Pistol barrel crowning..

ngzcaz · June 2, 2012, 10:10 PM

Ant thoughts on cost ?? If you had it done what were the results ? I'm interested if its a worthwhile investment.

**JohnKSa** · June 2, 2012, 10:14 PM

I've done it on a couple of pistols--mostly because I was bored. I can't say that it helped or hurt.

Cost was just some time and patience because I did it myself.

It's not a worthwhile investment if the gun shoots ok as it is, and if it's inaccurate, there are a number of other places I'd start looking in a pistol before I started worrying about the crown.

If there's obvious damage to the crown I'd probably go ahead and recrown it, but just because it would bother me if I didn't.

In a rifle it's more of an issue.

jhenry · June 2, 2012, 10:17 PM

Do you have a pistol with an improper or damaged crown?

Other than such a circumstance, the only reason I can think of to crown, or more properly "recrown" a barrel would be if it was cut down.

Tactical Jackalope · June 2, 2012, 10:39 PM

Avoid people who don't know how to properly crown. You'll end up with a barrel like mine..
I need a new one now..

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ngzcaz · June 3, 2012, 07:50 AM

Hard to believe that a gunsmith/expert did that to your barrel. Looks like someone took a drill and just countersunk your barrel.

I noticed my inexpensive Bersa Model 23 had a crowned barrel. I then looked at my new Ruger SR22P and found it did not. Kinda of a flat cut off look to it. There's varing opinons ( generally by people who have notactually had it done ) pro and con whether and as to how much it may help. For example I read where it could make a substanial distance at 25 yards with a pistol. If anyone has a ballpark figure what it may cost I'd be interested in knowing..

Tactical Jackalope · June 3, 2012, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Hard to believe that a gunsmith/expert did that to your barrel. Looks like someone took a drill and just countersunk your barrel.

Tell me about it..My uncle flipped when he saw it..I flipped when I saw it. -__-

It was a "free upgrade" aka practice.

Wanna laugh? Like really hard?

He now works at Taurus.

Crankgrinder · June 3, 2012, 11:39 AM

I find this thread particularly helpful to me also as i have ruger sp101 which shoots good but has a nick in its crown has had since i bought it. Not meaning to hijack ones thread but as the op asks how much would such a thing cost?

mete · June 3, 2012, 11:57 AM

My friend did it when his wife asked him why her new pistol wasn't accurate.He took a close look and thought the end of the barrel had been damaged. He recrowned it and then it was very accurate !
If it's an incorrectly or damaged crown then do it . If not leave it alone !

WC145 · June 3, 2012, 03:49 PM

I've had a couple recrowned, mostly for looks, it's not particularly expensive to have it done, under $50 (cheap compared to Constantine's freeby), though prices will vary from 'smith to 'smith. Of course, depending on the gun you may need refinishing work after the barrel is cut. I like the look of a slightly concave angled crown on a handgun, sets off the view from the muzzle end.

johnwilliamson062 · June 3, 2012, 09:39 PM

that concave crown does not look bad.
I am not close to my pistols, but I believe my Kahr T9 has a much different crown than my Glock(solely from memory). Not sure the reason or the effect.

I know that My T9 could probably be used to shoot any sort of accuracy competition at a high level and my Glock, although plenty accurate for carry, would not. I doubt the crown has much to do with it though.

Red Dog · June 3, 2012, 09:57 PM

WC145 time to tell us about that 1911 with the mirror finish. Who did that
custom job?

johnwilliamson062 · June 3, 2012, 10:11 PM

Polished black chrome?

Misssissippi Dave · June 3, 2012, 10:15 PM

A ding in the crown can effect accuracy a lot. You then can have it re-crowned or have the barrel replaced to bring the accuracy back up again. Re-crowning is cheaper to have done then replacing the barrel.

I have had it done for one pistol that needed it and another because I thought it might help. Both made the pistols more accurate. Not more then they should have been been when new. You can achieve a good crown with both the 11 degree taper and a 90 degree angle. The barrel lock up is even more important then the barrel crown for accuracy.

