Cryo barrel treatment?

[spudgun]

Will cryo'n a stainless barrel make it harder and last longer?

 

[jackieschmidt]

It will not make it “harder”. In fact, test have shown that the Rockwell Hardness of steel does not change at all after Cryo Treating.
What Cryo Treating reportingly does is help complete the transformation process from Austenite to Martensite in metals that respond various heat treating. There is anecdotal evidence that it improves machinability at a given strength level of certain materials. I do know that for a while Krieger was Cryo Treating their steel bars before machining, and had data showing that it did indeed aid in machinability and tool wear. I have also heard that they no longer do it.

My shop has had a few items Cryo Treated in years past. We machined a slewing gear shaft for one of our customer‘s tower cranes a couple of years ago. The factory shafts kept breaking, so they got a recommendation For a stronger material. The material was 4340, treated to 34 RC. The specs called for a Cryo Treat after machining. It is still up there running.

I have had a couple of barrels Cryo Treated, and could not ascertain any noticeable difference in the way they machined, cleaned, or shot. One was a particularly good 30 caliber 1-18 twist that I decided to see for myself, since it was a proven winner.

It shot no better or worse after. The one thing that I was 100 percent sure of was my wallet was lighter.

 

[spudgun]

It will not make it “harder”. In fact, test have shown that the Rockwell Hardness of steel does not change at all after Cryo Treating.
What Cryo Treating reportingly does is help complete the transformation process from Austenite to Martensite in metals that respond various heat treating. There is anecdotal evidence that it improves machinability at a given strength level of certain materials. I do know that for a while Krieger was Cryo Treating their steel bars before machining, and had data showing that it did indeed aid in machinability and tool wear. I have also heard that they no longer do it.

My shop has had a few items Cryo Treated in years past. We machined a slewing gear shaft for one of our customer‘s tower cranes a couple of years ago. The factory shafts kept breaking, so they got a recommendation For a stronger material. The material was 4340, treated to 34 RC. The specs called for a Cryo Treat after machining. It is still up there running.

I have had a couple of barrels Cryo Treated, and could not ascertain any noticeable difference in the way they machined, cleaned, or shot. One was a particularly good 30 caliber 1-18 twist that I decided to see for myself, since it was a proven winner.

It shot no better or worse after. The one thing that I was 100 percent sure of was my wallet was lighter.

Thanks for your info.

I have heard different feedback. Some say it makes it harder, easy to clean and last longer.

I shoot 6mm CM, 2900-3000 fps. the last barrel lasted me about 8 months before the chamber started to erode out.

Again, thanks for your feedback. Have a great week end.

 

[gme]

I believe cryo barrels do machine better and with a better finish

 

[1shot]

I used to get my 6.5x284 barrels cryoed and never saw any difference between the ones that were treated, and the ones that weren't. Cleaning and round count were comparable both with or without the treatment. If you can get it done on the cheap, I'd say go for it. Otherwise spend you hard earned money on components and additional trigger time.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Are you perhaps confusing cryoing with meloniting/nitriding?

Nitriding will (in theory anyway) add to the hardness and make the barrel steel "last longer". I've never done it, but that's what they say.