Gunsmithing Can this be recrowned?

nikonNUT

The harbinger of... things not working anymore
Full Member
Minuteman
  • Oct 6, 2019
    2,385
    4,601
    53
    The Wilds of Arkansas
    Alright guys,
    I done fucked up. I have a Tippmann M4-22 with a 7" barrel and running a DA mask on it tucked in a 9" handguard. Looks cool and the long handguard lets me run a clip on for hunting egg suckers and the like around the house at night. Downside is it is a PITA to get the suppressor off. Gotta pull the handguard and that screws up the colimnation of the thermal so normal post shooting procedure was to lock the bolt back and let it breathe for a couple hours before putting it in the safe (Several Eva-Drys in there but I digress). Pulled it apart for a deep clean and saw a bad thing...
    Tippmann crown.jpg

    So yeah... I fucked up! Question is this. I'm going to put a Wojtek .22 QD on it so I can pull the suppressor at will and to do this I need to whack about .030" off an inch off the crown as per Wojtek if the threads are more than .400" long I'll need a spacer (I'm at .4155") so I figger I'd have it shortened to .385". Do y'all think that is enough to clean it up or should I spring for a new barrel (cheap enough at $150.00) and a spacer ($12.00) and not look back? I have a good gunsmith that I think would do it for about $75.00 so I'm torn. The inside of the barrel looks ok so I am guessing that with the rifle sitting at an angle the moisture pooled to one side and didn't get in the barrel to add another data point (Should have stored it muzzle down but too late now). What say y'all? Lop and re-crown or new barrel. Not like it's a Vudoo or anything. I just want it to be minute of squirrel. Thanks in advance!
     
    Last edited:
    So....... how does it shoot? I'm not just busting your balls, I'm curious. Does that have any effect on accuracy
    Seems ok. I'm going to throw it back together, test it sans suppressor, and report back. I want to say that new without a suppressor my best was .625" at 50 yards. At least I have a baseline.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Hecouldgoalltheway
    Just go back from the range. 26 degrees and a 6 mph left to right steady wind with some gusts. Ammo was CCI SV and it was giving me fits but that was due to my dumb ass . Anyways…
    Ballistic-X-Export-2024-01-21 12:58:45.502005.jpg

    Obviously POA is off because I pulled the scope off but 7 of the shots seeem OK-ish. Drop the 2 that went wide ( I know. Cheater! I don't get to pick and choose) and it’s .721" wide x .872" high at 50 yards with a 7” barrel and cheap ammo aka minute of squirrel but 🤷🏻‍♂️ What say y’all? Let it eat?
     
    For $75 drop it at the gunsmith, have him cut it down and clean up the crown. Done! Assuming he can turn it around in a reasonable time frame that works for you.

    If you start buying a brass screw, lapping compound, spacer and your time and labor you'll end up not that far from $75 for a fair job. Just pay the man. lol
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Gasgun and nikonNUT
    Well, the new barrel is in and currently marinating in SOTARacha (Mobile1 synthetic grease cut with Mobile1 0w20 synthetic oil) to "help" with my previous issue. Taking the suppressor off will help more but I digress. The old barrel is a 3/4" straight taper so I'm going to take it to our other shop (has a lathe with a collet closer and a DRO) and face it then throw an 11 degree crown on it. Always good to have a spare, right?
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Modoc