Just a note of caution. If you decide to have the stainless blackened make sure they plug the bore ends correctly. I sent a brand new Kreiger barrel out to a place (won't mention names as that's illegal here to say anything bad about someone) to have them blacken the stainless. They plugged the bore with corks, which didn't hold and the bore got blackened also. This is OK for blueing a chrome moly barrel but from what I read and was told later the blackening of stainless creates pits and oxidation unevenly inside the bore. It's only small amounts but with a precision bore it was enough to junk the barrel. Using factory 308 Remington ammo I couldn't fire more than 5 rounds and the bolt would get stiff and I'd get a little gas blow back. I cleaned the barrel and after the second time it did this for me I ran the bore scope in the see what was going on. There was a black build up along the inside corners of the rifling that after a few rounds would restrict the bore to the point of it being dangerous. I sent the barrel back to who blackened the stainless and was told there was no problem with it. I then sent it to another company that blackened stainless and was told the bore was not sealed off and how the blackening effects the inside of a barrel and that this barrel was pretty much junk. To seal the barrel there needs to be some what of a clamp style seal on each end. As the barrel gets heated up in the tank the bore gets under pressure, with just corks they blow off and the seal is broken. I questioned the original company and they said it was sealed off with corks. They wouldn't replace the barrel or refund my money. So I informed my customer and he purchased a new barrel and I ate a chamber job. This time we just duracoated the barrel matte black. I'll never blacken another stainless barrel again duracoat, cerakote or some sort is what I'd suggest to do.
