Melonite Finish

[jscandale]

Ok, what's the scoop? Anyone here have any experience with a melonite coating on their barrel? Looks pretty interesting and I like the fact that it will black out a stainless barrel. Any pros or cons? Also, is there any reputable company that performs this service.

Thanks,
JS

 

[Larryh128]

A friend of mine had a Sako 75 done before he went on a Brown bear hunt in a ruugged , remote area where it was certain that gun care wasn't an option. The finish looked good & appeared to hold up but when he got back we found a hair line crack in the reciever. He sent it to Sako & they replaced it BUT I really don't think that it was Sako's issue. The crack wasn't there before the process. I have since heard of 2 more being ruined on a forum. I would look at Ceracote. Holds up good & lots of choices with no chance of ruining your rifle.

 

[Robert]

Ok, what's the scoop? Anyone here have any experience with a melonite coating on their barrel? Looks pretty interesting and I like the fact that it will black out a stainless barrel. Any pros or cons? Also, is there any reputable company that performs this service.

Thanks,
JS

JS,
Melonite QPQ is not a coatng, it is a surface hardening treatment of steel.

R.G.C

 

[jscandale]

Ok, what's the scoop? Anyone here have any experience with a melonite coating on their barrel? Looks pretty interesting and I like the fact that it will black out a stainless barrel. Any pros or cons? Also, is there any reputable company that performs this service.

Thanks,
JS

JS,
Melonite QPQ is not a coatng, it is a surface hardening treatment of steel.

R.G.C

Can you contribute any actual knowledge of the finish good or bad?
JS

 

[Matt Pitchon]

I had three stainless barrels melonited. The purpose was to harden the surface to increase barrel life. These are target guns that get a lot of use.

They do resist corrosion better than untreated stainless. The only outfit I know of that has experience on rifle barrels is Tru-Tech. When I did it they had a $200 lot charge. Cost per barrel was $60 each, and $20 for shipping. Thus three barrels got me up to the minimum lot charge.

If you are just looking for corrosion resistance, I would look at another process.

 

[jscandale]

After some reading that I have done, I really don't see the cost effectiveness unless it can claim double the barrel life. I do like the fact that it will turn a stainless barrel black, but $60 is a lot to pay for such minor aesthetics.

Just my opinion...
JS

 

[mikecr]

I think think the price is very reasonable for blacking out a stainless barrel.
I just wonder how black it is w/resp to a matte black scope..

 

[Dgd6mm]

The finish is nice. It is just the color the barrel comes back after being treated. It can be buffed off. Barrel life is definately extented, but you will not get 1 barrel done for 60.00. This process is well worth the money for extra barrel life. We sent 6 out.

 

[JRS]

Check ROBAR. Not inexpensive, but you won't get a better looking more durable finish anywhere. They have a number of different finishes. Each comes with ROBARS lifetime guarantee. I have rifles, shotguns and handguns finished with their proprietary finishes and couldn't be happier

 

[spclark]

John Whidden (2-times NRA National Long Range Champion) likes the Melonite treatment for his barrels.

Actions probably should not be processed, in fact Tru-Tech flat refuese to do some brands owing to how their process (1,200° F) affects actions that have been hardened in production.

I've not been aware until now that the black surface coloration can be buffed off; the treatment is 10 - 20 microns (0.0003937 - 0.0007874") which isn't a lot....

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2009/02/melonite-surface-treatment-for-barrels-bolts-and-actions/

 

[jscandale]

Sounds kind of interesting to me. How can we all piggy back our barrels I to one lot to lower the per barrel cost?

JS

 

[butchlambert]

You will not have a minimum lot charge anymore. Mim-Trutec has turned the gun related business to the employee that does the Melonite QPQ. He does it off hours and pays rent to the company.
Send to :
MMI-Trutec, Inc.
2609 N. 12th Avenue
Paragould, Ar. 72450
ph 870-236-6920
Attn: Rodney Lanier

Dear Sir,

I am the plant Manager of MMI. Well as Joel has said do not accept individual accounts. However a long time in house employee has assumed this business. He will use our bath with a surcharge. There is not any need in sending these parts to an outside source and then us. You can send them directly to Rodney Lanier rlanier77@hotmail.com. They will come directly to MMI Arkansas facility attention Rodney. His charge is $60 per barrel and $75 for handguns and $55 shot gun barrel. check made out in his name included in the package plus $20 shipping or an ups account #. You can contact him at 870-236-6920

Thanks,

Mike Wooldridge
Plant Manag
MMI-Trutec
Paragould, Arkansas

I have been using this process for years. It greatly extends barrel life. They will do most receivers, but not Howa or Weatherby.

