recrown rifle barrel

[Mongosafari]

I got an AR15 upper in trade a few years ago with a little "ding" right on the muzzle crown. I saw this and planned to someday have it recrowned by a gunsmith. Accuracy suffers (I assume) because of the "ding".

Brownells has a hand tool to cut an 11 degree crown in the muzzle. For not too much money.

or

Remove the barrel from the upper and ship it to a gunsmith with a lathe to do the job. I hate having parts laying around for a couple of weeks.

I also have an older Westernfield 22 WMR that would probably benefit from a crown job too with the hand crowning tool.

[JimBianchi]

I've recrowned a few barrels and when done correctly, it can seriously improve accuracy.

I've seen the tool you mentioned and if I needed one, I'd buy it.

I've used a variety of dremel tools and a low speed drill with lapping compound.

The first one I did took three tries, but after that, I was good to go.

I even did a video on recrowning an airgun barrel a few years ago. It's on Google Video under the search terms I love Airguns. Airgun barrels are much softer steel than firearms so they make it look easy in the video. I took some guff from gunsmiths for my techniques, but I can't argue with success.

I did not do a video on a firearms barrel mostly because at the time I had very accurate rifles that did not need me fooling with them. I wish I still had a pro video camera, I have a second 1022 now that is not nearly as accurate as it should be and the crown looks imperfect.

[paddle007]

I had an aftermarket 357SIG barrel with a ding. Long range accuracy was not a big concern so I made a simple tool. I brazed a round ball bearing to a steel rod. I tried it be hand but geez it was going to take a long time. Put it in a drill with lapping compound and had it done in ten minutes. May not be uniform enough for some but I can can't visually find a problem with it.

[faawrenchbndr]

Depending on how large the nick is, you may be able to polish it out.

See the video's available here for an idea

http://www.midwayusa.com/General.mvc/Index/VideoLibrary

[Mongosafari]

I'm thinking it is just larger than I want to use a brass lap and 600 grit compound to polish out.

Thanks for the responces.

I'll be getting the 11 degree cutter with interchangable brass pilots. I need to measure the 22 WMR to get the right pilot: .213" or .215"

If I need it later add another caliber pilot. Just go slow and a little at a time. I can easily swap out the AR-15 barrel but if I can save two barrels for around a hundred bucks, I'm that far ahead.

[Andrewsky]

Adco is pretty highly thought-of in the realm of AR-15 barrels.

[eisman]

I have used the Brownells cuters with good results. Make sure you use a good cutting oil with the tools, especially if you use power tools. Also, don't go too fast.

[Mongosafari]

I have used the Brownells cuters with good results. Make sure you use a good cutting oil with the tools, especially if you use power tools. Also, don't go too fast.

I don't plan on using power tools for the cutting.

Do you also use the brass lap/compound after cutting or just the 11 degree cutter and that's it?

[eisman]

Actually, you'll get better results using a battery powered drill than just doing it by hand. You can't keep the pressure constant through a full circle. But try it, you'll see what I mean. I always cut and then lap. Use a little Clover compound.

[Mongosafari]

That is what I was curious about. Both (cutting and lapping) need to be done for a complete crown job.

I didn't phrase it correctly; the 11 degree cutter will be by hand and the brass/compound lapping would be using a small electric drill.

Thank you very much for your response.