What is the average cost of cutting down a barrel...

22man · May 9, 1999, 04:13 PM

and having it recrowned? I'm thinking about having a barrel shortened and maybe having a front sight attached as well on a .22 rimfire.
Could somebody give me some ballpark figures to work with?

22man

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buzz riley · May 10, 1999, 06:54 AM

22man,
I've had a couple of barrels shortened and recrowned before. The cost was about $60.00 each. The front sight work would probably be extra. Hope this helps.

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Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

George Stringer · May 10, 1999, 09:27 AM

22Man, the costs will vary from shop to shop. I charge $40 to cut & crown. The sight would depend on whether it is a sweat-on $15 or screw-on $12 per hole to drill & tap. Smiths that do this work by hand rather than on a lathe may charge a little less for the cut & crown. George

22man · May 10, 1999, 11:43 AM

Thanks guys! When you say they do it "by hand" instead of a lathe are they literally doing it with "handtools" or things like a Dremel tool, etc?

Is it viable to attempt to do this oneself? I understand keeping the muzzle square to the bore is most important!

Thanks for the input! I'll probably take mine to a gunsmith for both jobs, but was curious about the do-it-yourselfer trying it.

22man

George Stringer · May 10, 1999, 11:26 PM

22Man, different smiths will use different methods. You are correct about the muzzle being squared to the bore. In the past when I've done them by hand I used a piloted facing tool. A dremel can be used at the bore mouth but if you attempt it be very careful. Another way is to use a head of a round brass screw coated with lapping compound or some type of abrasive grease. You'll be money ahead to pay for it done. George

22man · May 11, 1999, 11:39 AM

I will definitely stick with having it done, as I don't want to effect the accuracy of the firearm. If I were to do it "correctly" it sounds like I would need a "few" more tools. A piloted facing tool, as you mentioned would be almost "necessary" unless one used a lathe, I would assume.

Thanks again for the great info!
22man

ArizonaMorgan · May 16, 1999, 10:48 PM

You can get the stuff to do it from Brownells. consists of a handle, interchangeable pilots, and several cutters. cost is under $100 I believe and you can do as many barrels as you want with it.

Bullmoose · May 17, 1999, 01:41 AM

The tooling from Brownell's also has the cutter for the crown cut. It is a neat package and you don't have to buy the whole set. You can get a handle and then buy the pilots that you need (22,25,265,etc) and I think that they all use just 2 crown cutters if you don't want to handle different angles. It is a waste to spend the money for the tooling for one or two bbls as the cost for a single caliber is about $50 and the rifle or pistol sets go for $200-300 and the comoplete set is $400. I am not a pro, but have used mine for dozens of pistols that I have built and loaned it on occasion to a good buddy so it has more than payed for itself. Jim

22man · May 17, 1999, 09:47 PM

Thanks guys! I checked it out and it looks like I can get away for about $80 for the tools I need to do .22's. This means two barrel jobs and it would be payed for! That would only leave HOW TO ATTACH a new front sight?

22man

Rob Pincus · June 2, 1999, 04:15 AM

Don't forget, that the cost can be much higher, like $10,000 or your wife's Life. Make sure that you leave yourself plenty of leeway over the legal 16" if you try this at home.....

George Stringer · June 2, 1999, 09:13 AM

22man, your old front sight will probably no longer fit the radius. But, depending on the type you get, screw-on or sweat on, here's how I would do it without the extra tooling, jigs and so forth. With barrel in the receiver, square up the receiver in a padded vise. Use a small C-clamp to hold the front sight while you get it squared and level. Once you have it where you want it silver solder in place. If it's a screw-on you can use an epoxy that will give you enough working time to square up the sight. Once it's dry use the holes in the sight ramp as your drilling jig. With a .22 you could just epoxy in place and leave it at that. George

May 9, 1999, 04:13 PM	#1
22man Junior Member Join Date: May 8, 1999 Posts: 6	and having it recrowned? I'm thinking about having a barrel shortened and maybe having a front sight attached as well on a .22 rimfire. Could somebody give me some ballpark figures to work with? 22man ------------------

