuracy, save yourself more heartache and replace it.
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby OldmanFCSA on Wed Feb 03, 2021 7:48 pm

I have a barrel you can have for free.

16 inch chrome lined.
Last edited by OldmanFCSA on Sun Feb 07, 2021 8:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby crbutler on Wed Feb 03, 2021 9:51 pm

What is your goal?

A 3" group at 50 for a gun designed to shoot 50 yards at most (like most cheap M4-gery plinking rifles) is what it is. Most cheap barrels perform better than what you are describing...

If this was intended as a varmint gun or longer range target rifle, then getting a good match barrel is reasonable. 20" barrel is a good idea. 1:8 twist is good, as with a AR, the longer bullets will need to be single feed.

Lapping the barrel should make it easier to clean, but really won't have that much impact on accuracy if its a bad barrel. If its crowned well, and was chambered right, I'd be surprised with how bad its shooting, assuming that it has a stable stock, free floating barrel, and you can manage the trigger on it. Accuracy isn't just the barrel, although its a big part.

From what you shared, I'd get a new barrel or a new rifle altogether, but what type exactly depends on its use... no reason to dump a bunch of money into a 50 yard plinking gun, but if you are trying to shoot one hole groups at 300 yards, expect to spend a bunch.
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby chopper on Thu Feb 04, 2021 10:13 pm

Thanks for the offer Oldman FCSA But i'll pass ...............
I use my rem 700's for coyotes but also want to use my AR for varmints So I'll replace the barrel, A gun is kinda worthless if it cant shoot and hold a pattern at 100 yds.
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby mc762x54R on Thu Feb 04, 2021 10:58 pm

You probably destroyed the barrel with the 220 grit. They make a ton of cleaners that remove copper fouling.
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby Rip Van Winkle on Fri Feb 05, 2021 9:10 am

Barrels should be looked at as a consumable item. You induce about a nickels worth of wear every time you pull the trigger.

Match grade AR barrels can be had for around $250 and are easy enough for the basement gunsmith to replace.

Life's too short to screw around with a barrel that won't shoot.
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby hard h2o on Fri Feb 05, 2021 12:06 pm

Edit: Sorry, missed your post above.
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Re: Lapped a AR barrel

Postby Holland&Holland on Fri Feb 05, 2021 3:14 pm

Rip Van Winkle wrote:Barrels should be looked at as a consumable item. You induce about a nickels worth of wear every time you pull the trigger.

Match grade AR barrels can be had for around $250 and are easy enough for the basement gunsmith to replace.

Life's too short to screw around with a barrel that won't shoot.


I get that with a certain volume of shooting and a certain level of performance this is true, but for many barrels they should last the shooters lifetime and beyond.
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