Plasma Nitride for Barrels???

[bgodbold]

Has anyone tried Plasma nitriding on rifle barrels? We have a pulsed plasma furnace at work running 4340 automotive race crankshafts - surface and oil holes. I think the same process would be very good on rifle barrels, maybe better on chromoly than stainless. The process runs about 950F for up to 48 hours. We can hang 36”+ with no problem. The cranks come out straight, so a barrel with good heat treat and tempered above 950F should come out straight too (I think). Plasma can run about 50-100 F lower than salt bath (Melonite) processing, and go deeper with less distortion.

 

[Larryh128]

Get a junk barrel & give it a try & let us know. I've been interested in it for years. Actually I have a barrel if you want to try it.

 

[bgodbold]

I'm a bit concerned that you would have to fit the barrel, finish ream the chamber for proper spacing, and then nitride. A Savage style barrel might avoid that step, but you would have fits reaming the chamber after nitride. I looked a bit at the rem-age barrel with that in mind, but it seems there is more people going the other direction and getting rid of the nuts on Savage barrels. Any thoughts?

 

[Larryh128]

Barrel would need to be totally shootable with a known accuaracy. I have a barrel that I long chambered in 300WSM when I chambered a couple others. It isn't threaded but certainly can be & I would consider donating it to the project.
I have been looking at nitride for years after I started having all of my specialty cutters nitraded. I have always been concerned about the temperature at the extended periods of holding time. Also shops seem to be freaked out about a reciever being in their plant over night.