Author Topic: Crown: (Read 684 times)

Duce · « **on:** January 17, 2006, 01:03:57 AM »

Folks: Bought a used .222. The barrel was fouled badly and upon closer examination the muzzle looks to be washed out from cleaning. My question is fire it for accuracy? Don't bother shooting just chuck it up in the 4 jaw indicate it in and recut it? If the latter is the path I take how much, just enough to clean things up, or cut it back 1" or 2"? Thanks Guys

<>< Duce:

victorcharlie · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2006, 01:09:18 AM »

I'd shoot if first just to be able to tell if is going to shoot ok before working on it to improved it. I don't think I'd cut the barrel first, but would re-cut the crown, shoot it, and if that didn't fix it then think about cutting the barrel.

thales · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2006, 02:07:28 AM »

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If it were mine, I wouldn't bother. There is something causing that fouling that the previous owner couldn't fix. I would bet that the chamber throat is shot out. New barrels are not that expensive. Still, if it looks entertaining to play with it, have fun. You might get lucky,

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gunnut69 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2006, 06:53:44 AM »

Give it a good cleaning first. It's amazing what can build up in these little bores. Some people never clean and then when the accuracy fails they just trade it off. Remove all the jacket metal fouling and powder fouling, I usually even run the 'FoulOut' on a new one(or a badly fouled one) before I shoot it to see what it'll do. If the bore is truly worn smooth at the muzzle, it likely won't shoot worth a darn.. but give it a fair try. They sometimes amaze. What kind of rifle are we talking about? The 222 is a favorite of mine.. I have 4 or 5 of them in the vault. The worst shooter is an early M7 Remington. It is a little picky. Of course it will still shoot under an inchm, it's just that for a 222 that's not unusual.. The best shooter is an old M700 VarmitSpecial. It's put a fairly common handload under 1/2 inch!!

Duce · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2006, 11:55:21 AM »

Gunnut69: It's a Savage 340B, I know it's not the most high tech?? rifle but wanted a light carry rifle. I've cleaned the bore and it looks good. Thanks everyone for the input. :-) <>< Duce:

Duce · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2006, 04:16:42 PM »

Folks: Thought I'd give you an update on my rifle. Saturday put together a new handloads and sent a few down range. As I'd been warned, with a washed out muzzle it shot miserably. Back at the shop I set it up in the lathe indicated the bore in as close as possible an set the crown about 1/4 inch. Now with some questionable reloads, came with the rifle, groups shrank about a fifth what they had been. Again Thanks For The Input:

<>< Duce:

gunnut69 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2006, 07:55:58 PM »

I didn't realize you had a lathe. I should have mentioned this earlier.. There is a technique called a 'recessed' muzzle that allows the entire outside of the barrel to remain while moving the crown back to good rifling. You procede as you did but use a small boring tool to bore out the bad section of barrel. The new muzzle will be from 1/4 to an inch from the end of the barrel but that's of no consequence. The end of the boring cut is the new crown and it's well protected. A bit more trouble but can save a nice older barrel with a forged front ramp or some other feature.

Duce · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2006, 01:10:30 AM »

Gunnut69: That's basically how I did do it I skin cut the outside of the muzzle to clean it up. While the majority oof the cut was deeper. The barrel may be a little shorter that standard but not by much. Great Minds Think Alike :shock: :shock: <>< Duce:

gunnut69 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2006, 07:08:38 AM »

You are being very kind with that statement.. I barely have a mind left at all sometimes..