Only do this if you are correcting damage to the crown.

WC145 · June 3, 2012, 10:50 PM

Quote:

WC145 time to tell us about that 1911 with the mirror finish. Who did that custom job?

It is a Clark Customs "Meltdown" Colt 1991A1 Compact. It was originally customized by Clark's back in '98 and was refinished this spring by Dietrich's Gunsmithy. In addition to the high polish and reblue, they checkered the front strap, removed the rollmarks from the slide, added a brass insert to the front sight, recrowned and polished the barrel, and fitted a checkered MSH.

Quote:

Polished black chrome?

No, just polished and blued.

Ideal Tool · June 3, 2012, 11:33 PM

Hello, Constantine. Just curious..how does that pistol shoot after it's recrown? I have to agree with johnwilliamson062..it really doesn't look bad..and the comment.."someone took a drill and just countersunk your barrel" is not true..that is not a job done with a c'sink.. let alone a twist drill. If you look close, there is a definate radius in there..someone took the time to do some carefull machining in a lathe set-up...I see no tool marks in there. Again..I would be curious to know how it shoots?

Tactical Jackalope · June 4, 2012, 10:51 AM

@ideal tool

Would you believe me if I said it's point on dead accurate?

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**JohnKSa** · June 5, 2012, 01:01 AM

I would believe you.

I can't see any reason in the photos that it wouldn't be and I'm not sure why you say it's not properly crowned. Is it just that it's a concave crown? That's not common on pistols but should work fine.

johnwilliamson062 · June 5, 2012, 10:45 PM

Not knowing what I am talking about, it looks extremely fragile.

Tactical Jackalope · June 6, 2012, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnwilliamson062

Not knowing what I am talking about, it looks extremely fragile.

Bingo. That's what I was told by my mentor. It can crack. Need to change it. Anyone want it?

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**Spats McGee** · June 6, 2012, 09:41 AM

Constantine, you have got to quit abusing your 1911, or I'm going to have to send the DFP (Department of Firearm Protection) to your house. . .

Edited to add: I just noticed that this was done to an NM-prefix model! Ack!

**JohnKSa** · June 7, 2012, 10:53 PM

Quote:

It can crack. Need to change it.

I've seen a few guns with crowns like that but none that have had the barrel crack at the crown. I'd shoot it until it cracks and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

June 2, 2012, 10:10 PM	#1
ngzcaz Member Join Date: March 26, 2012 Posts: 39	Pistol barrel crowning.. Ant thoughts on cost ?? If you had it done what were the results ? I'm interested if its a worthwhile investment.

June 2, 2012, 10:14 PM	#2
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,566	I've done it on a couple of pistols--mostly because I was bored. I can't say that it helped or hurt. Cost was just some time and patience because I did it myself. It's not a worthwhile investment if the gun shoots ok as it is, and if it's inaccurate, there are a number of other places I'd start looking in a pistol before I started worrying about the crown. If there's obvious damage to the crown I'd probably go ahead and recrown it, but just because it would bother me if I didn't. In a rifle it's more of an issue. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

June 2, 2012, 10:17 PM	#3
jhenry Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2006 Location: Ozarks Posts: 1,840	Do you have a pistol with an improper or damaged crown? Other than such a circumstance, the only reason I can think of to crown, or more properly "recrown" a barrel would be if it was cut down. __________________ "A Liberal is someone who doesn't care what you do, as long as it's mandatory". - Charles Krauthammer

June 3, 2012, 03:49 PM	#9
WC145 Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2008 Location: Downeast Maine Posts: 1,836	I've had a couple recrowned, mostly for looks, it's not particularly expensive to have it done, under $50 (cheap compared to Constantine's freeby), though prices will vary from 'smith to 'smith. Of course, depending on the gun you may need refinishing work after the barrel is cut. I like the look of a slightly concave angled crown on a handgun, sets off the view from the muzzle end. __________________ "If violent crime is to be curbed, it is only the intended victim who can do it. The felon does not fear the police, and he fears neither judge or jury. Therefore what he must be taught to fear is his victim." - LtCol Jeff Cooper

