re-crown a barrel

[mattri]

Looking to re-crown the barrel on an old rifle. 

Has anyone done this?  Any tips or suggestions? 

I've seen information where a reamer was used to re-cut the entire crown, and others where they used a lapping material on the existing crown.

Either better than the other?

Anywhere to look for more information? 

[chutesnreloads]

Look on NEF/Handi Rifle thread...in the FAQs there plenty information about crowning there

[mattri]

Will do, thanks. 

[1911crazy]

On youtube  midwayusa has gunsmith how-to video's.  I was going to purchase the tools, like chamfer tool with most of the centering pilots so i can recrown my barrels to improve the accuracy and also when i cut the barrels too.  He did it with a brass round head screw in a drill with lapping compound. He just made a circle with the drill/screw on the barrel bore.

[gunnut69]

I use a piloted cutter kit from Brownells to flatten the muzzle then cut a recessed crown a target crown . The outer end is rounded or not depending on the look desired. A temporary crown can be cun using a brass round headed screw and a drill motor. The screw shank is chucked in the drill and the muzzle is charged with valve grinding compound or some other abrasive in a firm binder. The rotation of the turns the screw against the crown and the abrasive embeds in the brass and cuts the crown. To even out the wear on the screw and thus the crown it cuts the axis of the screw is moved in an orbital motion to keep the domed heads surface fairly evenly worn.

[michstew]

The Frugal Outdoorsman has a article on it  Junior cut a barrel down and recrowned it the easy way.  michstew

[Rangr44]

It depends upon what sort of condition the crown is in.

If the crown has any deep nicks/gouges, use of a hard tool, to resurface the crown would be indicated prior to lapping the egdes of the rifling grooves for an all-around even exit from the bore.

Sometimes, muzzle damage is significant enough to need either a barrel shortening or a crown recess via an oversize drill bit run 1/8" or so downbore, then the end of the rifling chamfered & lapped/crowned.

The round head brass screw is great for minimal lapping/cleanup - but I've found it best to use several sized screw heads, to reach various parts of the crown for smoothing/lapping.

Remember to plug the bore first with a cotton patch, then push it out from the rear when done.



.

[quickdtoo]

The links in the H&R FAQs have a lot of useful info including Junior's article.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,137636.msg1098534621.html#msg1098534621

http://www272.pair.com/stevewag/muzzle/mz.html

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,42316.msg243189.html#msg243189

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b43odFm0mrI&feature=related

http://www.castbullet.com/misc/hack.htm