My guess would be that it is a problem with the scope also. I just can't see the gun going bad overnight due to any other problem. Damage to a crown won't happen very easily. Heck, when bullets sizzling out of the barrel at 3000 feet or more per second won't do damage to it, I doubt other things will damage it so easily either. Besides, I inherited a rifle from my uncle who cleaned ALL his guns, even bolt actions with the cleaning rod thru the front of the barrel. The crown looks like someone put a file to it, with the many jagged edges he put into the crown with the cleaning rod. The gun shoots as good as any I have, which makes me believe that the crown issue is a bit overrated in regards to accuracy.