Melonite barrel treatment

[elkaholic]

Originally Posted by phorwath

An informative article including information from Joel Kendrick. Article dated 2009.
Melonite Surface Treatment for Barrels, Bolts, and Actions « Daily Bulletin

Sounds like a CM barrel with the melonite treatment will be very corrosion resistant. No bluing or any other surface treatment required.

Interesting that Joel states that a stainless barrel may actually be a little less corrosion resistant after the melonite treatment.

One more article:
Salt-Bath Nitriding for Barrels — Whidden is Impressed « Daily Bulletin

That is interesting on the CM barrel. I'm not exactly sure whether he meant the SS was already so resistant that it didn't help much or ?? The BAT guys tell me that the Melonite is also more durable than bluing.......Rich

[meatyrem]

This is an inside barrel treatment? It seems somewhat similar to Gun Juice, or is it not the same idea?

[Loner]

Originally Posted by meatyrem

This is an inside barrel treatment? It seems somewhat similar to Gun Juice, or is it not the same idea?

Look at a glock, inside and out. It's an old process glock brought to the gun world.

[phorwath]

Originally Posted by meatyrem

This is an inside barrel treatment? It seems somewhat similar to Gun Juice, or is it not the same idea?

Nothing at all like Gun Juice. It's a process for surface-hardening barrels and other gun parts. The main advantage of Melonite barrel treatment is that it reduces friction in the bore and lessens bore surface wear, potentially extending barrel life. Melonite-treatment of a bore creates a new compound layer in the top 10-20 microns of the surface, creating a very hard, slick surface. The entire barrel is treated - inside and outside. It doesn't build up any coating on the barrel or change the dimensions of the barrel. Simply hardens the surface of the steel.

I'm considering purchasing a CM barrel and then after break-in, having it melonite treated. No bluing. The melonite treatment will protect the bare steel better than bluing, as I understand it. Melonite processing is also referred to as Nitride treatment. Melonite Processing : Salt™ Bath Nitriding System

Open the 1st link in my prior Post for a better explanation and understanding.

Here's another informative link: Melonite Processing

[elkaholic]

Man, does it make for a silky smooth action!.......Rich

[Broz]

I have been trying to get one done too. I finally gave up and assembled the rifle. I could have gotten the same story as BnG.

Here is one of the things that was bothering me about this process. Back when I was racing cars we used this on some parts to extemd their life. It worked ! But once it was done it was a very hard and stable surface. I really think t would be the cats meow to break in the barrel , clean thoroughly, then have the entire action done.

I do believe the action would be smoother than silk and some velocity would be gained. If the barrel was broken in first you would have a pretty good idea of how much velocity it added.

Jeff

[Browninglover1]

Have any of you guys tried "Houston Plating" for your melonite treatment? They do a bunch of melonite for the machine shop I work in and I asked them if they ever have done rifle barrels and they told me they do quite a few of them. It usually takes a 2 to 3 weeks to get parts turnaround including shipping. Might be something you guys want to look into and let me know what you find out.