Rifle hardness check

[Beathard]

Anyone know the hardness on a ruger american rifle? Is it it steel?

 

[rmgreen]

Beathard - I am no engraver but come from the gunmaking direction. I have little experience with their handguns, semi-auto rifles and pistol. Ruger #1 & 3's are made of SAE 8620 cast steel and a stainless that I am unaware of the SS analysis. As a cast steel they normally have hard and soft places and the Rc level on the ones I have tested are upwards from 45 (hard to very hard). As a matter of practice on Ruger #1&3's I have them annealed before refinement starts and any engraving. After all refinement is finish and the metalwork is ready for final finish bluing, graying etc. I have them re-hardened to around 34-36 Rc. I have worked on just a few 77's and they seemed to have been the same as the #1&3's. Shotguns are the same as #1&3's. I do not make it a practice to work on SS versions of anything. Roger

 

[JJ Roberts]

Gerry,The Ruger#1 I've had no problem the #3 never engraved one,the 77's I only engrave the top of the rings,floor plate and trigger guard.For the floor plate you need to order a steel one from for Ruger for engraving. J.J.

 

[zzcutter]

JJ will ruger sell you the steel floor plates direct, and who excectly would you contact for purchasing one .
thnaks ZZ

 

[JJ Roberts]

zz,Yes Ruger will sell you a steel floor plate for $81.61 phone#of parts dept.1-603-865-2442 part#D00511. J.J.

 

[LVVP]

Beathard, thank you for the question and big thanks JJ for answers. Very usefull info.

 

[Beathard]

The Ruger site says that it is chrome Molly with a black oxide finish. What is a black oxide finish?

 

[Sandy]

Black oxide is a cold dip solution that turns steel black shortly after contact. Caswell plating sells a black oxide that I have been using in the shop for several years. It works pretty good. It doesn't have the blue luster of a traditional blueing process. It is a flat black color. They also make a stainless steel blackening product.
Sandy

 

[dlilazteca]

Black oxide is a cold dip solution that turns steel black shortly after contact. Caswell plating sells a black oxide that I have been using in the shop for several years. It works pretty good. It doesn't have the blue luster of a traditional blueing process. It is a flat black color. They also make a stainless steel blackening product.
Sandy

Very interesting. . Would like to know more

Carlos De La O III