Butch

 

[mikecr]

Butch, great info & 2 questions;
1. Can this be applied to BAT SS actions?
2. Does it wipe or buff off SS easily?

 

[RAGGED]

You will not have a minimum lot charge anymore. Mim-Trutec has turned the gun related business to the employee that does the Melonite QPQ. He does it off hours and pays rent to the company.
Send to :
MMI-Trutec, Inc.
2609 N. 12th Avenue
Paragould, Ar. 72450
ph 870-236-6920
Attn: Rodney Lanier

Dear Sir,

I am the plant Manager of MMI. Well as Joel has said do not accept individual accounts. However a long time in house employee has assumed this business. He will use our bath with a surcharge. There is not any need in sending these parts to an outside source and then us. You can send them directly to Rodney Lanier rlanier77@hotmail.com. They will come directly to MMI Arkansas facility attention Rodney. His charge is $60 per barrel and $75 for handguns and $55 shot gun barrel. check made out in his name included in the package plus $20 shipping or an ups account #. You can contact him at 870-236-6920

Thanks,

Mike Wooldridge
Plant Manag
MMI-Trutec
Paragould, Arkansas

I have been using this process for years. It greatly extends barrel life. They will do most receivers, but not Howa or Weatherby.

Butch

Thanks for that info Butch, that’s great! I really wanted to do my last 243win bbl but couldn't justify it when it was a $200 lot charge and could find enough interest (all at one time) amongst friends to make it worthwhile, this changes things, thank you again.

 

[butchlambert]

Mike,
They will do a Bat and I haven't tried to remove the finish on a barrel.
Butch

 

[mikecr]

Ok I ask for a perspective of it's look & durability. Does it lose it's 'blackness' around the muzzle?
How has it held up in the throat as seen with a borescope?

Also, have you been 'breaking in' barrels and cleaning prior to treatment? Or do you go as far as to see that a barrel is a shooter before sending it off?

Thanks Butch

 

[butchlambert]

Mike,
I have posted this many times on this and other forums. If you can't tell if a barrel will shoot in 50 rounds, something is wrong. I had a Kreiger in a PPC. Every 1000 rounds I had Ed Shilen or Bill Hull bore scope it. No throat erosion in 5000 rounds. I shipped it to a guy that claimed to be a gunsmith instructor. He was going to show his class. Never saw the barrel again and he disappeared.
Butch

 

[Robert]

Mike,
I have posted this many times on this and other forums. If you can't tell if a barrel will shoot in 50 rounds, something is wrong. I had a Kreiger in a PPC. Every 1000 rounds I had Ed Shilen or Bill Hull bore scope it. No throat erosion in 5000 rounds. I shipped it to a guy that claimed to be a gunsmith instructor. He was going to show his class. Never saw the barrel again and he disappeared.
Butch

Butch et all,

Naive questions:
-Is a barrel QPQ treated qtill possible to be rechambered, throat modified or set back after treatment?.
-Theading before or after treatment?
-What about crowning?. Does it need to be cut after treatment to be perfect sharp? I presume the 'P' in the process soewhat affect the muzzle bore/face junction?
QPQ=Quench Polish Quench, and it is the Polish inbetween who bothers me most.
R.G.C

 

[butchlambert]

Robert,
I think you give up touching up the chamber. It will be about 65RC on the surface. I have recrowned and did it just because. It is easy to get beyond the case hardening to recrown. All machine work needs to be done prior to treatment.
Butch

 

[Robert]

Mike,
I have posted this many times on this and other forums. If you can't tell if a barrel will shoot in 50 rounds, something is wrong. I had a Kreiger in a PPC. Every 1000 rounds I had Ed Shilen or Bill Hull bore scope it. No throat erosion in 5000 rounds. I shipped it to a guy that claimed to be a gunsmith instructor. He was going to show his class. Never saw the barrel again and he disappeared.
Butch

Yes, Butch. this was the thought behind my not so naive question...You can order the barrel with a short reinforce, as, Memonited, it will only be chambered once...No possibility to set it back layer for a new life, and everything has to be right at first.....

R.G.C