Recrowning shotgun barrel

Romulus · June 25, 2001, 02:08 PM

I have an otherwise excellent barrel for my 870, but the crown is a bit monged up. Is there a crowning/facing tool for shotguns, like the ones Brownells sell for revolvers? If no, is this a lathe job or can it be done judiciously by hand? How can one guarantee a "true" crown, perpendicular to the bore?

Thanks...

Dfariswheel · June 25, 2001, 05:00 PM

The Brownell's facing/crowning tools come in shotgun sizes.

Having a true crown is somewhat less critical than on a rifle or pistol. A decent crown can be had by filing the muzzle "eye ball" true, then using some fine metal sanding cloth on the ball of the thumb, to remove the sharp edge. I wouldn't recommend using this method on a trap or skeet gun, but for a cut-it-down-yourself home defense barrel, it will do.

Romulus · June 25, 2001, 07:19 PM

Thanks, but what about for a slug gun? This will be my deer barrel...

Dfariswheel · June 25, 2001, 08:29 PM

Where accuracy counts I'd go with a piloted cutter/crowner from Brownell's. I suppose the barrel could be put in a lath or even a milling machine, but that calls for some fancy setup, and can often mar the finish.

Romulus · June 26, 2001, 10:13 PM

That would come to $35 for the facing tool, plus $10 for the pilot...a bit steep for just one barrel...How much would a smith charge for this service, any guesses?

stuckatwork · June 27, 2001, 10:28 AM

Hi Romulus,

I dropped one of my rifles on the muzzle and put a nice ding in the crown. A gunsmith in my neck of the woods charged $55 to do the job. This included removing the barrel from the receiver and lathe setup.

Prices in your town my vary. Call around and ask for prices.

Romulus · June 27, 2001, 04:42 PM

Maybe the thing to do is to have it fitted for choke tubes...that way I could slap on a rifled choke or pattern for the best tube...skeet, IC, etc...

How much to have it fitted for tubes, more or less?

Thanks

JMBrowning · June 27, 2001, 04:44 PM

Does the barrel have an integral choke?If it's an open choke,have a 'smith tap the thing for rem-chokes.

JMBrowning · June 27, 2001, 04:47 PM

Hup,sorry,see you were reading my mind and typing as I was.Most 'smiths won't charge over $35-$50 for doing it. I charge $35.00.

Romulus · June 27, 2001, 07:56 PM

Thank you JMB...what I'll do is zero in the sights for slugs first, see how it actually shoots. First things first, hey?

JMBrowning · June 27, 2001, 08:43 PM

Yessir. Bet you'll find it'll be deadly with a nice rifled slug choke screwed into it,though.

June 25, 2001, 02:08 PM	#1
Romulus Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Kettle Moraine country Posts: 897	Recrowning shotgun barrel I have an otherwise excellent barrel for my 870, but the crown is a bit monged up. Is there a crowning/facing tool for shotguns, like the ones Brownells sell for revolvers? If no, is this a lathe job or can it be done judiciously by hand? How can one guarantee a "true" crown, perpendicular to the bore? Thanks...

June 27, 2001, 10:28 AM	#6
stuckatwork Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2000 Posts: 217	Hi Romulus, I dropped one of my rifles on the muzzle and put a nice ding in the crown. A gunsmith in my neck of the woods charged $55 to do the job. This included removing the barrel from the receiver and lathe setup. Prices in your town my vary. Call around and ask for prices. __________________ These are the words of Stuckatwork. They don't represent the views or opinions of my employers. They aren't that clever.

June 25, 2001, 05:00 PM	#2
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	The Brownell's facing/crowning tools come in shotgun sizes. Having a true crown is somewhat less critical than on a rifle or pistol. A decent crown can be had by filing the muzzle "eye ball" true, then using some fine metal sanding cloth on the ball of the thumb, to remove the sharp edge. I wouldn't recommend using this method on a trap or skeet gun, but for a cut-it-down-yourself home defense barrel, it will do.

June 25, 2001, 07:19 PM	#3
Romulus Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Kettle Moraine country Posts: 897	Thanks, but what about for a slug gun? This will be my deer barrel...

June 25, 2001, 08:29 PM	#4
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Where accuracy counts I'd go with a piloted cutter/crowner from Brownell's. I suppose the barrel could be put in a lath or even a milling machine, but that calls for some fancy setup, and can often mar the finish.

June 26, 2001, 10:13 PM	#5
Romulus Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Kettle Moraine country Posts: 897	That would come to $35 for the facing tool, plus $10 for the pilot...a bit steep for just one barrel...How much would a smith charge for this service, any guesses?

June 27, 2001, 04:42 PM	#7
Romulus Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Kettle Moraine country Posts: 897	Maybe the thing to do is to have it fitted for choke tubes...that way I could slap on a rifled choke or pattern for the best tube...skeet, IC, etc... How much to have it fitted for tubes, more or less? Thanks

June 27, 2001, 04:44 PM	#8
JMBrowning Junior member Join Date: November 3, 2000 Location: Jonesboro,GA Posts: 92	Does the barrel have an integral choke?If it's an open choke,have a 'smith tap the thing for rem-chokes.

June 27, 2001, 04:47 PM	#9
JMBrowning Junior member Join Date: November 3, 2000 Location: Jonesboro,GA Posts: 92	Hup,sorry,see you were reading my mind and typing as I was.Most 'smiths won't charge over $35-$50 for doing it. I charge $35.00.

June 27, 2001, 07:56 PM	#10
Romulus Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Kettle Moraine country Posts: 897	Thank you JMB...what I'll do is zero in the sights for slugs first, see how it actually shoots. First things first, hey?

June 27, 2001, 08:43 PM	#11
JMBrowning Junior member Join Date: November 3, 2000 Location: Jonesboro,GA Posts: 92	Yessir. Bet you'll find it'll be deadly with a nice rifled slug choke screwed into it,though.