Which practice is essential before starting the fire lapping process?

The practice of confirming that all rounds are of the same type is essential before starting the fire lapping process because consistency in ammunition is critical for achieving reliable and repeatable results. When undertaking fire lapping, the objective is to smooth out imperfections in the bore of the rifle. Using ammunition of different types, including variations in bullet weight, shape, or load, could introduce inconsistent pressures, velocities, and points of impact. This variability can obscure the effects of the lapping process and make it difficult to assess its success or failure.

By ensuring that all rounds used in the process are identical, one can accurately evaluate how the fire lapping impacts the firearm's performance. Uniformity in ammunition allows the shooter to isolate variables, leading to a clearer understanding of how the bore is being altered and improved with each round fired. This careful approach promotes a systematic enhancement of precision and accuracy in the rifle, which is the goal of fire lapping.