Gunsmithing Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
- Thread starter gbp
- Start date
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
Seems to be well proven and working very well?
I have a 338 AI. 6.5x47 and (2) 300 WSM barrels going off for it.
Go to BR central for POC on shipping them off.
BH
Seems to be well proven and working very well?
I have a 338 AI. 6.5x47 and (2) 300 WSM barrels going off for it.
Go to BR central for POC on shipping them off.
BH
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
I just had 8 barrels done. MMI Tru-tec delivered my order one week after I shipped it out: wow. I heard enough good feedback and took the dive: mostly hunting barrels though. I put 80 rounds through my 308 palma this weekend and shot several sub-1/2 MOA five-shot groups at 100. I got 3000fps with a 155, 45gr H4895. That's about 50fps faster than I got before sending the barrel in.
Really impressive was how clean the barrel was after 80 fairly high-pressure rounds. There was a normal amount of carbon, but it cleaned off in basically one swipe with MP-7. Then I applied Wipe-Out for the copper and let it sit for a few hours. There was NO copper fouling whatsovever: none. That was very surprising.
TIP: don't send in your expensive carbide neck mandrel in for nitriding: that did not go well at all. My regular mandrels worked fine, but he carbide ones came back with chicken-pocks and had to be trashed.
I just had 8 barrels done. MMI Tru-tec delivered my order one week after I shipped it out: wow. I heard enough good feedback and took the dive: mostly hunting barrels though. I put 80 rounds through my 308 palma this weekend and shot several sub-1/2 MOA five-shot groups at 100. I got 3000fps with a 155, 45gr H4895. That's about 50fps faster than I got before sending the barrel in.
Really impressive was how clean the barrel was after 80 fairly high-pressure rounds. There was a normal amount of carbon, but it cleaned off in basically one swipe with MP-7. Then I applied Wipe-Out for the copper and let it sit for a few hours. There was NO copper fouling whatsovever: none. That was very surprising.
TIP: don't send in your expensive carbide neck mandrel in for nitriding: that did not go well at all. My regular mandrels worked fine, but he carbide ones came back with chicken-pocks and had to be trashed.
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
Melonite, which is a trade name for salt bath nitriding, has been around for quite some time. Many gun companies use this process, Sig's Nitron, Glock's Tenifer, etc. (No I don't have firsthand info) The military tested it against chrome lining for barrel wear over 30 years ago. It does extend barrel life significantly.
Its corrosion resistance is spectacular. Good luck,
Make sure your barrel is chambered before hand, because the finish is really hard.
Justin
Melonite, which is a trade name for salt bath nitriding, has been around for quite some time. Many gun companies use this process, Sig's Nitron, Glock's Tenifer, etc. (No I don't have firsthand info) The military tested it against chrome lining for barrel wear over 30 years ago. It does extend barrel life significantly.
Its corrosion resistance is spectacular. Good luck,
Make sure your barrel is chambered before hand, because the finish is really hard.
Justin
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Scooter-PIE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just had 8 barrels done. MMI Tru-tec delivered my order one week after I shipped it out: wow. </div></div>
+1 on MMI Tru-tec, excellent to deal with.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Scooter-PIE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just had 8 barrels done. MMI Tru-tec delivered my order one week after I shipped it out: wow. </div></div>
+1 on MMI Tru-tec, excellent to deal with.
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mr blasty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How would this do on a Noveske barrel? </div></div>
It worked fine on both stainless and chromoly barrels. Mine were all Krieger.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mr blasty</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How would this do on a Noveske barrel? </div></div>
It worked fine on both stainless and chromoly barrels. Mine were all Krieger.
