Barrel Break-in - Tubb FF Bullets (Impregnated Bullets for Polishing Barrel)???

[Oso]

I have a Howa Mini 6.5 Grendel. The factory barrel is notorious for being rough and common experience appears to be a 200 round break-in period. I thought I might reduce this by using some J-B paste, and then it occurred to me that I might be able to side-step this completely with Tubb's Final Finish bullets that are impregnated with lapping compounds (varying grits) for $40. This is same cost of 40 factory rounds (20% of what may be needed) to do the break-in, and also a fraction of the time shooting and cleaning.

I don't see a bullet weight listed for the 6.5mm bullets, but I am assuming that they are toward the heavier side geared toward .260 Rem. / 6.5 Creedmoor or larger cartridges.

Has anyone used this product?

 

[Rob01]

Bullet weight doesn't really matter as it's not being used for accuracy but for smoothing. I weighed a bullet from the 6.5 FF kit and they are 142grn. If you can find a basic load for the Grendel with that bullet then it will work.

The Tubb FF kits do work well at smoothing factory barrels. If the barrel is not overly rough you can use the three finest grits only. You don't have to use all of them. And after using the FF system you can use the TMS rounds every 300 rounds or so to keep the throat smooth. The #3 grit in the FF kit is the same as the TMS.

 

[Oso]

Thank you for the bullet weight. 142gr is workable in Grendel.

 

[dstoenner]

For factory barrels i use final finish. But i use only 5 of each level with 5 more normal jacketed bullets. For custom barrels i use throat maintenance system bullets only. 5/5 for first outing then 3/10 then 2/20. Then the fourth outing i start shooting groups and load development.

they really do work as advertized

 

[Straightshooter1]

Yes, I found they work very well on my RPR factory barrel when I first got it. I didn't use the two coarsest grits and it smoothed out the barrel nicely and could really tell the difference running patches down the bore. The only little negative I had was that the lands moved about .010 from them. Groups tightened up and were more consistent. I wouldn't use it on a good aftermarket barrel, unless there was some major issue, though in such a case they're likely to be replace by the manufacturer.

 

[46and2]

Do you guys clean between each shot when using FF ?

 

[Oso]

Do you guys clean between each shot when using FF ?

Tubb's video indicated cleaning before moving to the next finer grit bullets. Not between each shot of the same grit.

 

[Rob01]

Do you guys clean between each shot when using FF ?

No. As mentioned it is between the different grits so actually makes it easier than the old shoot one and clean. It’s also actually does the job at hand better.

 

[dstoenner]

No for me also. It is 10 rounds then clean. Always shoot the tubb bullets first so they have a clean barrel to do their smoothing work

 

[Edd]

I've read all of the instructions sheets on the Tubb website, there is some inconsistency in them.

There is a flowchart that is labeled " updated procedure". It instructs you to clean after every 5 rounds.

 

[cmillard]

I have used it but in a pistol. Worked very well

 

[Alliant Reloading]

Bullet weight doesn't really matter as it's not being used for accuracy but for smoothing. I weighed a bullet from the 6.5 FF kit and they are 142grn. If you can find a basic load for the Grendel with that bullet then it will work.

The Tubb FF kits do work well at smoothing factory barrels. If the barrel is not overly rough you can use the three finest grits only. You don't have to use all of them. And after using the FF system you can use the TMS rounds every 300 rounds or so to keep the throat smooth. The #3 grit in the FF kit is the same as the TMS.

Interesting that your 6.5 FF weigh 142gr.
I recently purchased a .264 cal/6.5mm FF pack and the package says they are 123gr. I have not weighed them though.

 

[Rob01]

Interesting that your 6.5 FF weigh 142gr.
I recently purchased a .264 cal/6.5mm FF pack and the package says they are 123gr. I have not weighed them though.

My package is older so maybe they changed. Either would work for the OP.

 

[Hohn]

Tubb's video indicated cleaning before moving to the next finer grit bullets. Not between each shot of the same grit.

That’s what I did when I ran the whole box of FF through my 12fv. Worked well; the cleaning rod tells the story of a vastly improved finish.