Crown appears to have been destroyed by "gunsmith"

[Mississippi-tacA1]

Hey y'all this is my first post unfortunately. I was about to mount a Razor Gen II 3-18 I just bought off of @xxflyingturtlexx (great condition and nice packaging btw no issue there), on a bergara b14 hunter .300wm that I had the barrel threaded by someone in MS who seems to be a wannabe gunsmith. I am attaching pics to show the damage caused to my crown. I ran a qtip inside the barrel and the burred edges were so sharp it cut the qtip in half! Glad I didn't start shooting...

Unfortunately the man would not back up his work so I am going to take it to someone who is competent. Let this be a warning to those are considering taking their property to an unknown smith. I learned my lesson the hard way..

 

[parshal]

I'd shoot it. No need to wait until it's made to look right. It may shoot fantastic as-is.

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

Really? Doesn't look safe.. don't want to waste ammo either

 

[buffalowinter]

Really? Doesn't look safe.. don't want to waste ammo either

It's safe, try it.

 

[Milf Dots]

If you close your eyes it doesn't look so bad...

All kidding aside- small claims court is the way.

 

[Rex_Allen]

Looks like it was crowned free hand with a dremel

 

[HMRamateur]

Lol wtf, did he do that crown job with a power drill?

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

Looks like it was crowned free hand with a dremel

it sure does...

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

Lol wtf, did he do that crown job with a power drill?

No idea.. If the next guy fixes it I'll post "after" pics

 

[JBoomhauer]

Everything about that is shit. Call it a lesson learned and go elsewhere to have it fixed. Ask to see examples of work before dropping it off.

 

[parshal]

Crowning a barrel takes a 15 seconds if you've already indicated everything and have just threaded the muzzle. It makes no sense why that wouldn't have been done.

When I first started crowning I ran a 45 degree pilot reamer in the muzzle to chamfer. I quit doing that since it was just another operation. It shot no different than a perfectly flat crown. When I first saw the pics I thought that's what was done but, nope, that wasn't it.

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

Looks like it was crowned free hand with a dremel

I don't think you are far off..

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

It's safe, try it.

I'm ignorant on the subject, but from what I can tell it seems like an obstruction. The burr is that bad on the inside. Now the bullet may smooth it out but I'm not sure I want to take that chance.

 

[themightytimmah]

Looks like a Freedom Group era Marlin crown!

Should be a fairly easy fix, barrel isn’t permanently ruined thankfully.

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

Crowning a barrel takes a 15 seconds if you've already indicated everything and have just threaded the muzzle. It makes no sense why that wouldn't have been done.

When I first started crowning I ran a 45 degree pilot reamer in the muzzle to chamfer. I quit doing that since it was just another operation. It shot no different than a perfectly flat crown. When I first saw the pics I thought that's what was done but, nope, that wasn't it.

Definitely would have rather had your 45 degree chamfer. I bet it was symmetrical and concentric anyway

 

[OnyxSkyDV]

Did he deburr it with this?

 

[ShtrRdy]

That looks terrible. I'd question if the threading was done right.

 

[Rob01]

Is that for a brake or can? No way I would run a can with that shitty work. Get it redone and threading checked.

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

Is that for a brake or can? No way I would run a can with that shitty work. Get it redone and threading checked.

For a can, I had the same thought. He wouldn’t back his own work. And it takes a lot for me to say that about someone

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

That looks terrible. I'd question if the threading was done right.

I had the same thought

 

[JBoomhauer]

I had the same thought

It is not. Do not even think of putting a can on that.

 

[hafejd30]

There’s a 7 axis dremel guy here that can fix that right up for you!!

He works on AI’s so he must be good!!

 

[Tokay444]

Turn him from an unknown gunsmith into a known one.

 

[srt-4_uk]

Doesn't look like enough shoulder for a suppressor either.

 

[JBoomhauer]

Doesn't look like enough shoulder for a suppressor either.

It doesn’t. Is that sandblasted? I mean it is one way to try and hide shitty “machining”

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

Turn him from an unknown gunsmith into a known one.

Borthwick Ballistics, Sturgis, MS. I hope he’s on here

 

[hafejd30]

Pics are blurry for me. Is that threaded? End cap on there?

 

[JBoomhauer]

Quick internet search… oof.

Sturgis gunsmith thriving after successful opening months

As customers came and went in and out of Army Navy Pawn and Gun on Saturday, they passed by a man with gun parts strewn across a table.

www.starkvilledailynews.com

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

Pics are blurry for me. Is that threaded? End cap on there?

Hell no!

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

There’s a 7 axis dremel guy here that can fix that right up for you!!

He works on AI’s so he must be good!!

Where’s he at? Haha

 

[msgriff]

Doesn't look like enough shoulder for a suppressor either.

It certainly doesn't.

OP, you should look into some of your options before you take it in somewhere else. Maybe post your intended suppressor mount (or suppressor, if direct thread) and the OD of the barrel at the shoulder.

 

[doubloon]

Doesn't look like enough shoulder for a suppressor either.

What shoulder?

 

[doubloon]

bergara b14 hunter .300wm that I had the barrel threaded

What thread pattern is that?

I'm not familiar with the B14 but gaggling the barrel profile there are good ones for threading and bad ... exactly what model do you have?

Looks like one of the pencil barrels that is 0.650" at the muzzle ... shouldna been threaded.

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

Borthwick, who is a self-taught, tells people to find him on "The Facebook."

Lesson learned op. Would you let a crackhead work on your car? Why let a moron work on your gun?

 

[Im2bent]

What shoulder?

Well the threads end so ..........

 

[R_A_W]

"The University of Youtube is good for some things, but not all things," Borthwick said.

