Let’s talk about rifle crowns. One of the most important features of the barrel because it is the last point that effects the bullet upon exit. The crown needs to have an even transition from the bore on all sides to ensure even gas release around the bullet. A damaged or crooked crown is detrimental to accuracy because the bullet will not be released evenly each shot leading to inconsistency. Here are a few of the main types

11 degree target: somewhere along the line, people smarter than me did testing different angles of crowns. I’m not exactly sure when, but 11 degrees has been settled on as the standard. This is the crown christensen arms uses on all bolt action rifles with great results. Typically more accurate than hunting style, the angle moves the bore transition point behind the face of the barrel to protect from damage. Because there is a lead angle and not a sharp transition to the bore, they are less susceptible to damage than recessed target.

Recessed target: this is another type of target crown. Shown in the image below, the recess is below the face of the barrel to protect against damage to the transition point of the bore. Since the release of the gas is immediately straight out, it pulls all the gas away from the bullet quickly. But because they form a sharp point at the bore transition, they are more susceptible to damage.

Standard/hunting crown: these are found on most, typical hunting rifles. They are essentially a half circle transition from the bore to the outside of the barrel. Typically not considered as accurate, but the large transition is good at protecting from damage. This is why most hunting rifles have this style.

How to tell if you are getting even gas release: in the image below you can see the 11 degree target crown of one of my rifles. You can see the residue pattern left behind makes a clean and uniform star shape. That means all gases are getting released evenly. If the pattern in the crown is uneven or has points not perpendicular to the bore, you may have a damaged crown.