B3-3 Muzzle Crown

[pyrophreek]

Been shooting my B3-3 lately and even after a nice tune and a solid scope it wasn't shooting very well so I took a look at the muzzle crown and was saddened to see what I think is a chip in the crown.

was wondering if anyone else has had similar problems with their B3s and what sort of improvement they got after recrowning.

Also as this is the newer B3-3 rather than the B3-1 it has a plastic catch on the front which holds the cocking lever up.

Has anyone removed one of these before? it doesn't seem to be pinned on but rather glued?

If anyone has any suggestions for getting it off I would be much obliged.

Kimball

[shadow]

I don't have the newer model with the plastic setup on front but I've heard that it may be glued. One of my older B3's had the same problem a bur at the crown and then some. :0 I cut off a inch of barrel and gave it a new crown, problem solved. On the newer model it's just a matter of getting the plastic setup off without damage and recrowning  or cutting the barrel back and and machine a new crown but the cocking arm would also have to but shortened to lock up into the catch too. Ed

[howie1a]

I don't think you need to remove the sight assemb. to recrown the barrel just use a round grinding stone on a dremel tool. ( round like a ball on the end of the dremel grinder. )

[pyrophreek]

I had someone suggest to use a heat gun to heat up the barrel to help release the glue.  Would this cause any damage to the barrel or the blueing?

[triry]

heat gun ? not likely to cause any damage unless its softening the plastic sight.
work the heat over the sight, using gloves gently "twist" the sight to break the glue bond and it'll pull off.

[mjb108]

I agree with Howie - try to re-crown it without taking the sight off, first.

Regarding the question of heating - heat that will not melt the plastic will not hurt the metal nor the bluing.

[pyrophreek]

The sight acts like a very short muzzle break and I can't get any tools in to refinish the crown.  Tried heating the barrel to loosen the sight, but no success so far.  Any suggestions as to how to remove it? would like to keep it intact if possible as it does seem to function well.

[mikeiniowa]

I can recrown it if you wish....not that hard to do just have to do it right....

[pyrophreek]

I would like to try it myself as I already have the tools needed, just not sure how best to get the front sight off without damaging it.  Would like to be able to put it back on afterwards.

I do appreciate the offer though.

[pyrophreek]

Was able to get the front sight off! just took enough heat to soften the plastic enough to let go.  Apparently it looks like it is not glued, but just held on by friction.  A little goo gone helped lubricate and release it too.  There appears to be 4 crimps in the metal which serve to orient the sight and keep it from shifting.  

Going to file it down and redo the crown and then post the results.

K

[pyrophreek]

Heres the finished crown

Going to bed now. Gonna let you know how it shoots tommorow -_-

[Bentong]

That's outstanding crown job..let us know how she shoot from her polished hole!

[shadow]

Just a matter keeping after it until it gave in. The new crown look's good keep us posted on it's grouping. Ed