Cerakote on Barrel Shoulder

[Dunderhead]

Welp, I finally got by barrel back from Cerakoting and the applicator failed to follow the one demand I had being "don't get any coating on the shoulder" and.... now I have coating on the shoulder of my shouldered pre-fit barrel. I'm trying to figure out how much of a jerk to be on this. Do I just check for headspacing and if it clears, leave it alone? I'm also worried about concentricity and how squared up the barrel will now be to the action. Will it probably have less effect than my own accuracy potential? Probably. Or maybe not?

Fortunately Criterion is a local company for me so I've reached out to find out what it would take to bump the shoulder back and send the reamer back though.

 

[Huntaddict]

You may want to throw it on and headspace it and shoot it. Will probably be just fine. If it shoots, heck with it.

If not, you can get it spun by a smith and take .001 off the cerakote, it likely wont make any difference in headspace that much but if there was an issue with losing pressure, which there shouldnt be way out there, headspace tolerance is usually around .002 so you are still within spec.

 

[HSmithTX]

I would clean it off. Your coater needs to have a nut made with a flat face he can screw on the barrel to spray them, that surface is nearly impossible to mask and it's risky to grease/wax it before you spray.

 

[BRADMOTO]

Spin it up and see if you even have a problem first!

 

[Dunderhead]

Spin it up and see if you even have a problem first!

I agree and will test for headspace tonight. Unfortunately it will be a while before I'm able to get to a range to test for accuracy and I want to handle this while the issue is fresh.

 

[BRADMOTO]

Might want to put the thinnest coat of oil on it so the torque gets a little more seating. "Wet mount"

 

[HSmithTX]

Paint in-between the reciever and barrel shoulder is a bad idea. Thick soft paint like ceracote is a worse idea.

 

[ARlife4me]

I'd say it could be a problem dealing with whomever if you shoot it 1st. No telling what they'll claim!

 

[V35BTC]

If they didnt blast that surface, it will come off. Tape around the circumference of the barrel and scrape it off. If worse comes to worse, your smith can dial it in again and shave that off in the lathe and test headspace. I would venture to bet it would be fine if he had to do it. Unless I am doing a barreled action, I use the sleeve I made that screws on the tenon and also has a place to hang the barrel from. Im anal about that particular mating surface.

 

[Dunderhead]

It's been a while, but wanted to give an update.

When I finally got the chance to spin the barrel back on, there was a noticeable change in headspace. Previously, with a single layer of scotch tape on my go-gauge the bold handle would stop about halfway down. Perfect. Post-cerakote, the bolt completely closes with a single layer of tape and stops maybe 1/4 of the way down with 2 layers. Based on the info I've been able to find on the internet, this still likely falls within safe limits. However, I'm anal-retentive and would attribute even the most minute accuracy issues in the future to this barrel/action interface.

I'm pleased to say this story, thus far has a happy ending. I reached out to Criterion Barrels who graciously offered for me to send the barrel in for inspection and possible correction. I'm lucky enough to live 20 minutes from their shop (part of the reason I chose them in the first place), so I dropped the barrel off in person. Within a week I received an email saying the barrel was all set, no charge! I got the barrel home, threaded on, and confirmed head space was exactly as it was in the original configuration.

So, huge shoutout to Mike and Criterion Barrels for going above and beyond normal service to take care of a customer!

 

[HSmithTX]

That is good news, and it's fixed right, nothing to chew on the back of your mind.

 

[BRADMOTO]

It's been a while, but wanted to give an update.

When I finally got the chance to spin the barrel back on, there was a noticeable change in headspace. Previously, with a single layer of scotch tape on my go-gauge the bold handle would stop about halfway down. Perfect. Post-cerakote, the bolt completely closes with a single layer of tape and stops maybe 1/4 of the way down with 2 layers. Based on the info I've been able to find on the internet, this still likely falls within safe limits. However, I'm anal-retentive and would attribute even the most minute accuracy issues in the future to this barrel/action interface.

I'm pleased to say this story, thus far has a happy ending. I reached out to Criterion Barrels who graciously offered for me to send the barrel in for inspection and possible correction. I'm lucky enough to live 20 minutes from their shop (part of the reason I chose them in the first place), so I dropped the barrel off in person. Within a week I received an email saying the barrel was all set, no charge! I got the barrel home, threaded on, and confirmed head space was exactly as it was in the original configuration.

So, huge shoutout to Mike and Criterion Barrels for going above and beyond normal service to take care of a customer!

wow.