Cryogenic Treatment of Firearms

seamus

Has anyone has tried, or does anyone have an informed opinion on, the deep cryogenic treatment for firearsm. It's advertisede as an ultra low temperature processing that enhances the metallurgical and structural properties of metal. Allegedly, the process increases the strenght througout, without affecting the hardness, of the material treated. But does is work and is it worth it?

seamus

Gentlemen, please excuse the typos above. I guess I need to put on my glasses when proof reading.

axlerfan

i tried it on a target .22 i have, and on a 30-06 i have. in both cases there was a noticeable improvement in accuracy....groups were tighter in both cases. the way it was explained to me is that by freezing the barrel, then letting it come slowly up to normal temp, then heating it and refreezing it, any stresses in the metal from when the barrel was formed are relieved. this prevents the barrel from warping when it heats up during shooting. it was not an expensive experiment and in my case, it appears to have worked.

varmit hunter

Copied from Shilen Barrel web site.

Should I "cryo" my barrel?

If you have heard that the cryogenic treatment stress relieves steel, this is false. We have measured the residual stress in 4140 and 416 steel with a process called x-ray diffraction. After much R&D, we have not been able to measure any changes in molecular stress after cryo treatment. For this reason we do not endorse the cryogenic process, but we can safely say that it is not detrimental to the barrel either.


The most important things, Are not things.

axlerfan

im not endorsing it either, just relayed my experience...ive read both pros and cons about the process...i can only say that i had noticed an improvement in the way my two rifles shot after undergoing the process...i have a friend that did it to a rifle of his, and did not notice any change. again, like i said, it wasnt an expensive experiment, so wasnt risking much.

Nighthawk

Learn something every day,I dont think Ive ever heard of it.Thanks for the info.

Rugster

drawn

I treated my .338 378 Weatherby for the longer barrel life stand point although the rifle seems to be slightly more accurate it's probably just me improving my ability to shoot an already very accurate rifle. Another thing I noticed was an increase of 60 or so fps on my reloads. I had my treatment done by Charles at:


Cryogenics International
14715 N. 78th Way, Suite 200
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
480-991-0299
info@cryogenicsinternational.com
www.cryogenicsinternational.com

and was very happy with his work and professionalism.

groundhog devastation

It's not a cure all for a poorly smithed barrel!!! However it does have merits as mentioned in a previous post as to releiving stress points. Have seen barrels that have been chambered to 1/10000 center that showed improvement by cryogenics. If some of the barrel makers took enough pride in making their barrels as they do in making statements about how to treat them then I'm not sure if this post would have been needed! 3/10000 or less lands and grooves will do!! Indicated on both ends!!!! GHD