Hey Guys,
I thought I'd show off the work this little kit can do. Normally, when cutting and crowning barrels, it's best to do it in a lathe. I've had a 12"x36" Atlas under drive that was really about that smallest you could effectively use for this kind of operation, and that thing takes up 30 square feet of floor space. So, if you just want to do something with hand tools, and for cheap, this kit is really a bargain. The finished product looks better than the factory crown.

I've pilots for both 30 and 22 cal. They are expanding, and each has a range that covers most dimensions you'd expect.
This particular gun is a Remington 700 in 308. It *HAD* a 24" Sporter barrel. Total time was probably less than breaking the barrel off the receiver and chucking up the barrel in the lathe, let alone dialing it in.

First, I literally clamped the muzzle end of the barrel in a vise, and supported the other end by blocking it up:


Then, break out the hack saw and elbow grease:




From here, I put it in my vertical barrel vise, muzzle side up. A bit of file work to level it off, just so the crowning tool didn't have as much to cut:


I don't know if it's necessary or not, but I prefer to rough cut it to 0 Degrees first:




Then, recess the crown by cutting in with the 11 Degree Tool:




Finish up with some slow passes to give it a better look:



Finished product cut to 17.5":


Excess:

WOW man, that looks really good! What was the total time to do that project?

Maybe a half hour.


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Impressive result!

Well, I'll be damned. That's some pretty cool shit.

Here's a YouTube video showing the process:



Here's the kit at Brownells:
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools ... d7718.aspx

Stokes, you didn't mention the 45-degree cutter that he shows in the video (for the outer perimeter of the barrel), and it doesn't look like it's included in the Brownell's kit. I guess that's optional . . . ? Do you have a sharp edge around the outside?

I just use a scotch bright pad on the outer edge to take the point off a bit. I might get the outside cutter some year, but doesn't seem too important to me right now. I bought my stuff as two 'armorers' kits from Manson directly at the SHOT Show when they ran a special.


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There's no question that the Manson Crown cutters are fantastic.

For the more "Budget Minded", Brownells also sells a Crown Cutting Reamer that does a great job. Cutter, Pilot, and Handle are less than $100. I've cut and recrowned barrels with the Brownell's "reamer" in a similar amount of time with excellent results both in appearance and on the target. Neat thing with the inexpensive tool is that you can carry it in your range bag and touch up a "dinged crown" at the range.

For the "Edge", if you are patient and use a nice sharp "single cut mill file" a very credible bevel or radiused edge can be put on the edge of he muzzle. Make radius or bevel template out of a piece of sheet metal then file slowly using the "gauge" to measure as you file.

Very impressive. I have an Enfield SMLE I have to cut and crown. I wonder if that can be rented. I have to re-chamber it to .303 Epps and have to rent that reamer as well.

I don't know if it could be rented, but if you were ever out my direction, I'd be happy to use it on your SMLE when you're done cutting it.

Thank you and that would be awesome. I may just get the starter kit at first and build from there. I get requests all the time but I usually send them to C.A.R. Its a little far for some to drive. I think this would make a nice and profitable addition to my tool kit.