Gentlemen,
I'm curious as to the concensus of having the bolt of my Winchester Stainless Classic in .375 H&H plated with NP3 or industrial hard chrome to further insure reliability. The work would of course be done at the riflemsmiths discretion who will rebarrel it, bed it into a WSG McMillan, and fit the Williams Bottom Metal. I would imagine the smith would have to determine the thickness of the coating and what it would do to headspace, etc. Your input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Matt.

Matt...stay away from chroming your rifle. Two of my rifles have the NP3 treatment and it is the best finish by far that I have ever seen or used or a rifle. The finish is very dull and flat looking and won't scare game plus the finish is, for want of a better word, slippery when two pieces of metal move against each other. No galling of the bolt and it takes very little if any lubricant to keep things smooth. I put well over 80 rounds thru my rifle on my last trip to Zimbabwe and all I ever did was wipe the bolt off when I noticed it getting dirty. No cheap and it can take awhile but simple "the best".

Matt __

At the risk of looking stupid (a foregone conclusion anyway), I would like to understand how hard chrome plating will improve the "reliability" of the M70 bolt unless it is to build up some sloppy dimensions which are interfering with "smooth" manipulation of the action. ?????

For "sticky" actions, my first approach is deburring followed by polishing.

Good shooting.

Robert

DB Bill,
I will indeed give the NP3 some thought. Did you have the entire rifle coated or just the bolt?

Robert,
I would'nt presume to say how it would make the rifle more "reliable" other than to guess by increasing the lubricity of the metal by allowing the bolt to slide more easily in the action. I really intended to ask the question more than making a declaritive statement. The idea, fwiw came from Dane Burn's Grey Ghost 1911, which starts life as a stainless Kimber that is, among other things, hard chromed to increase lubricity between slide and frame. I am curious if that extends to stainless rifles.

Just added:

In addendum, I just visited Mr. Burns site, and he lists the hard chrome as adding to "wear and durability". So that brings up the question of what would smooth the action properly? Further, would a stainless action and bolt respond to the same treatment as a carbon steel action. To add another point, I have read from what appears to be a credible source, that freezing(300 Below) the stainless M70 action led to noticable improvement in smooth operation. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Regards, Matt.

[This message has been edited by Matt in Virginia (edited 10-05-2001).]

Matt....all the metal work on the two rifles mentioned were given the NP3 treatment including the scope mounting system...they are both Lazzeroni rifles and John prides himself on using what he considers the very best components available to make strong, reliable and accurate rifles...the McMillan MCRT actions, Sunny Hill bottom metal, Jewel triggers, McMillan stocks, Schneider barrels and Vais muzzle brakes.....pillar bedded stocks and NP3 coated metal. I call my .375 the "go anywhere, in any weather, and shoot anything" rifle.