Gunsmithing Melonited Barrel

[Jigstick]

I have a build going on with a melonited BAT action. Custom Bartlein barrel. I’d like to melonite the barrel to match the action. Should I put some rounds through the barrel before I send it out for treatment? My understanding is that once melonited the barrel will be much harder to “break in” due to its “harness”.

 

[Adam B]

I used to melonite all of my barrels. I had one that didn't shoot for shit after the process so I stopped doing it. If you are just doing it to match the action I would go with cearkote. To answer your question, my smith recommends shooting the barrel for 100 rounds or so (to break it in and to make sure it shoots well) and then thoroughly cleaning it and then getting it melonited.

 

[Jigstick]

But is there a cerakote color that matches the sheen and color of melonite? That would be like trying to match bluing with paint. Sounds difficult

 

[Adam B]

yes there is

 

[LRI]

I have a build going on with a melonited BAT action. Custom Bartlein barrel. I’d like to melonite the barrel to match the action. Should I put some rounds through the barrel before I send it out for treatment? My understanding is that once melonited the barrel will be much harder to “break in” due to its “harness”.

Results seem to vary with this process. It was a buzz word thing about 7 or 8 years ago, then it seemed to fizzle. Your question/thoughts though are on point. I'd burn at LEAST 50 rounds through it to get that throat "scrubbed in". Failure to do so will likely make it a pigs ear.

Good luck.

 

[Jigstick]

Thanks guys. I’ll explore options. I ordered the action from BAT with the melonite finish and it’s just butter smooth. Now I’m kinda stuck to match it

 

[BillyNg]

I had a Melonited Impact Precision action and had the barrel Cerakoted an equivalent black. I'm picky, and while I could tell under close inspection that they were different (in sheen, not color). It wasn't obvious from anything more than 6 inches away.

Cerakote is your answer and most builders have been around this block multiple times.

 

[BoltRunner]

I have a couple BAT's myself matter of fact just had them build me another magnum bolt for one of my short actions, yes I agree that the melonited action is the way to go as its smooth as hell. I'd also agree with the other guys just go with a cerakoted barrel and get as close as you can. It might be a smidge different but its really not too noticeable and I have genuine OCD. Id personally rather have the shade just a bit off and it shoot lights out then it match perfectly and risk the process messing with the barrels performance.

 

[Jigstick]

Which cerakote color do you think most closely Matches melonite

 

[Davester]

meloniting aka salt bath nitriding can also be blotchy in places. We're looking into gas nitriding now which I believe doesn't have the aspect ratio issues salt bath nitriding does

 

[308pirate]

But is there a cerakote color that matches the sheen and color of melonite? That would be like trying to match bluing with paint. Sounds difficult

You do realize melonite isn't a paint or a coloring, right? It's a case hardening heat treatment.

Just paint both the action and the barrel.

 

[308pirate]

meloniting aka salt bath nitriding can also be blotchy in places. We're looking into gas nitriding now which I believe doesn't have the aspect ratio issues salt bath nitriding does

Gas nitriding will absolutely affect dimensions of very close fitting parts (threads and splines in my professional experience) if the particular process chosen doesn't control and/or remove the white layer effectively.

Make sure you discuss this with your metallurgist if close fitting parts are going to be a concern.

 

[Jigstick]

Yes I understand that it is case hardening. I really don’t want to paint the action. The action is slippery buttery smooth. And the color of the melonite treatment will look classic in a wood stock. This gun is being built on a hand carved Claro walnut stock

 

[308pirate]

Yes I understand that it is case hardening. I really don’t want to paint the action. The action is slippery buttery smooth.

Just paint the outside of it then.

There is ZERO guarantee that your barrel will come back looking exactly like your action if you rely on any nitriding process to match colors. Because that's not what nitriding is for.

 

[THEIS]

Hi,

Well technically nitriding will turn your barrel grey colored, not black.

This is nitriding color:

The "Black" everyone refers to as the "nitride" color is a post nitriding process and that color will change from batch to batch.

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[308pirate]

Hi,

Well technically nitriding will turn your barrel grey colored, not black.

This is nitriding color:
View attachment 7738693

The "Black" everyone refers to as the "nitride" color is a post nitriding process and that color will change from batch to batch.

Sincerely,
Theis

And to further explain, the blacking comes from the formation of iron nitride on the surface through a quenching and polishing post process that follows salt bath nitriding.

You can't get that black from plasma or gas nitriding because those processes end with a slow cooling in the retort back to room temp

 

[Jigstick]

My plan was to send the barrel to BAT and have them treat it in a similiar fashion to how they did their action. But now I’m also looking into cerakote as well.

 

[Davester]

Gas nitriding will absolutely affect dimensions of very close fitting parts (threads and splines in my professional experience) if the particular process chosen doesn't control and/or remove the white layer effectively.

Make sure you discuss this with your metallurgist if close fitting parts are going to be a concern.

That is correct