Metallurgy Question

[coupalr]

At what temp. will the structure of the metal in my action and barrel start changing? The guy that is going to bake my powder coat wants to do it at 390 degrees. Is this to high?

 

[sjk]

You don't mention the material. 4140 is ok at that temperature but stay under the soft soldering/lo temp silver temps of 620 degrees. Taking a rough guess at what you have, 1000 degrees and higher will shift the molecules all around NOT to your advantage. Stainless is another ball game. Check it all out before you start

 

[koginam]

Winchester, Remington, Ruger, Sako, Savage, Mossberg, Mauser, Weatherby, no problem I have powder coated all of them.

 

[JDJones]

depending on the material you should be up the 700 deg range then the metal may move some and not come back to its start also known as warping, it'll be up above 1000deg before you ahve to start worrying about changing the stregth

 

[coupalr]

The action is 4140 and the barrel is 416 stainless. Thanks guys.

 

[CatShooter]

I have "cooked" hundreds of rifles,including my own) at 350 when coating them with teflon - no problems.

.

 

[wziz]

watch out for TME,tempered martensite embrittlement)
4140 may be susceptable around 500F, toughness is reduced
and action get more brittle, depending on original temper