Is this muzzle crown good to go ?

[kyron4]

Picked up an older CVA Hawken kit as a winter project gun. .50 caliber 28" barrel new/old stock kit. The muzzle crown at the ends of the lands is even and crisp, but as it widens out at the face of the muzzle the "chamfer" is off center, and has horrible toolmarks. I know the obvious answer is just shoot it and see, but I'm a ways from being the close, plus kit was missing sights ,so got get some of those. What are your thoughts and opinions ? Just hate to dump a bunch of time into something that may not shoot worth a darn. -Thanks

 

[flconch53]

Should be fine.

 

[2 shots]

the off center part should be ok . roughness wont hurt as long as it does not cut patches at loading . easy enough to smooth out with some emery cloth.as always said shooting it will tell all.

 

[dave951]

The roughness doesn't matter. Being a bit off center might. I wouldn't be afraid of this one. Shoot it and see if there's a problem. Fixing this is easy if it is a problem.

 

[LME]

Picked up an older CVA Hawken kit as a winter project gun. .50 caliber 28" barrel new/old stock kit. The muzzle crown at the ends of the lands is even and crisp, but as it widens out at the face of the muzzle the "chamfer" is off center, and has horrible toolmarks. I know the obvious answer is just shoot it and see, but I'm a ways from being the close, plus kit was missing sights ,so got get some of those. What are your thoughts and opinions ? Just hate to dump a bunch of time into something that may not shoot worth a darn. -Thanks

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As others have said it probably would be fine but I would mount it in the lathe and true it up. I would think about that crown every time I looked at it if I didn't.

 

[flconch53]

I think I am going to change my user name to don't over think things

 

[flconch53]

I suspect that being it is a production gun the bore may not run true to the outside of the barrel. Unless you have access to a good lathe and the skills to use it just shoot the gun

 

[kyron4]

I suspect that being it is a production gun the bore may not run true to the outside of the barrel. Unless you have access to a good lathe and the skills to use it just shoot the gun

I checked that, the bore is centered to the outside. The chamfer is just more angled on one side and less angled on the other. I only plan to shoot patched round balls so not sure if it will even make much difference.

 

[Black Powder Guy]

Coning the bore would take care of it. Will also make using a short starter null.

 

[Idaho Ron]

If it bothers you fix it. I have a rifle that was shooting awful. It's a very collectable rifle. Very, very collectable.
After struggling with accuracy issues I finally said it's not worth shooting as is. I could visibly see a nick in the crown.
I used a drill, a brass carriage bolt and valve grinding compound, and "corrected" the muzzle. I wish I would have taken a before picture. This is the after picture.
The gun went from shooting 1.5" to 2" groups to .5" groups.

 

[kyron4]

If it bothers you fix it. I have a rifle that was shooting awful. It's a very collectable rifle. Very, very collectable.
After struggling with accuracy issues I finally said it's not worth shooting as is. I could visibly see a nick in the crown.
I used a drill, a brass carriage bolt and valve grinding compound, and "corrected" the muzzle. I wish I would have taken a before picture. This is the after picture.
The gun went from shooting 1.5" to 2" groups to .5" groups.

Not really bothering me, if it shoots fine I'll leave it, if not I'll have to weigh my option. Being a cheaper kit gun I doubt I'll pay to have it turned on a lathe , likely go the route you did and see what happens.

 

[TDM]

As said, I see nothing that affect the shooting. But you can cut some squares of sand paper, say 220 down to 400, and using your thumb pressure and twisting back and fourth polish up that roughness.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I checked that, the bore is centered to the outside. The chamfer is just more angled on one side and less angled on the other. I only plan to shoot patched round balls so not sure if it will even make much difference.

Ye look good to go. But, as ye said yerself, there is only one way to find out.

 

[longcruise]

Picked up an older CVA Hawken kit as a winter project gun. .50 caliber 28" barrel new/old stock kit. The muzzle crown at the ends of the lands is even and crisp, but as it widens out at the face of the muzzle the "chamfer" is off center, and has horrible toolmarks. I know the obvious answer is just shoot it and see, but I'm a ways from being the close, plus kit was missing sights ,so got get some of those. What are your thoughts and opinions ? Just hate to dump a bunch of time into something that may not shoot worth a darn. -Thanks

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That muzzle would get a complete treatment before even bothering to shoot it.

 

[Trapper Scott]

I've used one of these to smooth out crowns and they work pretty good.

 

[64Springer]

Pacific Tool and Gauge makes very nice crowning tools and the bushings that go with them.

Would clean that chamfer up in a jiffy.

 

[Billy Boy]

Picked up an older CVA Hawken kit as a winter project gun. .50 caliber 28" barrel new/old stock kit. The muzzle crown at the ends of the lands is even and crisp, but as it widens out at the face of the muzzle the "chamfer" is off center, and has horrible toolmarks. I know the obvious answer is just shoot it and see, but I'm a ways from being the close, plus kit was missing sights ,so got get some of those. What are your thoughts and opinions ? Just hate to dump a bunch of time into something that may not shoot worth a darn. -Thanks

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Put your thumb on a piece of 220 grit paper and work it around (literally) 2-3 pieces, switch to finer grit, repeat, should clean it up so it doesn’t offend others, but it will probably shoot just fine. I would only be concerned about cutting patches on loading the way it is.