crowning on guns

[clintonhater]

just did a little search, and see the same disagreement everywhere as to what is the actual crown. dont see an actual dictionary type definition anywhere, so have fun and argue on.

"The beveled edge on the muzzle of a rifle." From Shooter's Bible Small Arms Lexicon.

Even this isn't entirely clear--should have specified inner edge of bore.

[Oyaji]

Per Hallowell & Co of Livingston, Montana.....

Crown - The finish contour of the muzzle of a rifle. May be flat or rounded. Often shows effective chamfering to protect the critical rifling at the absolute end of the muzzle.

Photo ............http://www.hallowellco.com/crown.htm

http://www.hallowellco.com/abbrevia.htm

http://hallowellco.com/

[Allen]

IE. Cut the end of a barrel off and it will leave a burr and deflect the bullet if fired. Polish the end, where cut, by means of leaving it flat, chamfering, rounding or recessing to the extent that the bullet is not deflected in any way when fired and it will be crowned. This is often seen on Garand barrels where muzzle erosion affects the accuracy. 1/4---1/2" of the muzzle is cut off to where the good rifling extends to the end, then it is re-crowned. On factory barrels the crown is rounded, on re-crowned barrels it is nearly always flat due to homeowners and shops not having the machinery to duplicate the original rounded contour.

[Johnny P]

Not a hard job to do yourself without a lathe, unless the muzzle has been badly mutilated. With the muzzle held upright in a vise, chuck a round-headed brass screw in a drill (hand-operated is easiest to control), apply valve-grinding compound to the screw-head, and chamfer as needed; it's a method illustrated in many old gunsmithing books, and yes, I've done it myself. Size of screw needed varies with size of bore.

PS--Wouldn't work for obvious reasons with a recessed crown.

Also move the handle of the hand drill in a cone shape while cranking to keep from wearing a groove in the screw head. After this went to a flea market and found a beautiful old Millers Falls hand drill. Only used it to crown one barrel, but love how smoothly the drill operates.

[leftyo]

Per Hallowell & Co of Livingston, Montana.....

Crown - The finish contour of the muzzle of a rifle. May be flat or rounded. Often shows effective chamfering to protect the critical rifling at the absolute end of the muzzle.

Photo ............http://www.hallowellco.com/crown.htm

http://www.hallowellco.com/abbrevia.htm

http://hallowellco.com/

this is pretty much my accepted definition. having crowned quite a few barrels, and purchasing special tooling for it.

[clintonhater]

After this went to a flea market and found a beautiful old Millers Falls hand drill. Only used it to crown one barrel, but love how smoothly the drill operates.

This is exactly what I've used in the past! Easily controllable, unlike an electric drill.

[JB White]

I still have one of those around here someplace. Probably in a box with the bit braces and yankee driver.