Anyone know where I can get the BORE of my rifle hard chromed? I like the gun blued, and don't want to get the outside done, just the bore to protect it in harsh conditions. Gun in question is a Browning 1886 carbine in 45/70 caliber, I don't think the chrome build up will be an issue in that large of a bore(tho I don't know how much accumulates). Anyone have any info?
Where to hard chrome a rifle bore??
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Vern Humphrey
Member
When you chrome the bore, you will change bore dimensions -- you could ruin the rifle.
Why not just keep it clean and oiled?
Why not just keep it clean and oiled?
I am wondering how much it would change the bore dimensions. I'm planning on moving to Alaska soon, It's not always easy to keep a bore clean, My bad gun cleaning habits developed in dry Az and Wyoming where I tend to clean a gun MAYBE once or twice a year IF it's been shot a lot. Most military rifles have hard chromed bores, and the are extremely corrosion resistant. I realize they figure the hard chrome dimensions in when the make a barrel, but in a larger bore the build up will be less of a problem than a smaller bore. Anyone know how thick the hard chrome that they do rifle bores with is?
Anyone know who plates the outside of guns in hard chrome? They would be able answer the "how thick" question.
Anyone know who plates the outside of guns in hard chrome? They would be able answer the "how thick" question.
Redlg155
Member
Another potential problem would be how to make sure the barrel was entirely clean of lead/copper deposits in the pores of the barrel steel. This would also affect the adhering of the chrome to the barrel steel.
You might want to either call or shoot the folks over at Tripp Research a call to see if they can give you some advice.
As for Alaska, we never had any problems with our non chrome plated rifles. But since you made the statement,
Good Shooting
Red
You might want to either call or shoot the folks over at Tripp Research a call to see if they can give you some advice.
As for Alaska, we never had any problems with our non chrome plated rifles. But since you made the statement,
, you might want to reconsider your cleaning habits. Your life may depend on it in Alaska.
Good Shooting
Red
Redlg, were you in Ak for a hunt, or did you spend some extended time there?
I keep up with my guns as much as neccesary, but in an extended rainy period it's hard to keep up with rust, many oils will also affect the point of impact for the first shot or two.
I haven't had any trouble with my guns when I was there, but was only there for about 6 weeks at a time. I'm just trying to stay one step ahead of the game with a hard chrome bore.
I keep up with my guns as much as neccesary, but in an extended rainy period it's hard to keep up with rust, many oils will also affect the point of impact for the first shot or two.
I haven't had any trouble with my guns when I was there, but was only there for about 6 weeks at a time. I'm just trying to stay one step ahead of the game with a hard chrome bore.
Vern Humphrey
Member
My experience is that the bore is the least of your worries. Just clean after firing. If you're really worried, soak a yarn in gun oil and pull it through the bore and leave it there while the gun is stored.
Where water and corrosion really hurt is in the trigger mechanism, the safety, and so on. Those are the parts you really need to worry about.
Where water and corrosion really hurt is in the trigger mechanism, the safety, and so on. Those are the parts you really need to worry about.
dfariswheel
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Chroming of rifle bores is something that has to be done during manufacture.
The bore is left over-sized by a specific amount, and there are some other prep steps that are taken.
As far as I know, nobody offers plating for already made rifle barrels.
The bore is left over-sized by a specific amount, and there are some other prep steps that are taken.
As far as I know, nobody offers plating for already made rifle barrels.
Jim Watson
Member
The old Marker Machine Co. did bore chroming... 25 - 30 years ago. Charles Askins plugged them extensively in his articles.
There was an article in the 1972 G&A Annual about the Morey chrome process as applied to a gun bore by Chrome Electroforming Co., of Detroit.
I can find no current listing for either.
There was an article in the 1972 G&A Annual about the Morey chrome process as applied to a gun bore by Chrome Electroforming Co., of Detroit.
I can find no current listing for either.
Thanks for the replies guys, to answer a few,
Storage is easy to take care of, the issue to me is daily carry in all types of weather. When in Alaska before, we would put black tape over the muzzle to keep the rain out, and use car wax on the metal. It works pretty well for the most part, but condensation can occur even with the tape on.
Cleaning after firing is Ok if what you are doing is taking it to the range or hunting one or two animals on a hunt. It sometimes gets carried for weeks or months after being cleaned tho. It also often lives along the front edge of the front seat of the truck, and is exposed to heat-cold cycles.
I've not had any problems with the action, safety, etc, (that sounds more like a bolt gun issue), I HAVE had a barrel get rusted in a short time when being carried in warm-cold-warm changes, sleeping out under the stars with the gun under the edge of the blanket/sleeping bag, being against the cold ground on one side, against me on the other(I like to keep it within reach when sleeping out under the stars or in a tent in grizzly country). It doesn't affect the function or reliability of the gun, or hasn't seemed to affect the accuracy for the most part, but it makes it harder to keep clean when it gets pitted (it fouls faster), and it looks ugly inside. Minor surface rust on the outside is easy to see, and fairly easy to clean off without much lasting effect, but the bore is harder to keep on top of.
