Lapping a lever action carbine...

by John Meeker , United States, Sunday, November 23, 2014, 11:29 (3658 days ago) @ Byron

Have been doing a similar process using a high viscosity "super lube" mix of whatever was handy on the loading bench. tho it sounds like a lot of effort and time, using slippery stuff, [no abrasive] I would run the lever for one-hundred cycles minimum, daily. Lesse, have had the Rossi from Tony a couple of months, and it started to turn noticeably slick-ery at a couple thou's. Since then it has been dry fired at suitable targets from the upstairs window, working 'snap trigger and follow thru' at first good sight alignment, when it hits the shoulder. It's tin can 'repeatedly good' at fifty yards, which is far as I've shot with it. Thanks goodness it doesn't take 30 rd mags, as it has 'et up most of my back-stock ammo.

Interesting 'point of handling' with the 'little gun'. To be reliably on target for following shots, I must firmly grasp fore-end tip [bbl band] and pull back into my shoulder, during the firing/reload sequence. Sort of like shooting a short bbl'd quail gun vs a heavy waterfowl-er. A good slip-on bbl/mag guard -- similar to the fore-arm slip on cover for a double, or glove could also be of use -- - by the time you empty the magazine a few times. Not into just producing empty brass fast, but it's nice to be familiar with "the Ops"

Handling addendum is some 'non-skid' treatment for polished steel butt plate. Skate board tape is a good cheapie expedient. The plate metal doesn't appear to be quite thick enough to be deeply checkered, however a fine LPI might be doable.

Anyway, the rifle lives by the workbench,and gets snap-practice daily. It is not quite 'slick glass' but certainly not rough or glitchy.

The LNIB older Marlin .357 needs some work to catch-up now. The tune-ups posted on Marlin Owners are what it will get. The difference in handling is also quite distinct -- it has a true 'rifle' feel, and calls for more deliberate shot delivery. I have always used peeps, but heresy and 'yuck'!!!!! Now, for the longer cover/shade shots, I have to consider -- NO! -- need glass. How to scope it, so it isn't eye-hurt remains unsolved. Since my parameter for .357/deer is 150yds [MAX} with a 158gr bullet, magnification can be fixed and low. As well, some sort of unobtrusive QD mount...I must say, it is nice to have so many happy thoughts to keep the 'always need to busy' side of mind out of mischief. ;~`)

Happy tuning and shooting...really like this compact handy lever-action: goes into the legacy column, f'r shure.

In closing, back to topic: will be interesting to read of other's lapping/tune methods.