June 5, 2012, 01:01 AM	#17
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,566	I would believe you. I can't see any reason in the photos that it wouldn't be and I'm not sure why you say it's not properly crowned. Is it just that it's a concave crown? That's not common on pistols but should work fine. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

June 2, 2012, 10:39 PM	#4
Tactical Jackalope Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2010 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 6,459	Avoid people who don't know how to properly crown. You'll end up with a barrel like mine.. I need a new one now.. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

June 3, 2012, 07:50 AM	#5
ngzcaz Member Join Date: March 26, 2012 Posts: 39	Hard to believe that a gunsmith/expert did that to your barrel. Looks like someone took a drill and just countersunk your barrel. I noticed my inexpensive Bersa Model 23 had a crowned barrel. I then looked at my new Ruger SR22P and found it did not. Kinda of a flat cut off look to it. There's varing opinons ( generally by people who have notactually had it done ) pro and con whether and as to how much it may help. For example I read where it could make a substanial distance at 25 yards with a pistol. If anyone has a ballpark figure what it may cost I'd be interested in knowing..

June 3, 2012, 11:39 AM	#7
Crankgrinder Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 917	I find this thread particularly helpful to me also as i have ruger sp101 which shoots good but has a nick in its crown has had since i bought it. Not meaning to hijack ones thread but as the op asks how much would such a thing cost?

June 3, 2012, 11:57 AM	#8
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	My friend did it when his wife asked him why her new pistol wasn't accurate.He took a close look and thought the end of the barrel had been damaged. He recrowned it and then it was very accurate ! If it's an incorrectly or damaged crown then do it . If not leave it alone !

June 3, 2012, 09:39 PM	#10
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,994	that concave crown does not look bad. I am not close to my pistols, but I believe my Kahr T9 has a much different crown than my Glock(solely from memory). Not sure the reason or the effect. I know that My T9 could probably be used to shoot any sort of accuracy competition at a high level and my Glock, although plenty accurate for carry, would not. I doubt the crown has much to do with it though.

June 3, 2012, 09:57 PM	#11
Red Dog Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2010 Posts: 217	WC145 time to tell us about that 1911 with the mirror finish. Who did that custom job?

June 3, 2012, 10:11 PM	#12
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,994	Polished black chrome?

June 3, 2012, 10:15 PM	#13
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,411	A ding in the crown can effect accuracy a lot. You then can have it re-crowned or have the barrel replaced to bring the accuracy back up again. Re-crowning is cheaper to have done then replacing the barrel. I have had it done for one pistol that needed it and another because I thought it might help. Both made the pistols more accurate. Not more then they should have been been when new. You can achieve a good crown with both the 11 degree taper and a 90 degree angle. The barrel lock up is even more important then the barrel crown for accuracy. Only do this if you are correcting damage to the crown.

June 3, 2012, 11:33 PM	#15
Ideal Tool Junior member Join Date: October 6, 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,080	Hello, Constantine. Just curious..how does that pistol shoot after it's recrown? I have to agree with johnwilliamson062..it really doesn't look bad..and the comment.."someone took a drill and just countersunk your barrel" is not true..that is not a job done with a c'sink.. let alone a twist drill. If you look close, there is a definate radius in there..someone took the time to do some carefull machining in a lathe set-up...I see no tool marks in there. Again..I would be curious to know how it shoots?

June 4, 2012, 10:51 AM	#16
Tactical Jackalope Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2010 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 6,459	@ideal tool Would you believe me if I said it's point on dead accurate? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

June 5, 2012, 10:45 PM	#18
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,994	Not knowing what I am talking about, it looks extremely fragile.

June 6, 2012, 09:41 AM	#20
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 8,840	Constantine, you have got to quit abusing your 1911, or I'm going to have to send the DFP (Department of Firearm Protection) to your house. . . Edited to add: I just noticed that this was done to an NM-prefix model! Ack! __________________ I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer. If you need some honest-to-goodness legal advice, go buy some.