Thread: Damaged Crown

Was just having a look over my old .308 and noticed this small ding on the edge of the crown. Now I’m no gunsmith but I can’t imagine that is too great for accuracy, what do you reckon, re-crown? It has been shooting like a dog which I just blamed on ammo selection, also noticed the stock has shifted and doesn’t appear to be “free floating” any longer.

The free floating is probably the biggest cause of your accuracy issues. I have heard of people cleaning up the crown with a countersunk head screw on a drill with a little bit of grinding paste on it. Just make sure you cut the screw short so it doesn't damage the inside of your barrel. Never tried it myself btw.

Originally Posted by RUMPY

The free floating is probably the biggest cause of your accuracy issues. I have heard of people cleaning up the crown with a countersunk head screw on a drill with a little bit of grinding paste on it. Just make sure you cut the screw short so it doesn't damage the inside of your barrel. Never tried it myself btw.

One of the old school brass crews with a rounded head works ok, fit the shank of the screw in to a drill, bit of grinding paste and a few seconds applying the rounded head to the crown.

Thanks @Husky1600#2. This is what I was thinking of. Thanks for giving the right advice.

If no brass screws available old style drawing pin thumbtack with fine wet n dry paper held on with a bit of looped sellotape and pin in the chuck of a drill. Worked a treat on a couple of mine.

Round head screw is def the go, failing that a piece of plastic rod and round the end off with sandpaper in the drill prior to applying paste. An earplug down the muzzle flush with the crown, and push the earplug back out with a patch on a rod once you are done lapping.

All that said - that doesn't look too bad all told, seen worse. The bedding is likely the worst cause of your issue - what action is it?

It's not the crown.

Bore scope the barrel. Make sure it's bare metal clean.

Ive been using a steel ball bearing and wet and dry for years to tidy up crowns

Originally Posted by No.3

Round head screw is def the go, failing that a piece of plastic rod and round the end off with sandpaper in the drill prior to applying paste. An earplug down the muzzle flush with the crown, and push the earplug back out with a patch on a rod once you are done lapping.

All that said - that doesn't look too bad all told, seen worse. The bedding is likely the worst cause of your issue - what action is it?

Savage Model 16 (2007) bolt action. Took the stock out to the shed this afternoon, put some sand paper around a tube socket and got my float clearance back.

Whenever crown damage comes up on here I often think being such a simple job, definitely fix it but don't expect amazing results. But when you zoom in on the photo, that damage does appear to be quite substantially proud of the bore which would lead me to wondering how far in the bruising goes.

It's right on the rifling lands, it looks worse than it is. I've seen similar before which makes me think it's something other than impact damage?

My model 16 had the action screws come loose after 20 rounds recently yet had been torqued down correctly. If it does it again it will get some blue loctite

looks like another little ding at 11 o clock as well

If you look at it there are marks on all of the lands at the crown - I've seen similar marking before and I'm kind of convinced it is to do with the passage of bullet or gasses past the lands. The chances of an impact mark right on every land at the muzzle is slim I'd say but possible??? Unlikely though?