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MWDG3</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">-1</span> on MMI Trutec. They cracked 4 of our actions and underpaid for only three. http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2151981&page=1
My next batch will be with Bodycote. They gas-nitride all of Lycoming's aircraft cylinder bores. The Houston facility nitrocarburizes, others may. Tulsa does not last I checked. IIRC the minimun fee is $200.
http://bodycote.com/?OB=81&POB=53&ID=553#PROCESS </div></div>
Seems lame to blame tru-tec for your mistake. It's a surface-hardening treatment and you can't do it to certain metals: especially ones that have already been hardened/heat-treated. You should read the responses to your own post.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MWDG3</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">-1</span> on MMI Trutec. They cracked 4 of our actions and underpaid for only three. http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2151981&page=1
My next batch will be with Bodycote. They gas-nitride all of Lycoming's aircraft cylinder bores. The Houston facility nitrocarburizes, others may. Tulsa does not last I checked. IIRC the minimun fee is $200.
http://bodycote.com/?OB=81&POB=53&ID=553#PROCESS </div></div>
Seems lame to blame tru-tec for your mistake. It's a surface-hardening treatment and you can't do it to certain metals: especially ones that have already been hardened/heat-treated. You should read the responses to your own post.
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Graham</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm not a fan of its use on precision rifle barrels. </div></div>
Please explain.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Graham</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm not a fan of its use on precision rifle barrels. </div></div>
Please explain.
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
Highly recommend breaking in the barrel first, waiting for your copper fouling to stop, and waiting for the barrel to speed up, if possible.
Highly recommend breaking in the barrel first, waiting for your copper fouling to stop, and waiting for the barrel to speed up, if possible.
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Graham</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm not a fan of its use on precision rifle barrels. </div></div> Please explain. </div></div>I have been watching John Pierce experiment with it for the past couple of years. With a few barrels, probably when the process is not done correctly, the barrel just won't shoot and there's no fixing it.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Graham</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm not a fan of its use on precision rifle barrels. </div></div> Please explain. </div></div>I have been watching John Pierce experiment with it for the past couple of years. With a few barrels, probably when the process is not done correctly, the barrel just won't shoot and there's no fixing it.
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
RG-I had the opposite experience with it, I have a 223 AI that shot better after the treatment, strange??
RG-I had the opposite experience with it, I have a 223 AI that shot better after the treatment, strange??
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Adam B</div><div class="ubbcode-body">RG-I had the opposite experience with it, I have a 223 AI that shot better after the treatment, strange?? </div></div>
Was this a button rifled barrel?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Adam B</div><div class="ubbcode-body">RG-I had the opposite experience with it, I have a 223 AI that shot better after the treatment, strange?? </div></div>
Was this a button rifled barrel?
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bugholes</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Adam B</div><div class="ubbcode-body">RG-I had the opposite experience with it, I have a 223 AI that shot better after the treatment, strange?? </div></div>
Was this a button rifled barrel? </div></div>
Cut rifled.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bugholes</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Adam B</div><div class="ubbcode-body">RG-I had the opposite experience with it, I have a 223 AI that shot better after the treatment, strange?? </div></div>
Was this a button rifled barrel? </div></div>
Cut rifled.
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
MWDG3,
Be very careful with Bodycoat also, we used our local Bodycoat in Milwaukee and I had one batch that was very good and one that had 8 barrels and all shot like crap they didn't look like the first batch we sent, they had a totally different look to them. We have been using Trutec ever since and have had only one barrel out of about 50 that had a problem and was replaced right away. We have also done several benchrest barrels with no problems either.
MWDG3,
Be very careful with Bodycoat also, we used our local Bodycoat in Milwaukee and I had one batch that was very good and one that had 8 barrels and all shot like crap they didn't look like the first batch we sent, they had a totally different look to them. We have been using Trutec ever since and have had only one barrel out of about 50 that had a problem and was replaced right away. We have also done several benchrest barrels with no problems either.
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thought Pierce was having good results? </div></div>John was having mixed results.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thought Pierce was having good results? </div></div>John was having mixed results.
Re: Melonite? Is the verdict in yet?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cut rifled</div><div class="ubbcode-body">MWDG3,
Be very careful with Bodycoat also,</div></div>
Thank you, sir. Maybe I'll try Burlington. They're featured on the History Channel salt documentary. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QjbOZAx2mw
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cut rifled</div><div class="ubbcode-body">MWDG3,
Be very careful with Bodycoat also,</div></div>
Thank you, sir. Maybe I'll try Burlington. They're featured on the History Channel salt documentary. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QjbOZAx2mw
