Muzzle Crown Questions
I just purchased a Springfield 1903 that was manufactured in 1929. Overall it is in really good condition. The only issue I see on the surface is that the muzzle crown is gone. Is this something that I can do myself or should a gunsmith do it? If I can do it does anyone have a recommendation of what tools etc I'll need. I recently saw that there is some type of crowning system that uses an ordinary hand drill. Anybody have any info on this I'd appreciate it.
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Although Brownell's sells muzzle crowning tools, I wouldn't be doing anything to yours if it's still arsenal original. Collectors would pay big bucks for a original SA, that includes the muzzle crown.
If yours has been sporterized on the other hand, or you intend to keep it for your own use and you feel that recrowning will help accuracy, go to it.0 -
A round-head brass screw, valve grinding compound, and a hand or electric drill. Go to the library and read a gunsmithing book on it.
BUT, if the crown is really gone it could be from excessive cleaning rod wear which would affect the last quarter inch of the barrel and a good crown will not improve that issue.0 -
Gen. Hatcher ran some tests by wallowing out 1903 muzzles with a stone like very accelerated cleaning rod wear. He found out it did not hurt accuracy nearly as bad as was expected... within military and hunting rifle limits. Of course if it were a NM '03 that would be pretty sad. 0 -
As an alternative suggestion, if the muzzle is really worn, but the gun is otherwise OK, instead of a recrown, you could do a counterbore, which basically accomplishes the same thing, just leaves the barrel contour original.
As already mentioned, I don't think I'd do ANYTHING if this were an original condition collectible gun.0
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