Recrowning my Enfield

deerslayer303 · April 5, 2012, 09:39 AM

Hey Ya'll,

I want to recrown my Enfield. This rifle is used to hunt with. I had 3 inches cut off the barrel long ago, but the smith didn't put much of a recess in the muzzle if any at all. When I clean it the inside edge of muzzle is so sharp it will shave a brass cleaning rod if I let it contact that inside edge. I will have to buy the tool from midway to do it, And I was wondering which type of recess to put in it. Believe it or not that old bird will shoot moa as it sits now, so I definately don't want to make it worse. The rifle never shot that well until I cut the barrel down, it used to shoot 1.5-1.75" groups at a 100. Here is a pic of the muzzle as it sits now.

Clemson · April 5, 2012, 10:27 PM

Why are you cleaning an Enfield from the muzzle?

You can hand cut an 11 degree crown with the proper tools, but for goodness sake clean it from the breech.

Clemson

deerslayer303 · April 5, 2012, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Why are you cleaning an Enfield from the muzzle?

umm, why not? I have always been taught it doesn't matter as long as you go all the way, and don't stop mid way and try to come back out. What harm can possibly come from a cotton patch running down the bore from the muzzle?

hooligan1 · April 6, 2012, 07:07 AM

It's alot better to clean the barrel from the breech, deerslayer because the muzzle is too important to the bullets flight to screw it up with a cleaning rod!

Doyle · April 6, 2012, 07:22 AM

There is a Larry Potterfield video on Youtube showing you how to do a flat crown with a hand drill. Not as good as a chamfered crown, but still functional.

deerslayer303 · April 6, 2012, 07:42 AM

Quote:

It's alot better to clean the barrel from the breech, deerslayer because the muzzle is too important to the bullets flight to screw it up with a cleaning rod!

Duly Noted Sir, I stand corrected, I do use the brass muzzle guide but I have to admit not always. Okeedokee I will clean from the breech from now on. Funny I learn something new everyday, I've been shooting since I was 5. Started maintaining my own Rifle at 14 (this Enfield was my first rifle) and have been shoving cleaning rods down the muzzle every since and here I am 34 y/o.

deerslayer303 · April 6, 2012, 07:43 AM

Quote:

There is a Larry Potterfield video on Youtube showing you how to do a flat crown with a hand drill. Not as good as a chamfered crown, but still functional.

Thank you I will go check that out right now.

tango1niner · April 6, 2012, 10:57 AM

Know anyone w/a lathe? They should be able to do it. Piece of cake.

deerslayer303 · April 7, 2012, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Know anyone w/a lathe? They should be able to do it. Piece of cake.

ummm yes I do, the next shop over from ours, I may go over there and see it they will do it for me for say a 6 pack

madcratebuilder · April 7, 2012, 07:39 AM

The No4 Enfields well have a flat face at the muzzle, some well have a slight bevel. I've seen plenty of LE's with crown damage but it's seldom caused by the cleaning rod.

A brass, aluminum or carbon fiber cleaning rod well not damage the muzzle. The steel is significantly harder than the rod. Typical steel cleaning rods seen in military service can wear the crown from years and years of constant cleaning these receive in military service.

I do clean all my precision barrels in the direction of bullet travel, but for mil-surps from the muzzle is fine. If you overly concerned about muzzle wear use a bore guide.

edward5759 · April 7, 2012, 02:34 PM

If it's a chrome lined barrel then a lathe and carbide is what I use.
H.S. steel crowning tools don't take the hardness of the chrome.

Ed

zxcvbob · April 7, 2012, 02:55 PM

Why not use a brass round-head bolt or screw and lapping compound? The end is cut off nice and square ain't it?

Bill DeShivs · April 7, 2012, 03:49 PM

If it shoots good, why not leave it alone?

madcratebuilder · April 8, 2012, 08:27 AM

Quote:

If it shoots good, why not leave it alone?

Fix it till it's broke!

deerslayer303 · April 9, 2012, 07:49 PM

Yeah it shoots dang good, I just want to clean up that really sharp edge that was left when the barrel was cut. And I will try that brass screw as I have some lapping compound. That will probably be the best thing just to clean that edge up anyway.

Doyle · April 9, 2012, 08:37 PM

Instead of a brass screw, you might want to check the hardware store and see if they have a brass faucet valve. It is a brass ball with a stem. If you can find the right one, they are the perfect size for touching up a crown.

April 5, 2012, 09:39 AM	#1
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,652	Recrowning my Enfield Hey Ya'll, I want to recrown my Enfield. This rifle is used to hunt with. I had 3 inches cut off the barrel long ago, but the smith didn't put much of a recess in the muzzle if any at all. When I clean it the inside edge of muzzle is so sharp it will shave a brass cleaning rod if I let it contact that inside edge. I will have to buy the tool from midway to do it, And I was wondering which type of recess to put in it. Believe it or not that old bird will shoot moa as it sits now, so I definately don't want to make it worse. The rifle never shot that well until I cut the barrel down, it used to shoot 1.5-1.75" groups at a 100. Here is a pic of the muzzle as it sits now. __________________ "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson

April 5, 2012, 10:27 PM	#2
Clemson Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2001 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 875	Why are you cleaning an Enfield from the muzzle? You can hand cut an 11 degree crown with the proper tools, but for goodness sake clean it from the breech. Clemson __________________ NRA Endowment Member, NRA Certified Instructor CWP Holder US Army veteran Gunsmith www.boltandbarrel.com

April 6, 2012, 07:07 AM	#4
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	It's alot better to clean the barrel from the breech, deerslayer because the muzzle is too important to the bullets flight to screw it up with a cleaning rod! __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

April 7, 2012, 02:34 PM	#11
edward5759 Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ. 30 miles from water, two feet from Hell. Posts: 355	If it's a chrome lined barrel then a lathe and carbide is what I use. H.S. steel crowning tools don't take the hardness of the chrome. Ed __________________ Failure is part of success! This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!" -Adolf Hitler,1935"

April 7, 2012, 02:55 PM	#12
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Why not use a brass round-head bolt or screw and lapping compound? The end is cut off nice and square ain't it? __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

April 6, 2012, 07:22 AM	#5
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	There is a Larry Potterfield video on Youtube showing you how to do a flat crown with a hand drill. Not as good as a chamfered crown, but still functional.

April 6, 2012, 10:57 AM	#8
tango1niner Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: NY Posts: 317	Know anyone w/a lathe? They should be able to do it. Piece of cake.

April 7, 2012, 07:39 AM	#10
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	The No4 Enfields well have a flat face at the muzzle, some well have a slight bevel. I've seen plenty of LE's with crown damage but it's seldom caused by the cleaning rod. A brass, aluminum or carbon fiber cleaning rod well not damage the muzzle. The steel is significantly harder than the rod. Typical steel cleaning rods seen in military service can wear the crown from years and years of constant cleaning these receive in military service. I do clean all my precision barrels in the direction of bullet travel, but for mil-surps from the muzzle is fine. If you overly concerned about muzzle wear use a bore guide.

April 7, 2012, 03:49 PM	#13
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	If it shoots good, why not leave it alone? __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

April 9, 2012, 07:49 PM	#15
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,652	Yeah it shoots dang good, I just want to clean up that really sharp edge that was left when the barrel was cut. And I will try that brass screw as I have some lapping compound. That will probably be the best thing just to clean that edge up anyway. __________________ "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson

April 9, 2012, 08:37 PM	#16
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Instead of a brass screw, you might want to check the hardware store and see if they have a brass faucet valve. It is a brass ball with a stem. If you can find the right one, they are the perfect size for touching up a crown.