What should I be aware of in getting a barrel recrowned?

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404tbang

Member
Howdy!
I am looking at a rifle trade. The rifle I want is a heavy barrel target gun, probably of 1930's vintage. I looked at it again yesterday and noticed it had a small ding at the muzzle. Looked at it under magnification and it had pushed a small bit of metal into one of the grooves.

Obviously this will affect the accuracy.

I have never taken a rifle to a gunsmith, this is a classic rifle with a custom barrel by a master barrelmaker and gunsmith who is long gone.

I want to get it properly recrowned. What is the correct way to do it, should any trained smith be able to do it right, and any idea of what the costs would be? I have to factor this into the trade.

Thank you!
Greg
 
In general, there are two different ways to crown the muzzle: a simple face off and and recut, or what's refered to as an 'indicated' crown where the barrel bore at the muzzle is zero'd in the lathe (indicated) and the crown is cut from that 'zero' position.

Any good accuracy 'smith can recrown your barrel. Most accuracy 'smiths have a certain style of crown they prefer, so have that discussion with them before they do the job. Duplicating the profile of the original crown may or may not be important to you or the value of the gun.

Ditto on the rebluing of the crown after the new one is cut.
 
Howdy!
Al, thank you for your input! How difficult is it to duplicate the profile of the original crown, and to match the blueing? While I intend to keep it as a collector piece (if I am able to get it!) I also intend to shoot it. I don't intend to shoot the barrel out, but I intend to shoot it. It is chambered in 30-06, so I would hope for good barrel life.

I want to keep it as original as possible. But it was built to be accurate, and I want the accuracy potential restored. But if at all possible, I want the crown and blueing matching what they did when when it was built. It ain't far from mint.

So, can they be made to match up, and any ballpark price speculation? I have to factor this in on the trade.

Thank you!
Greg
 
With the reblue and all the variables, I'd suggest getting some quotes from qualified 'smiths in your area.

I'm not really sure how much my 'smith charges me to do this. Whenever I go over to pick something up, I just bring a greasy brown paper lunch bag full of bills and lay 'em out one at a time until he says "Okay, stop." :eek:;)
 
is there an accuracy 'smith around central Kentucky?

Howdy!
Thanks again Al! Yup, I guess I am gonna have to find an accuracy 'smith to get a price quote. I am hoping it won't be too bad. Got to keep it as original as possible.

Anybody know any accuracy 'smiths around central Kentucky?

I got a greasy brown paper lunch bag full of bills too! But all those folks want CHECKS in the return envelopes!!:eek::eek::D

I hope I can end up with the rifle, it is pretty cool. But then again, the one I am trading is pretty cool too.

Thanks for the help!!
Greg
 
Test it first.

Before I would go to the task of barrel cutting and recrowning, I would test fire the rifle with good target ammo and several bullet weighs to set the first standard. You may find the rifle groups well or it may not. If it does not group well with several bullet weights, I would try the simplest fix of just recrowning with a recrown tool and so on. My approach is do the least harm.

best, nrb
 
As posted, having a smith run a recowning tool in there far enough to take out the ding might be the straight road to Jerusalem cost wise and to see if its worth going any further with the project from an accuracy point. That, of course, depends on how big the ding is. A good smith could steer you either way. I'd have a good talk with him about time and money before you did anything.
 
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