New Nitrided barrel

[Rtheurer]

I recieved my New Bartlein Barrel back from True tec after having Nitriding bath done to it. My intent was to have it done on a rifle that has a history of short barrel life. The choice in this instance is a NRA prone rifle chambered in 6.5X284, I did a load work up prior to coating to see if there was going to be any degradation in accuarcy after coating. My intent was to beat the tar out of it and see if all the claims of longevity still hold up to this known barrel eater. I had close to 100 rounds on the tube prior to sending. I have now recieved the barrel back. Unfortunatly for you and me I am going to have to put this project on hold. Uncle Sam is sending me on a paid vacation for the next year.
When I return testing will comence. This will be my 6th barrel chambed in 6.5X284 so I have a good grasp on how it should perform. I have not had one barrel so far not go 1400+ rounds before I pulled them off for fear of starting a new season with a old barrel. If this coating gives another 500+ rounds in a good accurate barrel, us 6.5X284 shooters will be way ahead of the game in cost.

Stay tuned.

RussT

 

[archerross]

Does True tec have a website I could visit? Having trouble finding it.

 

[Steve Blair]

http://mminitriding.com/ahoutus.htm

 

[archerross]

Thanks!

 

[CJ6]

Stay Safe. Let us know when you have the testing done

 

[spclark]

Thanks for your service on behalf of us waiting back here for your return. Stay safe & keep your head down.

 

[FroggyOne2]

Mr Clark.. He will be keeping his head down.. swinging a hammer or a plummers wrench! But my sentiments are the same for I do hope for Russ a safe journey and to return home for us to share friendship both on and off the firing line!

Randy

 

[spclark]

I shot next to a shooter using a 6.5x284 T2k over the last weekend; 2 days, 6 matches, all at 1000 yards. I like the look of the salt-bath nitride treatment - a satin black in direct sunlight - that should look good on any modern firearm.

It SHOT good, too! The shooter's a LR high master & dropped just 12 points out of 1200 in tricky conditions, particularly on Sunday. This was with iron sights & a sling, not F-Class.

For what the treatment costs, if it adds half again the life of an untreated barrel he'll have gotten his money's worth.

 

[Bob3700]

SPCLark,

By chance were you shooting at the two day Rivoli match just outside of New Windsor!

Bob

 

[spclark]

Why yes, as a matter of fact I was! Darrel was shooting a point to my right both days. Where were you, sir?

 

[spclark]

Here's a pic of what his rig looks like from where I was scoring Sunday afternoon. The inset is what he was seeing in his 'scope after about half his shots all weekend.

 

[Bob3700]

Well, I Darryl went north and I went south and east to Oak Ridge, Tn. They had their state LR Championship.

I shot my way to a very mundane fifth place. No medals here.

Glad you got to shoot with Darryl, he is a fine long range shot.

Bob

 

[spclark]

Oh my yes he is. He won the weekend, I came up 2nd. Isn't the first time we've shot together before, won't be the last. His is the first nitrided barrel I've had a chance to see up close. Obviously it shoots just as good after treatment as it probably did before!

I have a lightly used 6BR Broughton cut to fit a Gilkes-Ross action I might have re-chambered - or might not - before going in for the nitride treatment. None of my other barrels are fresh enough to benefit; I understand the coater prefers barrels with about 50 rounds thru 'em, just enough to polish the leads.

Someday my goal is to shoot Oak Ridge. I'be heard a lot about it, it's just a bit far for me to go for a weekend without a day before and after to do the driving.

 

[aimhigh]

How much are you guys paying for the nitriding on a barrel? Also, will they do small parts like screws, scope riings, mounts?

Thanks

 

[Bob3700]

If you decide to have your bbl nitrided, realize that it cannot be set back. The hardening process precludes any of that.

Also, you can specify to the nitrider that you need the muzzle masked so that it can be recrowned. That is about the only thing that I would specify differently from Darryl's bbl.

Currently in our group, there are four bbls that have the nitriding process. Three are hot/bbl burner calibers, and one 308. The bore scope is watching them all pretty closely.

Bob

 

[spclark]

The one supplier I know of has a $100 minimum but the cost per barrel drops when multiple barrels are sent as one order.

The one mentioned in an AccurateShooter Bulletin last February 1 is in Arkansas: http://www.trutecind.com/plant_ark.aspx

(If you Google "salt-bath nitride" you'll find there are several places offering the service so you might find one nearer to you. Whether they're gun-friendly needs to be determined first....)

Whether they'll do other items, you'll have to inquire. I'm sure it's possible; it's a well-established industrial process that also has merit for shooters.

I have yet to have a barrel treated. I'm seriously considering it for a 6BR barrel (about 50 rounds thru it) I bought from a friend. I'm hesitating because I don't yet shoot a 6BR & am pondering having it rechambered first to 6BRX or 6DASHER. Can't do that (or re-crown) once it's nitrided as Bob3700 has pointed out.

 

[brian427cobra]

If the throat is going to last longer so will the crown, I see no need to mask it off, or not have the entire tube hardened.

 

[hoverp]

I have a Gary Schneider barrel with the TUBB extension on the end it...could they just coat that as well? Or would I have to pull that off.

 

[spclark]

My expectation is that you'd best pull the extension off, then send that in for treatment at the same time once you'd cleaned all the epoxy off.

Nitriding is a fairly high-temp process as I understand it & epoxy just doesn't stand up well to temps over 400°F for too long.

I was gonna have a spacegun barrel treated but got no answer about whether the barrel extension should or should not be taken off first so I'm holding off. No practical way to get the gas port timed right unless the extension's fitted. I'm unwilling to attempt removing the extension now that the upper's complete for fear of not being able to get it back on ex-ACT-ly right.... Probably stick with bolt gun barrels for my first treated-barrel project.

That reminds me - I gotta contact those folks who'd enquired about sending a barrel or two in with mine for nitriding....

 

[hoverp]

Copy Steve, check your PM's.

Patrick