Drilling nitrided/melonited AR barrel ??

56type

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Picked up an AR-15 nitrided/melonited barrel at the KCR MG shoot over the weekend and I want to put a standard type front sight base on it. I understand that meloniting is hard as woodpecker lips and gives HSS & cobalt fits... any truth to this or will I be OK trying to DIY it with a drill press and cobalt bits ??

Since the barrel market for both AR & AK seem to be moving toward nitriding and away from chrome lining I though It would be time to get this figured out. Thanks.
 
I've seen reports on YT saying it is very negligible in hardness and easily machined...can't verify it though....
 
Until you get under that hardened outside surface, it'll dull and challenge your tools. If you're wondering about drilling for the cross-pins, I'd consider drilling and tapping the underside of the front sight for setscrews and installing it that way.
 
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