So, does anyone know how thick the hard chrome is? Many guns have been nickle plated after leaving the factory, Smith&Wesson would nickle plate a gun after it was out the door, and they plated the bore. I understand that if the bore size is tight to begin with there is some potential for a problem if it is reduced in size, but if we are talking a half thousanth build up, in a .457"-.458" bore that is a small percentage. There is more variation than that in guns off the same line. Bullet sizing with cast loads could adjust some too.
I have had periods in the past when I averaged sleeping in a house about 3 or 4 months out of a year. I got civilized. I'm heading to Alakska and plan to once again become somewhat "uncivilized" again. The issue to me is daily carry in all types of weather. The chrome bore would help me keep ahead of the game.
I first became aware of hard chrome bores advantages when I saw an SKS that looked a bit strange. It had been found in a canal in Viet Nam. The stock had reportedly rotted off of it (it had been re-stocked with a pine 2X8), and the metal was severly pitted over much of the gun. The bore still looked good.
Storage is easy to take care of, the issue to me is daily carry in all types of weather. When in Alaska before, we would put black tape over the muzzle to keep the rain out, and use car wax on the metal. It works pretty well for the most part, but condensation can occur even with the tape on.
Cleaning after firing is Ok if what you are doing is taking it to the range or hunting one or two animals on a hunt. It sometimes gets carried for weeks or months after being cleaned tho. It also often lives along the front edge of the front seat of the truck, and is exposed to heat-cold cycles.
I've not had any problems with the action, safety, etc, (that sounds more like a bolt gun issue), I HAVE had a barrel get rusted in a short time when being carried in warm-cold-warm changes, sleeping out under the stars with the gun under the edge of the blanket/sleeping bag, being against the cold ground on one side, against me on the other(I like to keep it within reach when sleeping out under the stars or in a tent in grizzly country). It doesn't affect the function or reliability of the gun, or hasn't seemed to affect the accuracy for the most part, but it makes it harder to keep clean when it gets pitted (it fouls faster), and it looks ugly inside. Minor surface rust on the outside is easy to see, and fairly easy to clean off without much lasting effect, but the bore is harder to keep on top of.
So, does anyone know how thick the hard chrome is? Many guns have been nickle plated after leaving the factory, Smith&Wesson would nickle plate a gun after it was out the door, and they plated the bore. I understand that if the bore size is tight to begin with there is some potential for a problem if it is reduced in size, but if we are talking a half thousanth build up, in a .457"-.458" bore that is a small percentage. There is more variation than that in guns off the same line. Bullet sizing with cast loads could adjust some too.
I have had periods in the past when I averaged sleeping in a house about 3 or 4 months out of a year. I got civilized. I'm heading to Alakska and plan to once again become somewhat "uncivilized" again. The issue to me is daily carry in all types of weather. The chrome bore would help me keep ahead of the game.
I first became aware of hard chrome bores advantages when I saw an SKS that looked a bit strange. It had been found in a canal in Viet Nam. The stock had reportedly rotted off of it (it had been re-stocked with a pine 2X8), and the metal was severly pitted over much of the gun. The bore still looked good.
mainmech48
Member
There used to be an outfit called "Armaloy" out of Daggett (sp?), Texas that had a proprietary process which did not change the dimensions. The bond is molecular rather than mechanical as it is in conventional plating. Bores and chambers of revolver cylinders finished with it show no measurable dimensional differences on a Starret micrometer, so we're talking a finish depth of something less than 0.001".
They originally developed the process for industrial machine parts subjected to high loads and/or hostile environments. Firearms were a sideline.
Surface hardness was claimed to be circa 70 on the Rockwell scale. While I have no "professional" means of testing for that, a new Nicholson file will scarcely brighten it.
They did an old S&W 1917 which I'd had the barrel cut to 2.5" on for carry, inside and out, back in 1977 or '78. It cost me about $110, IIRC.
Extremely resistant to corrosion from sweat, etc. Lockwork felt much smoother post treatment, too. Finish was a matte silver/gray.
Don't know if they're still around, but surely the process itself is still around somewhere. It just worked to damned well to have disappeared entirely.
They originally developed the process for industrial machine parts subjected to high loads and/or hostile environments. Firearms were a sideline.
Surface hardness was claimed to be circa 70 on the Rockwell scale. While I have no "professional" means of testing for that, a new Nicholson file will scarcely brighten it.
They did an old S&W 1917 which I'd had the barrel cut to 2.5" on for carry, inside and out, back in 1977 or '78. It cost me about $110, IIRC.
Extremely resistant to corrosion from sweat, etc. Lockwork felt much smoother post treatment, too. Finish was a matte silver/gray.
Don't know if they're still around, but surely the process itself is still around somewhere. It just worked to damned well to have disappeared entirely.
Redlg155
Member
I lived for about two years in Delta Junction, about 100 miles South East of Fairbanks before moving back stateside.
