Coning

[Crow#21957]

Can't coning hurt the accuracy of a barrel?

 

[longcruise]

Probably depends on the quality of the work. I've never coned or had it done. I do rework the crown on all my barrels and find the idea of coning intriguing but don't want to risk doing it.

 

[Grenadier1758]

@Crow#21957, if the coning is properly centered as the Woods coning tools are, the accuracy won't be harmed. Coning is a long form factor for the crown of the barrel that makes loading much easier.

 

[Pete G]

Seems that sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. You have to try it.

 

[mike54]

I did it to my 54 and it shoots cloverleafs with 5 shots at 75yds.

 

[Crow#21957]

Thanks sounds like most guys are having hood luck with it.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I coned my longrifle with Joe Wood's tool and neither point of impact nor group size were affected.

 

[Crow#21957]

Thanks Dave

 

[Walkaheap]

Second or third recommendation for Mr. Wood's tool available from him on this board. Coned my two .50's and no change in accuracy. Speeds up reloading by eliminating the need for a short starter
Walkaheap.

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

I had a friend cone a barrel of a Pedersoli KY rifle.
It is much easier to load & shoots the same for me.
Coning is talked about at the 5:50 timestamp below:

 

[Eric Krewson]

Joe Woods tool is what I used on 2 of my .54s I have shot one but not the other.

Here is the 50-yard group with the rifle I coned and shot. I was shooting low as I adjusted the sights so I held high for the first shot for a group, I added 5 more gr of powder and used my normal 6 o'clock hold for the next two.

 

[Alexitt]

I've coned all 6 of my .50 cal rifles/pistols... No noticeable difference in accuracy but a darn sight easier to load... One less tool to have to carry in the bag is a bonus in my book...

 

[jd945043]

Can't coning hurt the accuracy of a barrel?

Think about it would the Colonial and Early American gunsmiths gone to the trouble to make an accurate barrel then screw it up by relieving it or coning it.

 

[Alexitt]

Think about it would the Colonial and Early American gunsmiths gone to the trouble to make an accurate barrel then screw it up by relieving it or coning it.

My understanding FWIW is that a great many originals that have been examined over the years were coned... I'm sure some of the more knowledgeable folks on here could give a yea or nay on that... Just that I've never heard of a barrel ruined by the tiny amount of taper involved, of course humans being what we are doesn't mean it hasn't happened...

 

[Kobuk]

I don't suppose that anyone wants to sell or rent me their 54 cal coning tool? I only have one rifle to cone and thought I'd ask? Thanks.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

My understanding FWIW is that a great many originals that have been examined over the years were coned... I'm sure some of the more knowledgeable folks on here could give a yea or nay on that... Just that I've never heard of a barrel ruined by the tiny amount of taper involved, of course humans being what we are doesn't mean it hasn't happened...

They were not coned. People think filing the grooves to the muzzle is coning, but it's not. The coning tools used today allow shooters to use oversize ball / patch combinations without a short starter that were not used in the old days. Friendship shooters began using such combinations in the early years of the NMLRA. In the old days accurate target rifles were choked to improve accuracy just like the slug rifles used today.

 

[Acorn Mush]

Coned my .45 cal. Dixie Pennsylvania rifle (made by Pedersoli) several years back using Joe Woods' tool and instructions. It was a simple job to do which made loading easier. I did not detect any change in accuracy.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Doesn’t hurt my groups! Albeit only 25-yards, but at least was shot offhand … 50-cal IH rifle.

 

[Scott Jones]

Used a coning tool to repair the damage to the muzzle of one of my caplocks; shoots a lot better now.

 

[M. De Land]

Can't coning hurt the accuracy of a barrel?

The thing I worry about and perhaps needlessly is long term accuracy if not using a rod guide fit precisely to the cone taper as the whole idea is to facilitate loading without a short starter or loading rod guide. With muzzle loading rifles, crown square and land end/taper angle uniformity, equals accuracy.