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Author Topic: D.I.Y. Recrowning Tools  (Read 1928 times)

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Offline flabbydan

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D.I.Y. Recrowning Tools
« on: May 24, 2004, 02:16:32 PM »
I have a rifle barrel with a chipped crown.  I was wondering if this is an easy do-it-yourself project or something better left to a gunsmith.  I haven't looked in a Brownell's catalog in quite some time, but I know they sell a number of tools for this job.  Are some better--i.e., easier to use--than others?  (I should mention that I have the mechanical skills of a baked potato.)  I don't need a fancy "11 degree target crown" or anything like that.  I'm only interested in a squared muzzle with nice crisp lands.    I know it's probably a $30-40 job for a pro smith, but sooner or later I'll likely need it again, so it would be nice to have a tool on hand.  I'd appreciate any advice.  Thanks, Dan
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Offline gunnut69

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D.I.Y. Recrowning Tools
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2004, 06:56:13 PM »
They sell cutters that are basically countersinks alibeit with a lot more precision built in..  They use precision pilots to align with the last inch or so of the bore and do a creditable job.  Perhaps not as good as a well set up lathe but quite good.  I use the flat to flatten the muzzle, the 11 degree to cut the recess that protects the lands and a 45 degree countersink to take the edges off the lands..  polish with a bit of abrasive cloth and a shaped wooden dowel..  works OK..  And I do have a lathe, just have to charge too much sometimes to set it up.  And besides, it works pretty good..
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Offline savageT

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D.I.Y. Recrowning Tools
« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2004, 12:36:35 PM »
Does anyone have personal experience using a round-headed screw with valve grinding compound to regrind a muzzle crown?  I worry that w/o a pilot to guide with it would be pretty likely to get it off-center?
Jim
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Offline John Traveler

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re-crowning using roundheaded screw
« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2004, 12:53:31 PM »
SavageT,

The gunsmith book technique of using a round-headed brass screw and valve lapping compound to crown a barrel muzzle really works!

I've done several that way, both using a lathe and a hand-held electric drill.  The lathe method is much easier and less likely to result in an off-centre crown.  Using the lathe is also much easier to square the muzzle, of course.

Please keep in mind that this method was developed back in the days when many smiths did not have factory-made cutters or electric motors and used only handcranked manual tools.  It worked just fine for them, and can still give good results to the careful workman.  If you do use an drill, be sure to uniformly rotate the screwhead in a "funnel" motion for best results.

John
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Offline gunnut69

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D.I.Y. Recrowning Tools
« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2004, 08:06:15 PM »
I have done it but found the results only good at breaking the edge of the lands.  To actually cut a crown there is simply too much metal to be removed and concentricity maintained.  If all you wish to do is bevel the lands a bit it will work if carefully used.
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gunnut69--
The 2nd amendment to the constitution of the United States of America-
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Offline kend

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D.I.Y. Recrowning Tools
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2004, 09:52:47 AM »
Another option is to rent the crowning tools, 4-dproducts.com
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