Gunsmithing cleaning up my crown

[PCR]

I'd like some advise here.

New Shilen 6mm cm barrel chambered in .243, headspaced and crowned by a local smith.

The crown has burrs or a rough edge and appears to be unfinished. I'd like to lap the 90 degree edge of my crown with a 3/16" brass ball, chucked in a hand drill with lapping compound. I do believe that the crown was cut true, just never finished.

Hope the picture below is clear enough to validate my observation. Also, you'll notice that the muzzle plug left a bare metal ring around the muzzle when cerakote was applied. The rifle has never been fired.

Seems like a simple task... Randy?, William?, smiths? any suggestions before I do this?

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: cleaning up my crown

skip the drill and use your dick beaters.....go both directions...patch clean....priceless !

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: cleaning up my crown

There is a piloted hand crowning tool that Brownells sells but, by the time you purchase it and the bushings, you could have had a gunsmith do it for you cheaper. I'm amazed at some of the crowns these gunsmith hacks are doing. If you’re determined to do this purchase the round brass ball and lap it in. I think either Brownells or RW Hart sells it as well.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Re: cleaning up my crown

Run a brush thru it ........ Shoot it and see what happens......
Respectfully,
LG

 

[PCR]

Re: cleaning up my crown

Thanks William. I've been trying to get the smith to fix numerous problems with his work on this rifle since January. He finally told me that it was done and when I got there (15 miles), the bbl was loose. I took it and cut my losses at that point. I had a trusted smith check dimensions and he had to shave a thou. from the chamber. I commented on this rifle situation in a couple of threads a while back last December when the drama was just getting started. Any az locals interested in who the smith is, shoot me a pm. Otherwise, I doubt anyone else will run into him.

I'll order a Brownells brass ball and should I get 600 grit lapping compound?

LG, Hopefully I can shoot it in the next couple of days. Range is closed for remodeling and the forest service closes forest land to shooting in the summer here due to dry conditions making it a long drive to shoot.

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: cleaning up my crown

600 should be fine. Dont get carried away, you're just trying to clean it up, just touch it a little at a time. A small burr, one that just catches Q-Tip fiber, will be gone the first time you shoot and clean. If thats what you have, blast away. Some big name BR Gunsmiths dont even polish the crown, burr or not.

 

["Partridge"]

Re: cleaning up my crown

wow,that guy should leave the precision rifles alone.how much money did he beat you out of.

 

[mdesign]

Re: cleaning up my crown

I would be careful when touching up the crown. Sometimes they shoot better than they look. Might want to shoot it first and then see if you still need to do it.

I've sometimes regretted fixing a problem before I knew if I had one.

 

[PCR]

Re: cleaning up my crown

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mdesign</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would be careful when touching up the crown. Sometimes they shoot better than they look. Might want to shoot it first and then see if you still need to do it.

I've sometimes regretted fixing a problem before I knew if I had one.</div></div>

Good advise

 

[PCR]

Re: cleaning up my crown

Just to update. I used a brass ball with 600 grit lapping compound and it shoots bug holes...