Melonite, is it really better than chrome lined?

[JdubHardin]

Anyone having issues with their melonite barrels? I've had my sport model for about 2 1/2 years and it's getting rust in the Bohr. It is cleaned and maintained regularly and is the only gun in the safe that has this issue. I read the reviews that state melonite is better for various reasons, but I've never seen chrome lined barrel's rust this easy. I've been in the service for seven years and seen some pretty abused weapons. Did I just get a bad one? Is anyone else having this issues?

 

[cyphertext]

If you have rust, something is wrong... my Sport is fairly well neglected, as in cleaned when the action becomes gritty or accuracy is affected. I don't have any rust.

 

[JdubHardin]

Something wrong as in a defect in the melonite process?

 

[AR-Getsome]

lifetime warranty. Call S&W.

 

[F75gunslinger]

What kind of ammo are you using ?

 

[Arik]

What kind of ammo are you using ?

I'm thinking the same thing even though there is no corrosive 5.56

 

[gwpercle]

What are you cleaning and maintaining it with. I'm taking maintaining as what you coat the bore with before it goes in the safe, then it will sit there and start rusting ? How long does it take for the rust to show up.
Things like WD40 will evaporate and are not proper for storage.
Gary

 

[cyphertext]

Something wrong as in a defect in the melonite process?

Possibly, or something wrong with what you are using to clean the rifle... as others have asked, what ammo are you shooting, what are you using to clean, what are you using when storing, etc.?

 

[JdubHardin]

I'm using Federal XM193 ammo and I use M-Pro 7 cleaner and M-Pro 7 gun oil. Last time I had it out was mid August I brought it out last night for routine wipe down that's when I noticed it. It was cleaned prior to going into the safe in August. The safe has a knock off golden rod to prevent corrosion. The bore itself looks fine as best as I can tell. The problem area is the chamber, where the case sits when the bolt is locked in.

 

[JdubHardin]

It's oiled with a light coat of the M-Pro 7 prior to storage

 

[AR-Getsome]

Are you sure its rust? How about posting pictures? I've used M-Pro 7 for a few years now with no issues.

 

[Rastoff]

Melonite is a treatment to the outside, not the bore.

 

[Geo. T.]

Yeah!

They do apply it inside and out. Their claim is that it extends barrel life quite a bit. It's not as rust proof but if your sure your getting rust just use a different oil before storage. I use one of the knock off golden rod's as well and I keep Damp Rid in it also.

 

[jimbo728]

Melonite is a treatment to the outside, not the bore.

Melonite is a heat treat process,entire barrel, including the bore.
The barrels are cut and rifled before the process. The dimensions do not change during the acid dip heat treat process. It is not a coating.
What is does do is produce a super smooth molecular change. The magnified images I have seen show a remarkable finished product.
It does resist corrosion very well and holds up well under abuse.
Jim

 

[Rastoff]

I stand corrected. I knew it was a treatment and not a coating. Still, I thought it was only applied to the outside.

Learn something new every day.

 

[andyo5]

I'm not familiar with MP7. Does it contain any ammonia?
You are not supposed to use an ammonia based cleaners (such as as Sweet's) with Melonite barrels, according to S&W.

 

[jimbo728]

Rastoff, It does get confusing. What makes it even more confusing is that S&W cant call it Melonite anymore although the early Sports clearly were. Now its called, as Im sure you already know, it is called "salt nitride process". Same process without legal infringements
of the Melonite label.
Jim

 

[JdubHardin]

Here's the pics, keep in mind I wiped it down as soon as I noticed it.

 

[andyo5]

I think we might be looking at copper residue, not rust.

 

[jimbo728]

Copper or brass, not rust.
Jim