How to Inspect Your Barrel Crown With a Q-Tip

November 27, 2021. The last inch or so of your barrel’s length is extremely important. Any damage to the crown or abnormal wear will result in a significant drop in accuracy. You can inspect the barrel’s end with a Q-Tip.
You can use an ordinary Q tip cotton swab to check if there is damage or a burr in your crown. You can check the crown’s edges by gently pulling the Q-tip out from the crown’s edge. If you have a burr it will “grab” the fabric and leave strands behind. Larry Willis offers another way to use aQ-Tip. “Here’s an interesting trick that will amaze you with how it works.” Simply insert a QTip into your barrel, as shown in the image below. It will reflect enough light to allow you to see the barrel’s crown and last inch of rifling. This will work better than a flashlight in most cases. Larry says, “I’ve used the method about a jillion of times. Q-Tips can be kept in your cleaning supplies as a handy tool. This is a great way to gauge how clean your barrel is when you’re at range. This is also a great way to inspect your barrel while you’re out in the field. Larry Willis is the inventor and designer of Innovative Technologies’ Belted Magnum Collet Resizing Die. Larry Willis explains the operation of this die and provides other reloading tips at LarryWillis.com. Similar Posts: Tags : Barrel Cotton Swab Crown Larry Willis Muzzle Q-tip, Reloading