Follow-up to the FX Crown session to session POI shift issue

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If you are considering retrofitting the Continuum barrel system to the earlier Crown, don't think that will happen, too much machine work involved. And regarding a recall, I don't remember that ever occurring in the firearm or air gun industry, except when a safety issue was discovered. Otherwise, there is nothing "wrong" with the old system, it just isn't a very good design. I see FX as one of those companies that lets (forces) their customers to do most of their R&D work. I bought a Crown with my eyes open, and frankly, didn't like the design. But, I was encouraged by owners' reports, so I jumped on the wagon. After about 6 months, I decided I had had enough fun, and bailed out. I realize there are many owners who love their Crown rifles, and appear to have no problems with them. I can only take my own counsel on it. I may learn slow, but I learn well.
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What machining would it require? Inside the breech the hole is exactly the same and the brass and stainless steel part have exactly the same dimensions on the outside -> long story short: from the breech point of view nothing has changed.

The difference now is that the steel sleeve is removed, the liner is clamped in on the breech end of the barrel and the shroud is supported by the centering pieces on multiple points on the barrel.

1586453668_18980554805e8f5ca4f2d462.86779185.jpg


1586453684_14667387385e8f5cb4dbc174.17165678.jpg

 
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Sto,

You can check the archives for the previous threads on this subject if you like. You will see the steps taken by myself and others than suffer this issue. I have a machine shop, so I have all the tools needed to check for sizes and fits. Several iterations of complete disassembly and reassembly checking size, lengths and torque applied to all fasteners, barrel and stripper as well as "O" rings. I also moved the extendable shroud to the rear most position locking the shroud in place. All to no avail. The barrel on my Crown is 600 mm add to that a 200 mm Moderator and you have an 800 mm multi-part assembly supported only on the receiver end. From an engineer's point of view, the design is truly frail, if not stupid. A reasonable fit of barrel to receiver of .001" clearance is difficult to achieve on every gun made on an assembly line and yet, even that clearance is too loose for consistent barrel location after every assembly. What is amazing to me is that only some of these Crowns exhibit the problem.
Click to expand...

Sto,

You can check the archives for the previous threads on this subject if you like. You will see the steps taken by myself and others than suffer this issue. I have a machine shop, so I have all the tools needed to check for sizes and fits. Several iterations of complete disassembly and reassembly checking size, lengths and torque applied to all fasteners, barrel and stripper as well as "O" rings. I also moved the extendable shroud to the rear most position locking the shroud in place. All to no avail. The barrel on my Crown is 600 mm add to that a 200 mm Moderator and you have an 800 mm multi-part assembly supported only on the receiver end. From an engineer's point of view, the design is truly frail, if not stupid. A reasonable fit of barrel to receiver of .001" clearance is difficult to achieve on every gun made on an assembly line and yet, even that clearance is too loose for consistent barrel location after every assembly. What is amazing to me is that only some of these Crowns exhibit the problem.
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Exactly. Give me a solid barrel, preferably one that screws into the receiver (Taipan Veteran), or at least, one that is well fit (RAW). Sleeve and liner systems are fine if you enjoy tinkering with them, and you will.
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I agree with the frail design comment and also the solid barrel design comment. I went with a Red Wolf.
 
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If you are considering retrofitting the Continuum barrel system to the earlier Crown, don't think that will happen, too much machine work involved. And regarding a recall, I don't remember that ever occurring in the firearm or air gun industry, except when a safety issue was discovered. Otherwise, there is nothing "wrong" with the old system, it just isn't a very good design. I see FX as one of those companies that lets (forces) their customers to do most of their R&D work. I bought a Crown with my eyes open, and frankly, didn't like the design. But, I was encouraged by owners' reports, so I jumped on the wagon. After about 6 months, I decided I had had enough fun, and bailed out. I realize there are many owners who love their Crown rifles, and appear to have no problems with them. I can only take my own counsel on it. I may learn slow, but I learn well.
Click to expand...

What machining would it require? Inside the breech the hole is exactly the same and the brass and stainless steel part have exactly the same dimensions on the outside -> long story short: from the breech point of view nothing has changed.

The difference now is that the steel sleeve is removed, the liner is clamped in on the breech end of the barrel and the shroud is supported by the centering pieces on multiple points on the barrel.

1586453668_18980554805e8f5ca4f2d462.86779185.jpg


1586453684_14667387385e8f5cb4dbc174.17165678.jpg
Click to expand...

If you are considering retrofitting the Continuum barrel system to the earlier Crown, don't think that will happen, too much machine work involved. And regarding a recall, I don't remember that ever occurring in the firearm or air gun industry, except when a safety issue was discovered. Otherwise, there is nothing "wrong" with the old system, it just isn't a very good design. I see FX as one of those companies that lets (forces) their customers to do most of their R&D work. I bought a Crown with my eyes open, and frankly, didn't like the design. But, I was encouraged by owners' reports, so I jumped on the wagon. After about 6 months, I decided I had had enough fun, and bailed out. I realize there are many owners who love their Crown rifles, and appear to have no problems with them. I can only take my own counsel on it. I may learn slow, but I learn well.
Click to expand...

What machining would it require? Inside the breech the hole is exactly the same and the brass and stainless steel part have exactly the same dimensions on the outside -> long story short: from the breech point of view nothing has changed.

The difference now is that the steel sleeve is removed, the liner is clamped in on the breech end of the barrel and the shroud is supported by the centering pieces on multiple points on the barrel.

1586453668_18980554805e8f5ca4f2d462.86779185.jpg


1586453684_14667387385e8f5cb4dbc174.17165678.jpg
Click to expand...

The barrel inlet is attached by two screws on each side of the receiver. I agree that the new design is better. But, why not just make a proper switch barrel rifle? Use a solid barrel and attach it securely to the receiver. IMO, they have taken a poor design and made it marginally better. Take the Royale/Boss platform, add an externally adjustable regulator. You don't need the power wheel, just turn the HS nut as originally designed. A barrel kit would cost more than a liner, but you would have a real barrel and a rigid attachment. 
 

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Those two screws on both sides of the receiver will not bring any added benifits in securing the barrel IMO. It will not be more rigid, what I expect is that it will be harder to center the barrel in the breech and thus harder to place the barrel back in exactly the same place each time. The only benefit I see is that you don't have to take of the mounts to swap the barrel.

The solid barrels are harder to produce than the way they do it now. I agree that the construction becomes a lot more solid from a solid barrel. I have a 18mm stainless steel barrel for my FXs and you can almost sit on top of it before it bends in the same radius as adding a moderator to the current barrels. Despite the somewhat weak construction they work so well in the accuracy department that that forms a problem as an argument to change things ;)
 
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What's your take on the barrel system on the crown continuum? For accuracy and poi issues if any?
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My old style Crown was very accurate. As a pure target rifle, I would have had no hesitation in using it. But the POI changes from what I would consider normal handling, would have been problematic in the field. From what I have seen, the Continuum is an improvement. But it remains a design I consider compromised for field use. When I had mine, checking and adjusting zero was no big deal, whether in the yard or at the gun club. But it was a bit irritating, and not something I have to address with my other rifles. The buyer was very satisfied with it, so we both improved our standing.
 
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