If he really did that & is telling you to pound sand, I'd add that picture to his Google Maps page.

I have no idea what MS rates are for gunsmiths... but the shop rates of the people I'm using are more than 2x this guy. Sometimes, you get what you pay for.

 

[hafejd30]

If he really did that & is telling you to pound sand, I'd add that picture to his Google Maps page.

I have no idea what MS rates are for gunsmiths... but the shop rates of the people I'm using are more than 2x this guy. Sometimes, you get what you pay for.

View attachment 8212243

$55 an hour to look like you stuck the muzzle in a pencil sharpener

 

[Jgault]

For a can, I had the same thought. He’s a sorry pos that wouldn’t back his own work. And it takes a lot for me to say that about someone

Your probably better off, there is a difference between a mistake and incompetence, and that’s definitely the latter, take it to someone else before he does damage the rifle can’t walk away from.

 

[R_A_W]

$55 an hour to look like you stuck the muzzle in a pencil sharpener

Yeah the counter argument is this is such an easy thing to do, even someone charging $55/hr should be able to get this right

edit
well, looks like $55/hr isn't atypical. Guess I'm overpaying

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

It certainly doesn't.

OP, you should look into some of your options before you take it in somewhere else. Maybe post your intended suppressor mount (or suppressor, if direct thread) and the OD of the barrel at the shoulder.

Thanks good idea. It’s a QD mount for a yhm resonator

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

Your probably better off, there is a difference between a mistake and incompetence, and that’s definitely the latter, take it to someone else before he does damage the rifle can’t walk away from.

It won’t be going back.. lmao it’s safe and sound

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

Borthwick, who is a self-taught, tells people to find him on "The Facebook."

Lesson learned op. Would you let a crackhead work on your car? Why let a moron work on your gun?

If I had seen “the Facebook” comment I wouldn’t have. First work I’ve ever had anyone do, I asked multiple times if he could thread concentric to inner bore.. he was adamant he could, but little did I know until it was too late.

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

$55 an hour to look like you stuck the muzzle in a pencil sharpener

If he really did that & is telling you to pound sand, I'd add that picture to his Google Maps page.

I have no idea what MS rates are for gunsmiths... but the shop rates of the people I'm using are more than 2x this guy. Sometimes, you get what you pay for.

View attachment 8212243

This was the first work I’ve had done.. ever. Live and learn. All I wanted was a barrel threaded can’t win for losing

 

[doubloon]

and the OD of the barrel at the shoulder.

If this is accurate it looks like maybe the ones that could be threaded came that way.

I'm guessing less than 0.750" OD at the muzzle but it really is hard to tell from the blurry pics whether the shoulder is wider than the protector.

https://www.bergara.online/us/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/04/B14-Barrel-Dimensions1.pdf

 

[R_A_W]

If you're looking for a local smith, I understand that. But if you're looking at cost...

A reputable gunsmith with >10 years of experience that charges you $120 for 1 hour of work most likely did a full 1 hour of work. He has the experience & tools to not waste time and that 1 hour is what it took to get the job done properly.

An unknown gunsmith that started up 2 years ago without any prior work experience has neither the experience nor the quality or quantity of tools to do the same job in the same amount of time. Assuming this new gunsmith does NOT mess up, you can often end up paying about about the same amount as you would have paid the experienced gunsmith.

just my $0.02

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

What thread pattern is that?

I'm not familiar with the B14 but gaggling the barrel profile there are good ones for threading and bad ... exactly what model do you have?

Looks like one of the pencil barrels that is 0.650" at the muzzle ... shouldna been threaded.

What thread pattern is that?

I'm not familiar with the B14 but gaggling the barrel profile there are good ones for threading and bad ... exactly what model do you have?

Looks like one of the pencil barrels that is 0.650" at the muzzle ... shouldna been threaded.

It is .650”.. I didn’t know any better not to have it threaded.

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

It's safe, try it.

Hard pass

 

[Mississippi-tacA1]

If you're looking for a local smith, I understand that. But if you're looking at cost...

A reputable gunsmith with >10 years of experience that charges you $120 for 1 hour of work most likely did a full 1 hour of work. He has the experience & tools to not waste time and that 1 hour is what it took to get the job done properly.

An unknown gunsmith that started up 2 years ago without any prior work experience has neither the experience nor the quality or quantity of tools to do the same job in the same amount of time. Assuming this new gunsmith does NOT mess up, you can often end up paying about about the same amount as you would have paid the experienced gunsmith.

just my $0.02

That’s good input, at the time I couldn’t find anybody and unfortunately ended up crossing paths with him.

 

[R_A_W]

Fortunately, that damage is pretty easy to resolve. I'd just have a different smith chop off the threaded portion & recrown.

 

[doubloon]

It is .650”.. I didn’t know any better not to have it threaded.

It's not really a "know better" situation it's more of a how to make it work situation. People thread undersized barrels and make them work, just not my personal preference. I have a rifle I want to eventually cut down and thread and as soon as it's cut the muzzle OD will be .650" as well ... so I'll be facing the same issue eventually.

The main problem with not having a "proper" shoulder is there isn't much to square the suppressor on.

Class 3 machining in Dallas is a place I trust. If you give him a .650 barrel to thread 5/8x24 he will thread it if you really want him to but "no warranty".

I'm pretty sure you don't need to worry about warranty.

My biggest worry at this point would be cocentricity or whether or not the threads are accurately aligned with the path of the bore.

Getting that barrel recrowned would be the least of my worries but one of my biggest annoyances.

This is one solution for threading a thin barrel. When I'm ready to thread that thin barrel of mine I'll be trying to find someone who can do this.