polishing a barrel

[kenbo]

Is there a recommended way to polish a chambered barrel utilizing the lathe that will not damage the crown?

 

[Rustystud]

Kenbo:

I like a counter bored crown for the protection it gets.

I have a piloted 79 degree counterbore made for me by Dave Kiff at PT&G. I face the muzzle with a piloted 90 degree cutter. Then radius the outer edge with a file. I then counter bore the crown about .100. I have a shouldered plug that does not touch the crown but is snug fitting in the counter bored muzzle face. The back of the plug is center drilled with a 60 degree center drill.

I can place the plug into the hole and insert a live center into the back of the plug. I use a wrap of 4 gauge copper wire between the tendon threads and the lathe jaws.

This allows me to polish the barrel with no contact with the bore and crown. It also allows me to glass bead the barrel in a jig.

Hope my description has not left you in the dark.

Rustystud