May 10, 1999, 06:54 AM	#2
buzz riley Member Join Date: January 27, 1999 Location: KY Posts: 47	22man, I've had a couple of barrels shortened and recrowned before. The cost was about $60.00 each. The front sight work would probably be extra. Hope this helps. ------------------ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

May 10, 1999, 09:27 AM	#3
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	22Man, the costs will vary from shop to shop. I charge $40 to cut & crown. The sight would depend on whether it is a sweat-on $15 or screw-on $12 per hole to drill & tap. Smiths that do this work by hand rather than on a lathe may charge a little less for the cut & crown. George

May 10, 1999, 11:43 AM	#4
22man Junior Member Join Date: May 8, 1999 Posts: 6	Thanks guys! When you say they do it "by hand" instead of a lathe are they literally doing it with "handtools" or things like a Dremel tool, etc? Is it viable to attempt to do this oneself? I understand keeping the muzzle square to the bore is most important! Thanks for the input! I'll probably take mine to a gunsmith for both jobs, but was curious about the do-it-yourselfer trying it. 22man

May 10, 1999, 11:26 PM	#5
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	22Man, different smiths will use different methods. You are correct about the muzzle being squared to the bore. In the past when I've done them by hand I used a piloted facing tool. A dremel can be used at the bore mouth but if you attempt it be very careful. Another way is to use a head of a round brass screw coated with lapping compound or some type of abrasive grease. You'll be money ahead to pay for it done. George

May 11, 1999, 11:39 AM	#6
22man Junior Member Join Date: May 8, 1999 Posts: 6	I will definitely stick with having it done, as I don't want to effect the accuracy of the firearm. If I were to do it "correctly" it sounds like I would need a "few" more tools. A piloted facing tool, as you mentioned would be almost "necessary" unless one used a lathe, I would assume. Thanks again for the great info! 22man

May 16, 1999, 10:48 PM	#7
ArizonaMorgan Member Join Date: May 15, 1999 Posts: 58	You can get the stuff to do it from Brownells. consists of a handle, interchangeable pilots, and several cutters. cost is under $100 I believe and you can do as many barrels as you want with it.

May 17, 1999, 01:41 AM	#8
Bullmoose Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 1999 Location: Placentia,CA,USA Posts: 143	The tooling from Brownell's also has the cutter for the crown cut. It is a neat package and you don't have to buy the whole set. You can get a handle and then buy the pilots that you need (22,25,265,etc) and I think that they all use just 2 crown cutters if you don't want to handle different angles. It is a waste to spend the money for the tooling for one or two bbls as the cost for a single caliber is about $50 and the rifle or pistol sets go for $200-300 and the comoplete set is $400. I am not a pro, but have used mine for dozens of pistols that I have built and loaned it on occasion to a good buddy so it has more than payed for itself. Jim

May 17, 1999, 09:47 PM	#9
22man Junior Member Join Date: May 8, 1999 Posts: 6	Thanks guys! I checked it out and it looks like I can get away for about $80 for the tools I need to do .22's. This means two barrel jobs and it would be payed for! That would only leave HOW TO ATTACH a new front sight? 22man

June 2, 1999, 04:15 AM	#10
Rob Pincus Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Hotels Posts: 3,668	Don't forget, that the cost can be much higher, like $10,000 or your wife's Life. Make sure that you leave yourself plenty of leeway over the legal 16" if you try this at home.....

June 2, 1999, 09:13 AM	#11
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	22man, your old front sight will probably no longer fit the radius. But, depending on the type you get, screw-on or sweat on, here's how I would do it without the extra tooling, jigs and so forth. With barrel in the receiver, square up the receiver in a padded vise. Use a small C-clamp to hold the front sight while you get it squared and level. Once you have it where you want it silver solder in place. If it's a screw-on you can use an epoxy that will give you enough working time to square up the sight. Once it's dry use the holes in the sight ramp as your drilling jig. With a .22 you could just epoxy in place and leave it at that. George