• If you are being asked to change your password, and unsure how to do it, follow these instructions. Click here

Cryogenic treatments of rifle barrels

Never had one done,but I remember when the process was first introduced. I can't personally testify that it helps,but we all know that any type of stress relief performed has the potential to increase accuracy and reduce the effects of barrel heat changing POI .
 
Omega Arms in Gillette sent the parts out with a batch that he had getting nitride treated. The action is very smooth being that hard, and the stainless barrel came back black. My understanding is that I can get about twice the life of an untreated barrel. Since it's a.308, I might not live long enough to shoot this barrel out. Time will tell.
 
I am getting ready to send off 3 barrels.
25-06AI, 6-6.5PRC, and 7-300 PRC
I will send off for Cryo first, then fluting, then nitriding.
Although on one I might nitride then flute so it has a extra kewl factor with the shiny spiral flutes.

No experience, I just like to test and play around. Hopefully it doesnt degrade the accuracy I currently have in them.
 
Fluting will introduce stress in the barrel . Anytime you cut into material you introduce stress in the material. Probably not enough to notice but it will be counter productive to the cryo treatment wich is supposed to relief stress. Nitride will look cool 😎.
 
I am getting ready to send off 3 barrels.
25-06AI, 6-6.5PRC, and 7-300 PRC
I will send off for Cryo first, then fluting, then nitriding.
Although on one I might nitride then flute so it has a extra kewl factor with the shiny spiral flutes.

No experience, I just like to test and play around. Hopefully it doesnt degrade the accuracy I currently have in them.
The other factor to take into consideration is the iron content of the stainless steel. There are a number of types of stainless that have enough iron in them that they will still show rust if exposed to moisture or salt(near the coast). This can be eliminated through passivation but that is another step. Passivation explained here... https://www.theruststore.com/blogs/...i41WEcfzXAuSc0KMWdM72Njhv2LAId_EaAqQkEALw_wcB
 
Interested in the nitriding of barrels. I build race engines and many of our parts, especially forged steel cranks are nitrided prior to assembly.
Does this increase the longevity of the barrel? I know it hardens the steel, but what about Stainless?

I know in many crank configurations the nitriding changes the harmonics of the crankshaft by increasing the frequency and the harmonics occur higher in the RPM. 454 Big block Chevs are notorious for harmonics snapping crank ends at 6,500-6,800rpm, nitriding increases this to above 7,500rpm successfully.

Cheers.
 
Cryo treatment is for stress relief. This is more so effecting the machining process from what I seemed to understand, and has the benefit of making the grains or microstructure more uniform.

Nitriding is just a surface treatment that helps with wear. These are two different things that are not interchangeable.

If anyone is interested, nitriding is its own thread topic by itself. There's different processes, and honestly, I shoot in pro circles, and I'm not aware of anyone notable putting nitride and precision shooting together.
I would do research on each process and ask the person who's doing it how they do it before committing to buying.

In any case, despite the advertised wear resistance, what nitriding does NOT help with is micro cracking in the throat.
 
Last edited:
Top