Crown gash! Problem?

[Pond, James Pond]

I've often seen threads about damage to the crown of a gun affecting accuracy.

Well, I have a mark on my Redhawk muzzle.

I don't think it is much to worry about, and my Redhawk seems accurate enough, but I am not a brilliant shot, so if there is a deterioration of accuracy, I may not spot it.

I bought the gun new, and have never dropped it and I certainly don't remember knocking it against anything: I am careful with my guns.

Perhaps I shouldn't ask: there is no way the gun would ever reach the Ruger plant in the US...

[Stressfire]

Well, I have a mark on my Redhawk muzzle

On the muzzle, yes, but doesn't look deep enough or close enough to the actual opening to be of much concern.

How, pray tell, did that happen?

[moxie]

Not to worry. It's not touching the rifling and there is no obvious deformation. Press on!

[Pond, James Pond]

How, pray tell, did that happen?

Absolutely.

No.

Idea.

Really! I've owned it now for about 8 months, it's only seen about 350 rounds so far, but that is set to rise as I now reload. However, as I posted, I've never dropped it, or knocked it in any way that might dent metal. I also bought it new. I only noticed it about 2 months or so after buying it.

Today, I thought "why not ask about it?" That is it.

Leads me to believe that it may have happened with Ruger or, more probably, in the shop that sold it to me: it was bankruptcy stock from Finland... As it happens the shop that bought the bankruptcy stock has since gone bankrupt!!!

I hope it's not the gun , coz i need my income!!

[James K]

Some folks miss the point. The purpose of a crown is to protect the end of the rifling. So dents or marks on the crown are not a problem; they are proof that the crown is doing its job.

That, of course, means that it is not a good idea to have a barrel made or changed to eliminate the crown and go to a flat muzzle with no protection for the rifling. That is a fad that should go the way of other silliness.

Jim

[Stressfire]

Leads me to believe that it may have happened with Ruger or, more probably, in the shop that sold it to me

Could easily be overlooked unless you went over it with a fine tooth comb before purchase. Little dings and dents don't bother me much if they don't effect functionality.

Reminds me of my old guitar teacher when I came into class with my brand new (US made) Fender Strat - told me to go home and scuff it - that way I would stop worrying about it so much and play the darn thing Well, I did, and it worked. Downside was that all the subsequent scuffs totally killed resale value

I hope it's not the gun , coz i need my income!!

Cursed Ruger?

[Pond, James Pond]

Cursed Ruger?

I feel a really bad film plot coming on!!

"Honest, your Honour! It wasn't me. My Rugerrrrrrrr Redhulk made me do it!!"

[BLUETIP]

Sounds like something wy wife gave me one time!!!lol WITH A FRY PAN

[Webleymkv]

Not an issue at all. If you look carefully, you'll notice that the actual rifling is countersunk just a bit from the end of the barrel, this is by design. The purpose of countersinking the rifling is to protect it from damage such as the minor ding you've noticed. As long as you're not noticing any accuracy problems, it's nothing more than a minor cosmetic flaw.

[MrBorland]

Originally Posted by Webleymkv

As long as you're not noticing any accuracy problems, it's nothing more than a minor cosmetic flaw.

AFAIK, the crown protects the rifling, but an even crown also insures the gases expand evenly as they (and the bullet) exit the barrel. A gash that doesn't damage the rifling may still lead to a small asymmetry in those gases, which may exert uneven pressure on the bullet. At the end of the day, though, as Webleymkv pointed out, the only way to know is to shoot it. It assumes you've got a pretty good handle on it's pre-gash accuracy, though.

[Pond, James Pond]

It assumes you've got a pretty good handle on it's pre-gash accuracy, though.

Well, this is it.
I am an OK shot, but not brilliant yet and I don't even know when the ding was made.

As I mentioned earlier, I even suspect that it was done before it even came into my care, so no baseline comparison for me...

[shaunpain]

I really don't think there's much to worry about with the "gash". While I have heard of a perfect crown being of paramount importance in a precision rifle, I would imagine that this imperfection is negligible, most likely imperceptible to a human, and that finer accuracy is something that the platform is inherently incapable of. Admittedly, I am an amateur in comparison to almost everyone else on this forum. However, I have pistols in worse shape that I can fire into the black at reasonable distances, so I think you're good to go.

[Pond, James Pond]

Between

so I think you're good to go.

as well as

Not an issue at all.

and including

Little dings and dents don't bother me

together with

Not to worry.

not to mention

doesn't look deep enough or close enough

I am much relieved!! Seems my RR has a little scar to give it some character, but still up to the task!

[Skans]

I think that's just a superficial "wound" that won't affect accuracy - it doesn't go into the beveled area.