hardened barrel?

[adelbridge]

I know of nitriding and other bore hardening methods but wonder if just the bore gets hardened. I have a stainless bull barrel and it has a few "polished" spots from rub on the exterior. I wonder if the bore is just as susceptible to minor nicks and dings. If this is the case I am never running a rod thru my guns again.

 

[Coal Dragger]

If you are running non coated rods I would suggest you change to a coated rod, and use a guide if you can. Makes barrel cleaning easier and less likely to do any damage.

 

[stubbicatt]

With anything in life, you can overdo it. Same for bore cleaning. I remember reading that the Dewey rods and stainless steel rods with a properly fitted patch/jag or brush were adequate to clean the bore, but would pick up hard particles freed from the bore surface during use. I was instructed to wipe down the rod before each pass to remove this substance.

Good luck,

Regards,
Stubb

 

[briansmithwins]

Better if you not shoot it then, the white hot plasma and abrasion of burning powder being pushed down the bore at supersonic speeds will really wear the bore out.

Barrels wear out if used. They are a wear part that needs to be replaced. Of course, by the time you've shot a barrel out you've spent way more money on ammo than a new barrel going to cost you.

BSW

 

[adelbridge]

What I am trying to figure out is if the outside of my stainless steel barrel is the same hardness as the bore. It seems the outside of my barrel is prone to light scratches. When they harden the barrels do they somehow treat only the bore? I suspect nitriding salts could be packed into the bore or the entire barrel can be submerged.

 

[NOLAEMT]

yes. the bore is the same hardness as the outside of the barrel.

If it is a stainless barrel (and is still silver) it is not nitrided.

 

[Dthunter]

Barrel steel is not a hard steel. The stainless isnt either. The properties of stainless allow it to be a good metal for a rifle Barrel.

As has been already said, the barrel is a wear item. But, the majority of gunowners will never shoot thier rifles enough to cause a barrel to "wear out".

The accuracy potential of a given barrel will be the first thing to degrade. Most shooters dont shoot well enough to notice this change.

One of the biggest culprits to barrel wear is shooting a rifle too many times/too fast. Allowing the bore to get very hot. The bigger-more over bore a rifle
Caliber is, the faster this condition occurrs.

If you are a shooter who shoots 2-3 boxes a year, your rifle will likely last your lifetime.

Improper/over frequent cleaning techniques are also a main cause of degraded barrel life.

Another significant contributer to excessive Barrel wear is the reloader who always loads to max velocity/pressure. If you want more Power/speed, purchase a rifle with a higher performance cartidge. Simple stuff really.

If you are a Shooter who shoots allot(by this I mean many rounds
In a row allowing the Bore To get very hot), cleans after every shooting session (with a poor cleaning regime), your bore life will be cut down Dramatically.

How do I "KNOW" this? Been there done that.

I have been very lucky in the years past. I met a gentleman who taught me how to make rifle barrels. So I have been uniquely privilaged to replace/build a bunch of barrels that I had abused.

I have resently (5 Years or so), stopped cleaning the bores of a few long range Tactical rifles that I shoot. To see how many rounds it takes To see A Degradation of Accuracy. I have fired more than 300 rounds From one 300win mag since the last cleaning. It still shoots around 1/2 MOA out to 800-1000 yards (normally). And around MOA out past that to 1760yds (1 mile).
Given time, I will see how this barrel holds up.