Aren't the vast majority of AK barrels hammer forged?
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Aren't the vast majority of AK barrels hammer forged?
Paul A. Hotaling
Alias Training & Security Services, LLC
Paul@aliastraining.com
757-215-1959 (Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM)
757-985-9586 (After Hours)
www.aliastraining.com
Kevin S. Boland
Manager, Federal Sales
FN America, LLC
Office: 703.288.3500 x181 | Mobile: 407-451-4544 | Fax: 703.288.4505
www.fnhusa.com
I don't work for LWRC either, but I will vouch that their products and customer service are awesome. I got one of their older model M6 rifles and their quality are awesome. I would like to get one of their new M6 A2s with the new coating. They don't chrome line their barrels anymore, they use a new process that is supposedly alot stronger and longer lasting than Chrome lined barrels. They take great pride and attention to detail in their work. I would highly recommend their products.
LWRC does all of their own work in house, they may not use their own blanks, as they aren't a steel manufacturer, but they do use top grade materials to do their work on.
The best way to contact them is on their websight forum or via e-mail. They are very busy with order filling and they are trying to expand their operation. If they get their contract for making the M6A3 (open bolt, closed bolt machine gun) they will have the funds and the resources to keep up with the demand for their products. I will admit that 14 weeks or longer is a long time to wait for their products, but it is worth the wait. You can also find their rifles for sale on auction sights like gunbroker and also on their for sale section on their forum.
Last edited by KevinB; 10-28-08 at 12:08.
Kowboy.... you're kidding, right? You're about as obvious as the wife from The Truman Show. Does your hat say "Paid Endorsement" by any chance?
No, I am on LWRC's forum, but I AM IN NO WAY affiliated with LWRC except for the fact that I have one of their rifles and can vouch for their quality. I guess they Should pay me since I do brag about their products so much. Sorry if I got off topic or was sounding like I was hanging off LWRC's nuts, but I thought I'd just point out another manufacturer who makes Cold Hammer Forged Barrels, but I digress....
I saw 3 LWRC rifles last week through the shop on transfer. They look a lot better than they did earlier. I couldn't make out the manufacturer of the new barrels, they appear to be IonBonded.
Chief Armorer for Elite Shooting Sports in Manassas VA
Chief Armorer for Corp Arms (FFL 07-08/SOT 02)
Regarding LWRC barrels, I copied this from the LWRC Forums:
Now I certainly hope that nobody thinks I work for LWRCPost Ferritic Nitrocarburizing Information
The standard M6 barrel features a ferritic salt bath nitro carburized interior and exterior finish. This finishing process is also applied to the barrel extension and gas port. This finishing process is a surface conversion process in place of industrial hard chrome and is therefore inherently free from nodules, flaking, pits, stripping, or anode burrs. The process results in chemical and structural composition changes that can be described as a case hardening to a depth of 0.005” of the alloy leading to increased surface hardness, lower coefficient of friction, enhanced surface lubricity, improved running wear performance, increased sliding wear resistance, enhanced corrosion resistance and heat resistance over industrial hard chrome. Since the process is a surface conversion and does not add material to the internal dimension of the bore, the barrels can be hammer forged on size over a very precise polished rifle mandrel. With hard chrome, the bore must be manufactured oversized or honed and electro-polished to make the interior dimension oversized making room for the chrome plating. This plating is inconsistent which is the reason sniper or target barrels are typically not chromed. Nitrocarburizing has proven superior as a surface finish to phosphating to oxidization when subjected to MIL-STD-810f salt fog/spray testing and is a scratch resistant flat black finish.
In addition the barrel extension and gas port are also surface converted minimizing barrel extension wear, increasing corrosion resistance and limiting gas port erosion. Cross sectional analysis done by HP White Laboratories before and after nitro carburizing proved the surface conversion process does not negatively interfere with the heat treat or temper of the barrel extension. LWRCI contracted HP White to conduct these tests.
The ferritic salt bath nitro carburizing process has been proven by independent testing to be superior to chromium plating both it terms of corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance, lubricity and wear. It has been long adopted by FAMAE of Chile for use in all government small arms, and also by the Polish Military. It has been adopted by Sig Arms for use in their carbines, Glock in their pistol bores and various other large military arms manufacturers with excellent results.![]()
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