Hot Blue Barrel

[Edd]

Will hot bluing a barrel have a negative effect on accuracy.

 

[jackieschmidt]

No.
Many think the heat is a detriment, but any heat involved in hot bluing is way below any temperature that can cause a transformation in any alloy steel.

 

[Sniperhandle]

All the old gunsmiths I knew never plugged the bores when they went into the bluing tanks, Did not seem to affect accuracy at all. Now if you didn't plug the bore when you Parkerize, That's another story, Bad fouling will be the result.

 

[Edd]

All the old gunsmiths I knew never plugged the bores when they went into the bluing tanks, Did not seem to affect accuracy at all. Now if you didn't plug the bore when you Parkerize, That's another story, Bad fouling will be the result.

The person I am considering to do the bluing doesn't plug the bore. He runs a wire thru the barrel and hangs the barrel in the solution with that wire.

 

[Edd]

No.
Many think the heat is a detriment, but any heat involved in hot bluing is way below any temperature that can cause a transformation in any alloy steel.

The temperature isn't my concern. The change to the surface of the bore is what I am wondering about.

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

Brownells has always claimed that their Oxynate 7 blueing doesn't cause any change to the bore, and recommends letting the solution flow through.
Apparently plugging the bore could lead to plugs popping out and splattering hot caustic solution everywhere.
I've never plugged bores when hot blueing, but I've never blued a benchrest rifle.

 

[kendog]

Will hot bluing a barrel have a negative effect on accuracy.

Only at the keyboard.

 

[swd]

You can’t plug the bore when hot blueing. It’s too dangerous, it’s both very hot and the salts are caustic. The solution is around 290 degrees and will likely blow the plugs and hot blueing salts all over. Just the light spatter from it makes for really painful and nasty burns. And no it won’t change accuracy at all.

Talk of plugging a barrel when blueing comes from cold rust blueing when the barrel is hung in a damp cabinet until a fine coat of rust forms over and over.

 

[shortgrass]

You can’t plug the bore when hot blueing. It’s too dangerous, it’s both very hot and the salts are caustic. The solution is around 290 degrees and will likely blow the plugs and hot blueing salts all over. Just the light spatter from it makes for really painful and nasty burns. And no it won’t change accuracy at all

I keep a spray bottle of white vinegar handy when I blue. Even the steam off the hot tank will chemically burn ya. The hot bluing procedure properly followed won't harm the rifled bore. Bluing is defined as a "controlled rust process",,, whether it be hot caustic, slow rust, or express blue.

 

[swd]

I keep a spray bottle of white vinegar handy when I blue. Even the steam off the hot tank will chemically burn ya. The hot bluing procedure properly followed won't harm the rifled bore. Bluing is defined as a "controlled rust process",,, whether it be hot caustic, slow rust, or express blue.

I haven't done any regular blueing for about 10 years and I don't miss it, LOL. But it was a good job on cold days..