New barrel, weird issue

[FarmerDave]

I'm going to put this here for answers, criticism, laughter, whatever.

Bought a new Proof 20" stainless with plans to build a new upper, a long range hunter and something that I can use to reach out to distance with confidence. After the mental debate as to whether or not to spend the $$$ on a Proof, decided to buy once, cry once, and ordered it from a online discount retailer. It arrived yesterday. Opened the package last night, and found something that makes me scratch my head. The barrel has a fair bit of what appears to be surface corrosion around the base of the barrel. Nothing pitted that I can tell, but I haven't cleaned it up either in case it needs to be returned for inspection. Scratching a fingernail over it and it drags, but can't feel any big surface issues.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18805[/ATTACH]

Not the best pic, I know, but didn't want to remove from packaging just yet. From what I can see, the corrosion is only on the outside of the barrel. The end, and chamber area look clean and shiny from what I can tell. The discoloration on the plastic really appears to be iron oxide, weird for a stainless barrel.

Sooo.... here is the question: Has anyone seen this before? Is this a 'call and return it', or is this something that can be cleaned up and not affect the accuracy? My biggest concern is that area is critical to fit and therefore accuracy. Right, or am I off-base here?


Dave

[mdram]

i would return it
but also, i am not sure if the barrel extensions are stainless

[FarmerDave]

Ahhh.....that thought of the extension being a different material never crossed my mind. That's why I asked!

[mdram]

as i said i am not sure if they are, they may be. since 400 series is usually magnetic, you cant do a magnet test
do you have and xrf machine per chance? lol

[myrifle]

Extensions are typically not the same steel as the barrel.

That is nothing to worrie about. Clean it off and get too building that thing and go rock it.

[grayfox]

I don't like the looks of it.
Lot of barrel extensions are nitrided, I don't know if Proof does that but lots of higher-end ones do...
So if some kind of nitrided/nickel-boron or other coating was put on then the looks of that one, means something is wrong, because that kind of coating should be virtually corrosion-free/hard to deface.

Give them a call and email a pic at least. That's what I would do. If the vendor won't answer it then get hold of Proof, pretty sure they would want a look-see.

[mv1arms]

I own a proof stainless 20" grendel. Return your barrel immediately. That is not right. My extension was shiny stainless steel.

[FarmerDave]

I don't like it either. Rolled it around on my workbench for a while today and the more I did, the less I like what I see.

That fit should be TIGHT to the upper, and it's unlikely that solvent will take care of it and will need to use steel wool or something that could remove some material and affect the fit. For an upper that I'm building to be as accurate as possible, I really don't want to start with a substandard part.

Called the source this afternoon and they wanted pics. Good that they are taking a look at, but who knows what they will come up with.

[VASCAR2]

There were reports a few years ago of salts left from the Nitride process affected the surface appearance. I’m not sure if this is the issue with this proof barrel but for the price I’d check with the vendor or Proof.


It seems like the issue was the barrels weren’t cleaned properly after the Nitride process to remove the salts from the hot salt bath Nitride process. Whether this just affected just this particular barrel extension or the whole barrel I’d want some conversation with someone in the know.

[Popeye212]

I own a proof stainless 20" grendel. Return your barrel immediately. That is not right. My extension was shiny stainless steel.

What he ^ said mine was shiny also.

[FarmerDave]

It's going back. Shipped it this morning. They are going to exchange it.

Attached a couple more pics just to show what's going on in case anyone else runs into this issue.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18806[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18807[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18808[/ATTACH]

[Growler]

Good on them. Puzzling how that made it out the door, but stranger things have happened. Retaining the best and the brightest, in any industry, is a challenge right now.

What matters is that they make it right. Sounds like that’s the case.

[grayfox]

These closer looks... sure looks like salt corrosion to me.
Glad they're replacing it for you.

[Dt219]

I have not seen an extension look like that. Never. I’m glad they are doing the right thing and replacing it for you like they should