Salt-Bath Nitriding for Rifle Barrels

KDX

KDX

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
97   0   1
Joel Kendrick is a two-time IBS 600-yard Benchrest Shooter of the Year. Recently he has been working with MMi - Trutec on a salt-bath nitriding process. This is similar to the melonite process used on many military barrels to extend barrel life. Salt-bath nitriding changes the surface molecular structure of the steel for about 4-8 microns. This creates a very hard surface, reduces friction and can extend barrel life dramatically. Joel shows his own match rifle, which is still competitive even with 5000 rounds through the 6mm barrel.
Click to expand...

[youtube]jiegZyhd5l0[/youtube]
 
I wonder how much it helps for the calibers that are considered to be 'barrel burners'.
 
KDX said:
I wonder how much it helps for the calibers that are considered to be 'barrel burners'.
Click to expand...

According to Joel, a significant help to extend barrel life on "burners"
There is an outfit in Edmonton that we have been talking to that does this, but how well they work......
I truly wish that it was easier to get barrels and actions to Joel.
Anyone with any "real " input would love to be hear from. I understand that some of the F class guys are having barrels melonited here in Canada.
 
The 0L###x series of FN C1A1 barrels were bored and rifled to specification, and then someone decided the bores had to be chrome plated. Back to the factory for a few microns of chrome. These were tighter than the later runs. The successful Queen's Medal shooters actively sought out these rifles and barrels.
 
I talked to Sam Adams (Nova Scotia gunsmith) about a rifle build recently and he mentionned that he can "blue" my SS barrel. Maybe this is what he was talking about?
 
We have this process done to some of our parts at Thermex. Great company....We broached this subject with them in the past and it was felt it would be difficult to maintain consistency through the length of the bore however we never tried it.

I do believe it is time to put this on the front burner again....

As an aside it is possible to destroy parts with this process as well as we painfully found out a few years back. Fortunately a very isolated incident.
 
I have my My m14 spring guide rods done in the same finish, There are two places in edmonton that do it Thermex and I believe the other is called hendersons. I was thinking about doing a barrel with it now that I see others have done it before I will be doing this for sure now.
 
What would be the expected life span of that barrel that has already had 5000 rounds through it if the nitride coating hadn't been done?
 
This is a intersting procees, have any of the memebers here on cgn actually had this procees done? And if yes where did you guys have this done and how did it turn out?
Elmer
 
I have heard these guys do it whether or not they do Barrels is an unknown

h ttp://www.surfacefinishing.com/storefronts/nitrex.html

Trevor
 
Kdx

I spoke to Joel at the super shoot 2 years ago on this and he does a few BR barrels but it has not caught on, he goes to the SS each year and no I wont take stuff down for anyone

however the guys are now starting to send him the actions and bolts (without guts) to do and BAT machine does it if you ask (but they dont like to)

Joel is a nice guy and it seems to work for some,

the BR barrel would go 1000 up to 2500 rounds in a 6ppc
probably about 1500 competitively as he shoots at 29.4 which is a hotter load for 6 ppc

Jefferson
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom