SHOT Show Report: MMI-Trutec Salt-Bath Nitriding for Barrels
Many of our readers know Joel Kendrick, one of America’s top mid-range shooters. Joel is a two-time IBS 600-yard Shooter of the Year, and we have featured Joel’s match-winning 6×44 as one of our Guns of the Week. Joel now works with MMi-Trutec, specializing in the salt-bath nitriding process. This is a surface-hardening procedure for steel that creates a super-hard, low friction layer for the top 10-20 microns of the metal. Barrels treated with salt-bath-nitriding show much improved wear resistance and reduced friction.
For match rifles, varmint rifles, and hunting rifles, the most significant benefits of salt-bath nitriding are enhanced barrel life, and easier cleaning. Joel’s own F-Class rifle has a nitrided stainless barrel with over 5000 rounds — and it still holds 1/4 MOA at 100 yards. Other well-known shooters, such as John Whidden, have observed that nitrided barrels can shoot longer strings of fire between cleanings, with no reduction of accuracy. What is the cost of nitriding? As Joel explains in the video below, nitriding a single barrel costs $60.00, but there is a minimum first-time lot charge of $200.00. If you submit multiple barrels at the same time, the price per barrel can be reduced significantly. For more info, visit the MMI-Trutec website or contact Joel Kendrick by phone (704) 616-6442, or via email: joelkndrck [at] aol.com .
Is there a downside to nitriding? First, the nitriding process results in a BLACK matte or satin finish. If you like the natural silver finish of stainless steel, you shouldn’t nitride your barrel. Second, and most importantly, the salt-bath-nitriding process creates a surface so hard that you can NOT re-cut the chamber with normal reaming tools. Therefore, before nitriding, the barrel must be finished chambered. Basically the barrel should be fully finished, crowned, chambered and headspaced before nitriding. NOTE: MMi Trutec CAN mask the crown during nitriding so that the barrel can be re-crowned at a later time.
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Tags: Barrel, Friction, IBS, Melonite, Moly, Nitriding, Tenifer
My experience w/Nitrided barrels is that the normal approach to setting back a BBL. after a significant number of rounds should be discussed with your gunsmith prior to committing upon this course. I once purchased a rifle that came with a number of new bbls which I had assumed were blued chromemoly due to their coloration and asked my gunsmith to cut a new chamber in one of these. I was embarrassed and poorer after my gunsmith sorted the misunderstanding out.
Adam,
You are correct, and I tried to explain this point in the article. Once a barrel has been nitrided, the surface hardness is increased to the point that IT IS IMPRACTICAL TO RECHAMBER the barrel with conventional reamers and tools. Basically the steel is so hard it will ruin the tools. On the other hand, if you can get 50% or more accurate life from the barrel, you’ve avoided the need to set-back the barrel in the first place. Once you have a chamber in a nitrided barrel, you can’t rechamber to another cartridge type.
what about sending a barreled action ? Would it help or hurt the action ?
Additionally… would you just require the barrels or could I send a barreled upper?
What about barrels already blued or parked? Can they be done?
Would you recommend this process on a military type barrel that uses steel casing ammo (corrosive)?
I’m interested in the answer to “What about a barreled action”.
Considering that it’s stripped of trigger group, magazine box, and all other removable parts, that is.
I think this will in many ways revolutionize the barrel industry but dont be supprised if there is some push back from barrel manufacturers trying to discount the qualities of nitriding . Anyone whos pocket is going to get lighter will not be happy .Also to the idea of rechambering nitrided barrels threee words ” carbide chamber reamer ” … I love america
Hi – I am interested in having several rifle barrels nitride treated – Can I send in barreled actions stripped of trigger group, mounts and such or are you reluctant or unable to do barrels with action attached – Thank you
George 503-367-9705