Gunsmithing Nitride service for older barreled action

[sam4886]

I've got a family heirloom Mossberg 800 that I'd like to get nitrided mostly for preservation and to clean up some of the scuffs and stuff that it has collected over the years. No real deep scratches or anything, but the bluing is wearing off in places.

Barrels action, bottom metal, and bolt. I'll keep all the springs and small parts not treated. I think the small stuff gets kind of brittle, doesn't it?

I'd found a couple places in the past, just curious what some of you guys have for suggestions.

 

[gnochi]

Speaking as an engineer currently specifying a nitride process for a part I’m responsible for, nitriding may be fine or an absolutely terrible idea, depending on the *exact* steel alloy and stress relief process (if any).

Go for DLC or Cerakote Elite instead.

 

[sam4886]

Its a mid 70s rifle, so who knows. I'll have to some research on what exactly the difference is in the coating options.

I do like that nitriding would take.care of the bore, inside the bolt body, etc.

any suggustions for a DLC applicator?

 

[HOLLYW00D]

Its a mid 70s rifle, so who knows. I'll have to some research on what exactly the difference is in the coating options.

I do like that nitriding would take.care of the bore, inside the bolt body, etc.

any suggustions for a DLC applicator?

Chad at Club Custom Guns seems to pop up often: http://www.jabuie.com/clubhome.html

 

[GH41]

I would want to remember my ancestors rifle for what it is and where it's been. It would comfort me knowing his fingerprints were still on the rifle. Refinishing will take that away.

 

[308pirate]

I've got a family heirloom Mossberg 800 that I'd like to get nitrided mostly for preservation and to clean up some of the scuffs and stuff that it has collected over the years.

The purpose of nitriding steel is nowhere close to what you think it's for.

The fact that you think it's a coating is a dead giveaway.

One of the worst things that gun forums have done is give people the mistaken impression that they know fuck all about nitriding and other thermal processes for steel.

 

[sam4886]

I didn't say its a coating. I'm fully aware of that. Heat treatment that case hardens the first few thousandths and turns it black. The scuffs, as I mentioned further down the OP, are more of just the bluing wearing off. In don't expect it to fill in any scratches.

Please, oh wise one, enlighten me. What is nitride for besides hardening, corrosion resistance, and color without dimensional changes?

The patina factor has crossed my mind, but this is still a rifle that's getting used. The original stock was broken in a move so when I first hunted with it, it had a couple extra bolts and fiberglass holding the stock together. I replaced the stock when I was 15 or so with a bare walnut that I had to sand a oil. Over the years I've bedded, pillared, installed sling points and flush cups, and refinished the stock. In don't suspect any fingerprints remain, besides mine. I've got a couple boys that it will be passed down to when they're old enough to hunt.

I've seen the club customs page, thanks. Chad does get suggusted a lot.

 

[jg6.5]

The purpose of nitriding steel is nowhere close to what you think it's for.

The fact that you think it's a coating is a dead giveaway.

One of the worst things that gun forums have done is give people the mistaken impression that they know fuck all about nitriding and other thermal processes for steel.

Ah...you again. Quite the trampoline you used to jump to that conclusion. Again, I'll use my analogy from another post that was graced by your presence - what you're doing is essentially "snorting and helicoptering your wiener around for all to see".

For what it's worth OP, don't feed the troll and just follow gnochi's advice since he volunteered real world experience and advice versus a dude stomping in on a thread for what appears to be the sole purpose of being a twat and not offering any sort of valid advice.

 

[sam4886]

Haha. He caught me in a weak moment. You're right. I hadn't spent much time looking into DLC, but I defintly prefer it to cerakote.

 

[gnochi]

DLC is a pretty easy win across the board. It’s next to impervious to corrosion, can be applied to just about any metal, absorbs tons of oil, stays slick essentially forever, is thin enough to not mess up tolerances, is applied at a low enough temperature to not mess with tempering...

For large batches of parts it’s substantially more expensive, but for a single part you’re paying for time more so than materials.

 

[ShooterwithNoName]

Ahhh god... Lol... Thanks for that analogy jg6.5, best laugh I've had for a bit.

OP, I'm in the same boat as you. Though I'm just going to get a barrel done, a stainless barrel...

I spoke with WMD about their services. There's a couple others I'll try to dig up and post for you if I can find them here...

 

[sam4886]

Sweet. I'm all ears.