Should I? Ruger MkII barrel recrowning...

[Orion8472]

I'm having my Mk II Bull Barrel recrowned [not done yet, but talked to the smith about it]. He is going to take that 45 degree part [at the end of the barrel] off so it is flat, rather than how it looks from Ruger.

The question is, . . . Though I was wanting a flat barrel end, being that it is a Mk II Government Target Model, would that be "a no-no" for you all? I don't ever plan on selling this gun. Love it. Just wanted a flat barrel rather than the current end design. Purely asthetics.

 

[JohnM]

I sure wouldn't, unless the crown was damaged.

 

[Orion8472]

No damage, just thought it would look better flat.

 

[rcmodel]

I would leave it alone too.

The crown it has helps prevent holster damage, and dings on the sharp edge that would be there if you face it off flat.

rc

 

[JohnM]

I've got a number of target crowned barrels. None have a deep cone leading into the final crown though.
I wonder if Ruger had some good reasons for going that way.
If you know a GOOD gunsmith who knows how to crown the bore properly it shouldn't hurt anything, but I'm sure some would see it as ruining collector value on a gun.

 

[rcmodel]

I believe the taper he is referring too is on the outer edge of the muzzle.
To break the sharp outside edge of the muzzle.

I also believe his actual crown is flat across the muzzle.

rc

 

[Orion8472]

rc, . . . you are right that I was referring to the outer edge of the muzzle. However, the crown itself is not flat. It has a bit of an angle to it. I would have the smith take off the outer edge to flat and have him recess at the bore [like some target barrels do], and leave the actual bore sharp.

 

[JRH6856]

My opinion (since you asked)

How a accurately gun shoots is more important than how it looks

Barrel crown is important to how accurately a gun shoots.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[rcmodel]

Not supposed to be staring at muzzles anyway!

rc

 

[Orion8472]

Sounds like the word is . . . "no". I'll keep it as it is then.

 

[Pilot]

Good move keeping it as is.

 

[B. Adams]

If it was mine, I probably wouldn't change it.

But if I was going to change it, I'd get the barrel threaded for a suppressor. It would be much more useful to me that way, but maybe that's just me.

 

[ku4hx]

If you're convinced he'll do a good job, you can afford it, it's your gun, you know you'll like it .... why not? Given all the "mods" I see and read about, this one is rather innocuous. As long as it doesn't affect accuracy, I don't see this as any different from the "melting" job I saw not too long ago.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I like the tapered outside bevel on the end of a Ruger bull barrel. All the used ones I have seen don't show holster wear of the bluing of the barrel as I would expect to see if the barrel had a sharper flat cut end; also I expect the 45° bevel does not wear the holster as much as a sharper edge would do.

 

[Orion8472]

I talked to my gunsmith and call off the lathe work. Still having it Cerakoted to match a 10/22.

Probably better to keep the actual metal factory.

 

[Orion8472]

ku4hx, he IS a great gunsmith, . . . he WOULD do a great job, . . . and I would like it. Maybe I should learn to just do what I want and worry less about what others say.

I'll let you all see when it comes back from the smith. If nothing else, the Cerakote and black laminate grip will look awesome next to my 10/22 [getting the same Cerakote] with it's grey laminate stock.

 

[Jessie James 58]

Do not do it!! The crown of a gun is one of the most important parts of a accurate gun. If the crown is damaged even in a small way your gun will not shoot as well as it dose now!

 

[Orion8472]

Well, . . . it really DOES shoot quite accurately.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

If your proposed change is for looks, there's no reason the gunsmith can't recrown the muzzle after he has trivially shortened the barrel (to make it look better).

The crown is the area at the end of the barrel where the rifling (lands/grooves) ends -- that should be redone when the barrel is shortened, anyway. Recutting a chamfer/bevel that matches what was there before the barrel shortening should have no effect on accuracy, and could possible improve it, if there was any damage there before hand.

Do it. It's not a big deal.

 

[Orion8472]

Walt, . . . thanks for the input. The gunsmith is top notch. Accuracy could only improve.

 

[JohnM]

It's yer gun, if the original Ruger muzzle bugs you that much; lop it off.
Still don't think I would, especially if the rest of the gun is in nice shape unless there was some real damage to the crown.

 

[JRH6856]

FWIW, before and after?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

No damage, just thought it would look better flat.

A wise man once said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

[Walt Sherrill]

A wise man once said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I generally agree with this statement, but...

Try telling that to your wife when she gets a new hair style or hair color. It's that sort of thing...

She thinks it's broke. So does he. <grin>

 

[rcmodel]

I still say a flat-faced muzzle will lead to more holster wear, bluing wear, and a dinged muzzle edge sooner, if not later.

They beveled the sharp edge off like that for a reason.

rc