Barrel Browning and Rib???

[Hud]

I am getting ready to start the browning process, and I was wondering if I should leave the rib on the barrel, or remove it and brown them seperatly? The rib is attached to the barrel with (4) 5-40 screws, and my concern would be that it would rust out the inside of the screw hole. I suppose that I could plug them with screws?? My other concern is that if I leave the rib on the barrel that it may rust to much under the rib, and cause some pitting?? Any sugestions would be greatly appriciated..

Thank You

Hud...

 

[2172]

Hud, lately, I've been shooting the 1st gun I ever assembled from a kit...the rib and bbl were browned together, that is, the rib in place....I did that in about 1976, and don't see any problems around the screw holes..Hank

 

[54JNoll]

I remove the rib when browning if the rib is attached by screws. The holes can be filled with playdo or whatever. If attached with solder they naturally are browned in place.

 

[Zonie]

If the rib is attached with screws, I would recommend removing it during the browning process.

The solutions used for browning are corrosive and not easily removed from the joint if the rib is in place.
If the screwed rib is in place, the solution can find it's way into the screw threads and do an excellent job of rusting the screws in place. This of course makes removing the screws at some future date dam hard to do.

As far as protecting the threaded holes in the barrel, you could do that but if you didn't, and the threads became rusted (browned), you still can wash out the browning solution (and neutralize the acid). You could either re-chase the threads with a tap or simply run a screw in and out of the holes several times (which would be the equivalent of a poor job of carding).
When you oil the barrel and screw threads it all will be protected by the oiled browning and should last for years.

 

[Hud]

Thanks for the input. I will remove the rib when I brown the barrel..