I loved the couple of years we stayed there. Talk about a hunters paradise! I especially enjoyed the smaller game there. Grouse and snowshoe hares abounded. Talk about some serious fun!
Good Shooting
Red
Wildalaska
member
We chrome a ton of guns, but not bores.
WildseeyawhenyagethereAlaska
WildseeyawhenyagethereAlaska
dfariswheel
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I believe Armoloy of Fort Worth Texas is still in business, and still on Daggett street.
Armoloy is just a proprietary name for their hard chrome. They were one of the first to offer hard chrome to the general public.
They did plate bores, but ONLY pistols.
Rifle bore plating is a much thicker deposit.
Again, the barrel must be specially manufactured with plating in mind.
Armoloy is just a proprietary name for their hard chrome. They were one of the first to offer hard chrome to the general public.
They did plate bores, but ONLY pistols.
Rifle bore plating is a much thicker deposit.
Again, the barrel must be specially manufactured with plating in mind.
I found this on the web. From what I read there, they do bores and claim the surface build-up is less than .0002 inch.
Armoloy Co. of Forth Worth
204 E. Daggett Street
Forth Worth, Texas 76104
http://www.armoloyftworth.com/
Armoloy Co. of Forth Worth
204 E. Daggett Street
Forth Worth, Texas 76104
http://www.armoloyftworth.com/
dfariswheel
Member
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If they're still doing the same process they did when I used them back in the 80's, the bore plating doesn't look like standard chrome plated bores do.
A standard bore has the very bright and shiny chrome-look.
The Armoloy plated bore has a matte pearl gray color.
The only negative comment I ever heard about the Armoloy bore plating was from the owner of SS Metal-Life.
He said that Armoloy, in his opinion "Just got a little color in there", not a real plating.
I also had a H&G 4 cavity .45 ACP gang-mold plated.
Although it discolored over the years, it casted MANY thousands of 230 grain bullets and never rusted or corroded.
I used Armoloy heavily in the late 70's and 80's, and they ALMOST always did an excellent job.
One occasional problem was "acid leach". The gun would develop one or more dark gray spots. Armoloy said this was caused by an improper cleaning and removal of the acid before plating.
The Armoloy plating was really a super finish, with a look unlike the standard hard chrome done today.
Their first brochure for the general public had several interesting tests.
One test was to plate 1/2 of a nail and leave the other bare.
The nail was dropped in acid for a day or so.
The plated end was like new, the unplated end was GONE, eaten away.
The second test was by a gun writer, who had a S&W Model 36 2" plated.
He first put the gun on his kitchen table and covered it with wet salt for a week. No problems.
He then carried the gun in his front pants pocket for one month, WITH a pocket full of coins and keys. No wear.
He also tested the plating with a good watchmaker's Swiss file. The edge was taken off the file, and the filed area on the gun had a shiny line on it, but the coating was intact.
That impressed me, and I used them for years, until we had a "stolen" gun problem.
A standard bore has the very bright and shiny chrome-look.
The Armoloy plated bore has a matte pearl gray color.
The only negative comment I ever heard about the Armoloy bore plating was from the owner of SS Metal-Life.
He said that Armoloy, in his opinion "Just got a little color in there", not a real plating.
I also had a H&G 4 cavity .45 ACP gang-mold plated.
Although it discolored over the years, it casted MANY thousands of 230 grain bullets and never rusted or corroded.
I used Armoloy heavily in the late 70's and 80's, and they ALMOST always did an excellent job.
One occasional problem was "acid leach". The gun would develop one or more dark gray spots. Armoloy said this was caused by an improper cleaning and removal of the acid before plating.
The Armoloy plating was really a super finish, with a look unlike the standard hard chrome done today.
Their first brochure for the general public had several interesting tests.
One test was to plate 1/2 of a nail and leave the other bare.
The nail was dropped in acid for a day or so.
The plated end was like new, the unplated end was GONE, eaten away.
The second test was by a gun writer, who had a S&W Model 36 2" plated.
He first put the gun on his kitchen table and covered it with wet salt for a week. No problems.
He then carried the gun in his front pants pocket for one month, WITH a pocket full of coins and keys. No wear.
He also tested the plating with a good watchmaker's Swiss file. The edge was taken off the file, and the filed area on the gun had a shiny line on it, but the coating was intact.
That impressed me, and I used them for years, until we had a "stolen" gun problem.
Heavy Barrel
Member
Hard chrome bore
I have a custom 7MM mag built in the late 70's.Hart stainless barrel. Marker Machine black chromed the outside,looks exactly like high quality bluing and hard chromed the bore.If it changed bore dimensions I never noticed any pressure changes and it always has shot under 3/4" since it was built.Nobody ever seemed to be to interested in picking up where Marker left off when they closed.
I have a custom 7MM mag built in the late 70's.Hart stainless barrel. Marker Machine black chromed the outside,looks exactly like high quality bluing and hard chromed the bore.If it changed bore dimensions I never noticed any pressure changes and it always has shot under 3/4" since it was built.Nobody ever seemed to be to interested in picking up where Marker left off when they closed.
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