It's been experimented with since "just after" WW II, I'm told.
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People use improper vernacular. There is Titanium Aluminum NITRIDE, Titanium NITRIDE and other nitrides that are physical vapor deposition COATINGS. Then there is Ferritic or Salt Bath Nitrocarburization. There is the caustic salt bath and Ammonia "vapor" (not really) type. The Salt Bath appears to be better of the two - at least for automotive valves.
So one must ferret out what exactly do they mean when someone states that "thus and so is 'nitrided'".
Hard Chrome wears out in the THROAT of the barrel well under 20,000 rounds. This is what will cause the inaccuracy in a well-kept barrel: the surface roughness imparts those patterns on the copper-nickel jacket. The melonited/tuftrided/salt bath nitrocarburized surface is better for wear than hard chrome. How much so [at elevated temps] I cannot exactly say. For a carbine barrel I believe it's effects would be awesome (maybe) for gas [port] erosion since it's better than hard chrome... For a bolt gun I think it would be "essential" since it's not used like a carbine and anything that (A) improves wear resistance and (B) improves corrosion resistance would be an awesome thing, no?
Talk with Mike Rock at Rock Creek Barrels.
An old thread ref melonite treated barrels:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=33286
this just keeps getting better,, i'm gonna order another one, while still on sale. looks like the ole blind sow did find an acorn.