Bluing (or Coating) a Stainless Steel Barreled Action

[South Pender]

I'm considering buying a stainless steel rifle (receiver, barrel, and bottom metal), but would prefer a blued finish. What are the best options to treat the stainless to get it to look like blued chrome-moly? I guess I'm concerned about any process that would heat it up to a temperature that might distort or change the properties of the metal, and I'd want to keep the bore untreated, as well as the inside of the action.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions....

 

[shoot4fun]

I know of nothing that will make SS look like a blued finish, especially a highly polished deep blue.
Since your conditions seem to leave out Melonite then you really, IMO, only have the ceracoat option or hydrodip finishes to look at.

 

[JRS]

Send it to ROBAR.

 

[South Pender]

I know of nothing that will make SS look like a blued finish, especially a highly polished deep blue.
Since your conditions seem to leave out Melonite then you really, IMO, only have the ceracoat option or hydrodip finishes to look at.

No, I'm willing to consider processes other than painting, like Melonite. I'd be interested in learning about it and the hydrodip finishes you mention.

 

[shoot4fun]

No, I'm willing to consider processes other than painting, like Melonite. I'd be interested in learning about it and the hydrodip finishes you mention.

Melonite applies heat during the process and will coat the inside of the action and bore.
You said that isn't what you want.
Hydrodip process explanation can be found here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrographics_(printing)

 

[South Pender]

Melonite applies heat during the process and will coat the inside of the action and bore.
You said that isn't what you want.
Hydrodip process explanation can be found here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrographics_(printing)

Thanks for that explanation. Is the baking in the cerakoting process at a low enough heat to prevent any metal distortion?

 

[butchlambert]

Thanks for that explanation. Is the baking in the cerakoting process at a low enough heat to prevent any metal distortion?

Are you familiar with Melonite? I have had many many barrels done.
I happen to be doing a 40X RF at this time. The barrel is a special LH gain twist 8 groove barrel. It will get Melonite

 

[shoot4fun]

Thanks for that explanation. Is the baking in the cerakoting process at a low enough heat to prevent any metal distortion?

The baking for cerakote is quite lower than with melanite and is only done to harden the product. It may even be allowed to air-dry if you desire but not recommended.
If I were you, and I have pretty extensive working knowledge of Melanite, I would not let the heating worry me and have that done over any other coating for SS. It is just that good. You will notice more smoothness in the action with it most of the time. Also, something I have no scientific fact of but strongly believe, the barrels I have owned (AR15) that have had melanite applied to all surfaces seem to hold accuracy longer and have less fire-cracking.

 

[STOMP442]

I like Midnight blue Cerakote. Nice durable finish that looks good as well.

 

[butchlambert]

This is my Pierce.

 

[JimPag]

Melonite applies heat during the process and will coat the inside of the action and bore.
You said that isn't what you want.
Hydrodip process explanation can be found here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrographics_(printing)

Melonite will not coat anything. It is not a coating.

 

[jkohler]

There's always DuPont black ice. look up black ice coating.

 

[Shawnba67]

Caswell plating stainless blackener #370
I have never used it but found it when I had the same question you gave.
Worth a look at least the cost is like $30

 

[shoot4fun]

Melonite will not coat anything. It is not a coating.

I know that but I was trying to keep it simple. Maybe you would be happier if I had left out the word "other"?

 

[allen529]

Duracoat has a color that matches bluing. Might check into that.

 

[Rustystud]

I have actions, barrels, bottom metals melonited (MMI/ParkerTruTec). It requires a 900 degree bath. No issue for 4140 but I was advise by Jim Borden not to do his stainless steel actions. I do 416 stainless steel barrels all the time. I clean them, shoot twenty rounds through them and clean them both chemically and physically to remove any carbon or copper. Never have any issues.

 

[holstil]

I like the polished melonite finish myself. No more lube either!

 

[Hal]

There is a bluing process for SS. The only ones I've ever saw were bead blasted.

Hal