I have a match grade stainless barrel that I would like to turn black or gray. What process does the factory use? Where can I send the barrel to get it done? Not looking to ceracote, gun-cote or other paint based process. Looking for the same process that volume gun manufacturers use. In my experience Remington 700 stainless barrel coating held up very well. I never had good luck with any of the paint-like coating and prefer to stick with what the factory does. I don't mind paying more for it.
Gunsmithing What is the best darkening process for match grade stainless barrles?
- Thread starter juha_teuvonnen
- Start date
I would call these folks - http://blacknitride.com/
H&M Blacknitride+™, or Ferritic Nitrocarburizing, is the thermochemical that simultaneously diffuses nitrogen and carbon into the surface of ferrous metals. During the process, a two-part surface layer is formed, an outer iron nitride layer with a nitrogen diffusion layer below it. Nitrogen and carbon are absorbed by and diffused into the surface of the metal. Reproducible and uniform layers with a predetermined thickness will be formed on all areas of the metal. This process results in markedly improved surface properties on ferrous metal parts while maintaining dimensional and shape stability. H&M Blacknitride+™ is commonly used as an alternative to high temperature conventional heat treatments such as carburizing and carbonitriding.
H&M Blacknitride+™, or Ferritic Nitrocarburizing, is the thermochemical that simultaneously diffuses nitrogen and carbon into the surface of ferrous metals. During the process, a two-part surface layer is formed, an outer iron nitride layer with a nitrogen diffusion layer below it. Nitrogen and carbon are absorbed by and diffused into the surface of the metal. Reproducible and uniform layers with a predetermined thickness will be formed on all areas of the metal. This process results in markedly improved surface properties on ferrous metal parts while maintaining dimensional and shape stability. H&M Blacknitride+™ is commonly used as an alternative to high temperature conventional heat treatments such as carburizing and carbonitriding.
Remington used to have the XCR which was a PVD coating. I think they discontinued that line years ago (?)....
I'm not aware of any others since, but could be...
Sure. The basic guy is Chad at Club Custom Guns.
The best guy I have dealt with is at Deep River Customs. He is a custom 1911 shop. He finished a pistol I rebuilt, and the outcome was spectacular. Great final prep work, fast. I highly recommend.
There is another guy I have used, Dave Panciotti at Evolution Armory. Not sure if he is still there, but they do a really good job too, and do a lot of oem stuff.
Thank you very much, gentlemen, for sharing your knowledge and referrals. I really appreciate your help! I have sent email to the PVD vendors to get quotes and turnaround times. It turns out that one of the vendors is quite close. If they respond, I might just swing by and drop off the barrel.
Melonite. I send stuff to BAT and have them do it. Just break in the barrel before you have it treated because the rifling will get hard as fuck
Media blast it with medium grit, it will turn a dark gray. Then put oil on it and it will get even darker. It will not be black but it will be closer to black than to stainless.
I was wanting to do the same thing. Not for aesthetics but for durability and corrosion resistance.
I spoke to several precision barrel makers. All have said they do not nitride precision barrels because it can cause warping. One MAJOR barrel maker said they would send a barrel off for me to be nitrided but they would not guarantee accuracy after it has been treated. Profile probably affects how bad it can be but I have no clue.
I spoke to several precision barrel makers. All have said they do not nitride precision barrels because it can cause warping. One MAJOR barrel maker said they would send a barrel off for me to be nitrided but they would not guarantee accuracy after it has been treated. Profile probably affects how bad it can be but I have no clue.
Hi,
PVD is a process not a coating itself.
Melonite/Nitride process is definitely done at your own risk if you are doing it as an aftermarket type thing. You nor the treatment facility know what treatment process(es) the manufacturer of the product had done in which aftermarket melonite/nitriding could have detrimental affects.
Shit...some PVD processes are done at crazy high temperatures themselves.
Metal treatments should only be done by the manufacturer. Coatings are safer for the aftermarket world.
Sincerely,
Theis
PVD is a process not a coating itself.
Melonite/Nitride process is definitely done at your own risk if you are doing it as an aftermarket type thing. You nor the treatment facility know what treatment process(es) the manufacturer of the product had done in which aftermarket melonite/nitriding could have detrimental affects.
Shit...some PVD processes are done at crazy high temperatures themselves.
Metal treatments should only be done by the manufacturer. Coatings are safer for the aftermarket world.
Sincerely,
Theis
All my AR barrels are nitrided and they are all good shooters and easy to clean; they are not bughole rifles like the precision rigs we shoot here though. I know a few guys who break in new stainless M14 barrels and then have them nitrided with good results; again, not sub moa guns. That process definitely makes a barrel last longer, but who knows how it would impact accuracy of a match barrel? Could make for an interesting test, but likely result, due to variations in each barrel, to a proceed at your own risk your mileage may vary thing.
I would cerakote it if it were my barrel.
I would cerakote it if it were my barrel.
How much do these treatments cost? Seems like a lot coin to drop on a part that needs to be replaced every year or so. I use alumahyde on prefits to keep costs down and factor the barrel, can of alumahyde and brass into my cost per round. I'd save the fancy stuff for 1911 barrels or rifles that see limited use.
If you've got the coin then go for it I guess. To each his own.
If you've got the coin then go for it I guess. To each his own.
I just looked up pictures on this and I actually really like that look. Going to have to look into it on my next barrel.
And paint sticks well to the bead-blast finish. Also, it is less slick than some coatings and that makes it a little easier to remove and reinstall when you put it in the barrel vice - although I mostly don't care if I scratch the finish, just hit it with paint. Seems to me that bead-blast should be cheaper than a shiny finish, I would think that BB would cover the sins of chamber-and-fit. True? Not true?
About four hours from the coast.
Long range? 100 rounds per month. Exactly. That's through a 6.5 prc, so about a barrel a year.
9mm- maybe two or three thousand.
.223- probably another two or three thousand. These are during normal times. I've cut back quite a bit cause of 'rona.
I don't shoot a ton.
Hornady brass- $.25/shot at 4 loadings
Xcaliber prefit by crown ridge- $.34/shot at 1000rds
Primer- $.03
Powder- $.22
145 Match Burner- $.27
That's $1.11 per round. I try to keep it at a buck a shot and I think I'll get more than four firings out of the brass. Maybe another 200 rounds out of the barrel.
I shoot .308, at least on bolt guns it lasts quite me quite some time. I'd say somewhere in the neighborhood of 4000 rounds. Given the FGMM cost of at least a buck a round (good old days, before the crazy rush on ammo) that's four grand alone in ammo. And that's on the low end, I'm guessing it's probably a lot more now. A couple of hundred for an Armalite AR-10 target barrel and a hundred more for coating it black is inconsequential at this point. If I can afford to blow four grand on ammo to shoot that barrel out, I can afford a hundred bucks to have barrel coated to my liking.
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