I have a SMLE barrel that I have shortened and want to recrown it. Was going to do it myself, but action won't swing inside headstock of lathe, the spindle bore is too small! What would a gunsmith charge to do this? Thanks!
crowning cost
- Thread starter sinawalli
- Start date
samsplacci71
Regular
- Location
- Toronto area
PTG, Manson Reamers and others have DIY drill chuck friendly crowing tools with barrel inserts. Slow rpm, oil and a steady hand ... voilà recrowned muzzle. I've used a buddy's. If you're half handy DIY guy, this is a fun and relatively easy project.
When I was 19 I bought a Savage No4 2 groove sporter Enfield at an MNR auction with the purpose of cutting the barrel at 19 inch's and putting the original front and guard back on, which I did.I wanted to make MY ultimate brush gun.
I hacksawed the barrel, trued it up with a file and used a 3/8ths ball shaped grindstone held in a cordless drill, turning slowly to crown it. I had a friend spray water with a windex bottle to keep flushing out the cutting/grinding's.
I mounted the sling on the left side of the stock and rebent a middle barrel band to put the swivel on the left. I also inletted the rear handguard and forestock to compensate for the new barrel band position.
That rifle has been my go to gun since then.
I turn 48 in a couple months.
I hacksawed the barrel, trued it up with a file and used a 3/8ths ball shaped grindstone held in a cordless drill, turning slowly to crown it. I had a friend spray water with a windex bottle to keep flushing out the cutting/grinding's.
I mounted the sling on the left side of the stock and rebent a middle barrel band to put the swivel on the left. I also inletted the rear handguard and forestock to compensate for the new barrel band position.
That rifle has been my go to gun since then.
I turn 48 in a couple months.
Nice!! That's my Plan B! Also need to refit the front sight, and thread barrel for flash hider.
Checked with a local gunsmith who wants $100 to remove the barrel, and another $100 to put it back on!! Faaaack!
$10 90 degrees crown cutter does perfect job every time in co-junction with appropriate
[h=1]$5 Case Length Gauge also from Lee. You will get nice target crown in 10 minutes.[/h]
Well maybe on an SMLE... but perfect and nice don't really describe it accurately ...
Not avoiding it, just forgot! 19 inches is the barrel length after cutting, measured with bolt in action.
"Licensed smiths" are like Pope's teeth in a whore house! Lol! Got your PM, thank you, will advise!
Well maybe on an SMLE... but perfect and nice don't really describe it accurately ...
You would be surprised with results of this little tool. Trick is to utilize it properly. After all most of the crowning tools in industry have been hand tools for centuries.
Lathe is the best way but it is over kill and it is not the tool everyone has in the basement. This one comes center drilled and tapped for any size pilot you want.
