When you use a lathe to recrown a rifle barrel is this done with the barrel on the action or does it have to be removed? I have a pre 64 M70 in .270 that could maybe use a recrown job. I have got it from a 4 to 5 inch gun when I bought it down to less than 2 inches at 100 yds. I thought that I would have it recrowned an try to see if that might help a bit. I know my reloads could be better but I do have other guns that shoot a lot better than this one so I thought this might help a 50 year old rifle.

This is a bit off your question, I bought a crowning tool from Brownels with variuos size guides. I touch up all my "acquistions" with this tool, amazing how much off square some of the muzzles are. FWIW --- John303.

If the barreled action will fit through your headstock and you have a means to support the back end so it doesn't flop around, then leave it on, provided you can dial in the bore.

I don't have a lathe or any kind of skills to run one. I was wondering what is the correct way to recrown a rifle. With the barrel on or off the action. Or is there a best way. I don't want to use a hand tool.

quote:

Originally posted by 257 Rock:
I don't have a lathe or any kind of skills to run one.

Then hire it done.

quote:

Originally posted by Westpac:
[Then hire it done.

Truer words are seldom spoken.

Thanks for the answers to my questions. Its all so clear to me now. Don't ask questions just hirea gunsmith. I wasn.t going to buy a lathe and then go to school to learn how to use it I am going to hire a gunsmith but was wondering if there was a proper way to go about recrowing a rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by 257 Rock:
Thanks for the answers to my questions. Its all so clear to me now. Don't ask questions just hirea gunsmith. I wasn.t going to buy a lathe and then go to school to learn how to use it I am going to hire a gunsmith but was wondering if there was a proper way to go about recrowing a rifle.

Go re-read my first reply. How much clearer do you need it??? Was it not answered in a way that you can understand? You can crown a barrel in a lathe with or without the action attached. Either way is perfectly acceptable provided the setup is solid. The determining factor for me is whether the presence of the action prevents me from dialing in the bore. If it does, it's gone. Real simple. The gunsmith you hire to do the job should be able to determine which method will work best for him. Pick a gunsmith who knows what he's doing and you should be fine.

I will talk to a local gunsmith and see how he would tackle this little project. Was just looking for a heads up before talking to him. Westpac your first responce was very much what I wanted to know. Long frustrating day at work and I take out on the internet that on me . Sorry Again Thanks

to restate
a lathe cut crown is NORMALLY done barrel off the action. Some people may have a lathe that can take it on action ...

either way, you can mar the finish

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
either way, you can mar the finish

That's why you should always hire a professional!

I've done it a buncha ways including lathe headstock, lathe tailstock, piloted hand tools and the old tried-&-true file-and-brass-lapping-ball method.

All will give good results if done properly, and therefore all are acceptable. Of course any lathe setup can mar the finish but all the methods mentioned have their own areas of concern and possible FUBARs.

The advice to hire it done is good advice, and IIWY I'd be trying to research the background and qualifications of my specific potential smith rather than the 'preferred' method. IMO any method will yield good results but ONLY IF done properly.
Regards, Joe

Either way is correct but you pull a barrel only if you need to to get the job done. You can open up a whole new can of worms by doing more than you need to to.

I live about 45 minutes from you. Bring it down and I'll recrown if for you while you wait and you can take it back home with you... Or contact Jim See @ centershot rifles in Pittsville. He can do the job for you also without taking the barrel off.

Thanks Matt

With Deer season only a couple of weeks down the road and the rifle dialed in as best I can, I'll look a little harder into this in the next month or so after deer season.