Melonite VS Chrome

[BlueOvalFitter]

Being I was a pipe fitter/welder for 32 years I studied and learned about Metallurgy. Just recently I was doing some research on Melonite and came across this video. Opinions?

https://youtu.be/RgutOkCv89Q

 

[Kestas]

I came across it once in the lab for a military application. It is true that it is corrosion resistant and provides a hard sliding surface. Just keep in mind the conversion layer is thin and is not a replacement for a carburized surface, which has greater depth. You still basically have soft base metal.

Not sure about the cost.

 

[Robenstein]

I know for firearms Melonite and other Nitriding processes offer many of the benefits of hard chrome, but at a substantially discounted price. It is not quite as hard or corrosion resistant from what I see, but it is certainly close enough. This is why you see more and more nitrided barrels out in the AR world.

 

[billt460]

The application process is what makes or breaks a Melonite finish. Some of the earlier Springfield XD's, along with some Smith & Wesson M&P pistols, had severe rusting issues due to improper application methods. With Melonite, the success or failure of the end product is in the hands of the outfit that's applying it, along with how.

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=S%26W+M%26P+rusting+issues

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Springfield+XD+rusting+issues

 

[JDM396]

As with the "melonite" it also depends on who did the chrome.

 

[billt460]

You will see far more owners of Melonite treated guns complaining of rust, than you will owners of firearms that have been properly hard chromed. Here are just 2 examples:

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Springfield+XD+rusting+issues

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Smith+%26+wesson+M%26P+rusting+issues

 

[JDM396]

You might see more due to the fact that there are exponentially more "melonited" firearms sold than ones that are HC'ed and especially ones HC'ed the right way. There are also too many variable to consider. It's like some guys randomly posting that M1 blew up their motor. FWIW, some of those google searches were guys with the two-tone slide complaining about rust, so that's not a melonite issue. XDs had problem early on but it's just not an issue now with routine care.
A vast majority of the nitriding processes are well proven. Glock, XD, M&P have all used similar process with great success.

Not to worry, not a knock on HC either. It's a great process that will last for decades if done properly.