I will shortly be having to use a sound moderator on my blued sako 243. This design of moderator comes back over the barrel sealing at the rear by O rings. To save weight there is no sleeve over the barrel so the gases reach the outside of the barrel covered by the moderator.

Condensation, powder residue and blued steel are not a happy mix. Can anyone suggest a coating that I can use on the outside of the barrel that will protect it but can be removed by application of a solvent should it be required.

I was thinking along the lines of a laquer.

I am not aware of any coating that will be successful for what you want.

Lacquer wil take a beating with the heat generated and oil will burn off as heat rises.

The moderator you mention usually tends to mark the outside of the barrel as it is fitted and undone, this appears unavoidable with moderators such as the Reflex (retro type); rather than re-invent the wheel perhaps it may be better to remove the moderator after each shooting session and wipe the barrel with an oil impregnated cloth, the moderators makers, unless they made of stainless suggest this in any event as corrosion from the inside out will be a problem eventually.

I think users of Reflex supressors give them a spray with a de-watering oil such as WD-40 or similar, whether this is advisable from a flamability point of view squirting this into the expansion chamber of a sound supressor that is then exposed to a muzzle flash, I am none too convinced.

Try coating the outside of the bbl with Break Free. Then I would remove the suppressor and clean the outside of the bbl and wipe it down with Break Free after each firing session.

Two things that you can try are car carnuba wax.
And the other is flitz this is very good at repeling things.

sp200 or sp400...

it's a machien shop long term storage.. comes off with kerocen


don't bother with anything else

jeffe

Johnsons paste floor wax.

Since it is seeing a bit of heavy duty environment I'd be tempted to try electrical tape, or heat shrink tubing. I think the tape might be better, I'd remnove it after a week or two to see how it was working and then put more on and forget about it.

OH, and use a quality tape like 3M #33, preferably not the bargain bin variety.