Cryogenically Treating Firearms

[CJJohn]

Any one have any real world experience with this? I am considering doing it to a couple of long guns.

[Sutcliffe]

You'll get many opinions from advocates and haters alike

I don't put a lot of stock in the process.
I have a tough time believing that the freeze somehow changes the strength and character of the metal without interferring with any parts that are heat treated.

I am not a qualified metallurgist or engineer of any sort.
YMMV

[Mute]

Save your money for ammo and good training.

[CJJohn]

LOL, good responses! I know the science of it for drivetrain parts is pretty well documented, and proven. That is where I am more familiar with it. I can even get my head around the molecular changes that happen from doing it. I guess I was just curious if anyone had actually tested it, or had some real world stats on the improvements.

[flypops]

I'm no metallurgist either, nor am I a certified engineer, however I've been involved in aerospace manufacturing for 40 years now. We used to Cryogenically treat certain aerospace parts during the machining process as a requirement from our customer. Usually Ball Aerospace would require this on certain space flight hardware.

I believe it was to condition the material to the extreme temperature swings from space launch to eventual orbit.

If your material won't see these temperature swings then in my opinion it is not of any value.

Just my .02 and I'm sure somebody a lot smarter will have a different opinion.

[bigbearbear]

My Benelli Supersport and my wife's M2 Field Compact have barrels that are cryo treated. I don't have any other shotguns to compare these 2 with but the barrels of the 2 Benelli shotguns I have are really easy to clean.

Not sure how much the cryo treatment contributed to the ease of cleaning, certainly didn't hurt the barrel.

I think, the benefit might be mostly mental to the shooter. If you get your barrel cryo treated, you "think" you now have a better barrel and thus have more confidence, this tends to make you shoot better.

[USPSA GM]

The concept behind it is that during both the manufacturing process of the metal itself, and the making of the barrel, internal stresses are induced into the part. These unregulated stresses can cause an inconsistent response to the high pressure firing of a bullet down the bore. Accuracy, among other things, is based on consistency especially in barrel harmonic's.

The concept is that by subjecting the barrel to the deep cold temps the internal stresses are relived allowing the barrel to respond more consistently to the firing and possibility improving strength overall. More consistent response equals more consistent point of impact of the bullet.

Cyro treatments are used in aerospace, high end racing parts, and other industries and has been for years. My direct and indirect experience with it has produced varied results. In pistols and shotguns it has never showed any improvements. In extremely long range rifles I have seen several examples that showed a small but consistent and measurable improvement in accuracy. Most rifles, and their owners, aren't good enough to benefit from the improvement and the rest have to determine for themselves if the cost vs benefit ratio makes since. If I was going after setting world records at 1000 yards it is certainly an option I would consider and probably include in the build. In an AR for 3 gun, nope.

[Divernhunter]

Years ago I did a cryo test. I was married at the time. I placed the rifle barreled action next to my wife in bed. After one night I allowed the barrel to warm up slowly over 24 hours and it did shoot better. Several friends asked if I would give their rifles the same treatment but she would not go for it after the first one.

[Garv]

I'm no metallurgist either, nor am I a certified engineer, however I've been involved in aerospace manufacturing for 40 years now. We used to Cryogenically treat certain aerospace parts during the machining process as a requirement from our customer. Usually Ball Aerospace would require this on certain space flight hardware.

I believe it was to condition the material to the extreme temperature swings from space launch to eventual orbit.

If your material won't see these temperature swings then in my opinion it is not of any value.

+ 1 to this. Aerospace employee 34 years.

[postal]

Years ago I did a cryo test. I was married at the time. I placed the rifle barreled action next to my wife in bed. After one night I allowed the barrel to warm up slowly over 24 hours and it did shoot better. Several friends asked if I would give their rifles the same treatment but she would not go for it after the first one.

Speechless!!!!!! Where's the 'slow clap' emoticon?

[toddh]

It's my understanding it works like this.....

When things are made from hot metal, molecules are moving around real fast and are arranged haphazardly as the item is cooled down.
Hammer forging and mandrel drawing condenses the material father down and it gains strength...but the molecular structure ("lattice") is still kinda haphazard.

What the cryo treat does is freezes the item so cold the molecules in the material stop moving completely, locking them in place. Absolute zero.
As its slowly warmed, the molecules can move again and very slowly move into a more structured alignment of the "lattice".
That's the reason behind the smoother surfaces and higher strengths that are advertised.

It's a very common process used in racing, mining, and heavy equipment industries for strength and longevity in high wear components.....gears, teeth on diggers, oil field drills, stuff like that.

My consensus would be that if you do a firearm, it may actually smooth the actions of treated components, and may reduce some bullet friction in the barrel. Might gain a few FPS.
And any part that is treated might wear less and last longer vs. an identical gun that is untreated.


That about all I know off the top off my head.....or out of my butt.


look around here...

http://www.300below.com/research/

.

[RandyD]

I like to read about precision shooting and 6mmbr.com is one of my favorite sites to read about new technology and techniques to gain more accuracy. The benchrest shooters have not adopted or rejected the cryogenic process. Based on what I have read, it does not produce results worth the cost. My understanding is, if you used this process, you would use it before machining the action and/or barrel.

[CJJohn]

Looks like we all have the same understanding of the process, and it looks like it's not a worthwhile investment. Maybe on a high end match rifle at most. I have read the process eases cleaning, and does render a gain in FPS. Thanks for responses all.

[flypops]

Looks like we all have the same understanding of the process, and it looks like it's not a worthwhile investment. Maybe on a high end match rifle at most. I have read the process eases cleaning, and does render a gain in FPS. Thanks for responses all.

I don't see how either of those are possible, but I couldn't swear to it.

[Jimi Jah]

It's also done on guitar strings. Steel strings treated do sound briter. It's a way of aligning molocules so they sit tighter. It can make steel more brittle.