Crowning Options?

[BigDaddyKane]

I'm looking at replacing the barrel on my rifle. When I researched the barrels from McGowan they showed a list of options on crowning. Honestly I have NO idea what the benefits of any of them are. Can anybody explain to me the concepts of rifle crowning and what different styles do? I pasted a link to the page on McGowan that shows their options. They show an 11 degree, round, and recessed. Any help would be appreciated since when I emailed McGowan directly they just say "go with the 11 degree." But no explanation whatsoever.

Contouring

 

[backwoods83]

Recessing the crown protects it from getting banged up, the rolled crown is what you find on most typical factory rifle, the 11* is for accuracy by aiding in the flow outward of muzzle blast. I think what your looking for is a 28" 1:10 twist savage varmint contour .800" at muzzle with the 11* target crown. That'll run you 330.00 from Fred at 4D reamer rentals, check out his website, just search 4D reamer rentals, usually shows up at your door in 4-5 weeks.

 

[J E Custom]

I like both the recessed and the 11o crowns, and depending on use, I will select one of the two.

The buttoned crown is OK if done right. But it is primarily for cleaning from the muzzle (A No No
on a rifle intended for accuracy).

I use the recess if the owner is one of those guys that ride around with the barrel down on the
floor of his pickup and make it around 1/8" deep to protect it.

For the guy that wants the best accuracy and takes care or his equipment I will recommend the
11o crown.

You can also get a recessed 11o crown for a little more protection.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Bart B]

From Elmer Shook, premier riflesmith who fit so many barrels for National Champions years ago:

Crown: the finish and shape of the muzzle from the groove diameter (or a bit more out) across the lands inward to the bore diameter.

Face: the angle of the muzzle from the edge of the crown to the muzzle diameter.

Years ago, a top shooter put diffferent face angles on a match barrel. The crown was the same for each; a 1/2" diameter brass ball with lapping compound on it that was pushed in to crown the muzzle until the edge just past the groove diameter was smooth. He started with a zero degree face; right angle to the bore. Then faced the muzzle one degree at a time to 15 degrees.

Clamping the rifle in a machine rest and shooting 20-shot strings with each face angle, the test groups started so so, then went down to wonderful, then back up to about average. At 11 degrees, best accuracy was attained.

'Nuff said about the muzzle face (or crown, if you prefer).

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

recessed for me and I will go as far as having a factor barrel crown re cut

 

[MTBULLET]

I like both the recessed and the 11o crowns, and depending on use, I will select one of the two.

The buttoned crown is OK if done right. But it is primarily for cleaning from the muzzle (A No No
on a rifle intended for accuracy).

I use the recess if the owner is one of those guys that ride around with the barrel down on the
floor of his pickup and make it around 1/8" deep to protect it.

For the guy that wants the best accuracy and takes care or his equipment I will recommend the
11o crown.

You can also get a recessed 11o crown for a little more protection.

J E CUSTOM

+1 on the recessed 11 deg., I use this on my "truck" guns.

 

[BigDaddyKane]

Thanks for all the responses guys. You can guarantee that this rifle will be cared for and never abused in the floor of my truck. So I think I'll have the 11 degree crowning on my barrel. Thanks again!

T