Melonite treatment on XD vs M&P

[Tercel89]

The XD from what I know uses carbon steel and the S&W M&P's use stailess steel , even the ones that are black in color are stainless steel . I have read that they are having troubles here and there with rust really bad . I havent had any rust with either of my 2 XD's . I had one with no Melonite and have one now with the new Melonite treatment. Could it be that the stainlees steel has a negative effect on the Melonite treatment ?
Both the XD and the M&P have Melonite treatment . More M&P' s seem to have rust issues . And the M &P's havent been out as long as the XD's , so what do you think?

[Torquem]

It's kind of a catch 22. The metal that takes melonite the best is more prone to rust in its natural state. The more rust resistant the metal, the less melonite tends to work on it. Glocks Tenifer is so awesome because they use a metal that works well with it, I.E. rusts like crazy without it. lol

[RogueXD]

I have been trying to talk SA into using Cerakote. It has a high abrasion, salt and chemical resisitance. I got my XD mags done too. sweet stuff...

[RAPAS]

Hi Tercel89,

What's the difference in physical appearance between the one with Melonite and the one without? Can post pictures of your XDs, one with Melonite and one without Melonite?

[Nastynewt]

you cant see the melonite it's in the metal

[joe.inom]

Try the qpq.
QPQ™ are thermochemical processes intended for the case hardening of iron based metals. These processes are categorized as molten salt bath ferritic nitrocarburizing. During these processes, nitrogen, carbon, and small amounts of oxygen are diffused into the surface of the steel, creating an epsilon iron nitride layer

[Monkey Boy]

Originally Posted by Torquem

It's kind of a catch 22. The metal that takes melonite the best is more prone to rust in its natural state. The more rust resistant the metal, the less melonite tends to work on it. Glocks Tenifer is so awesome because they use a metal that works well with it, I.E. rusts like crazy without it. lol

How did you come to this conclusion? I was talking to Dave in the Custom Shop at SA and he said that Melonite would give the Stainless Steel MORE Rust/Corrosion protection. SA will not do it on a Bi-tone XD though.

Smith & Wesson now uses 660 Stainless Steel on the M&P's versus the 416 that SA uses.660 is a much better quality grade Stainless.416 has Sulpher added to make it easier to machine,but lowers it's rust protection.

[mity2]

My Melonite finished M&P NEVER had issues with rusting of any sort.
And I'm not much of clean freak. I just wipe it down with my t-shirt or something after i'm done shooting.

My M&P has something like 6000+ round count(and counting)

But then I never had rusting issue with any of my guns, other then my old SKS when I didn't bother clean it for a day after shooting some corrosive rounds...

[Tercel89]

I was deciding on a polymer .45ACP pistol . I decided to go with the Glock 21. I wanted the S&W M&P but there were so many rusted tales it was stupid to get it . I then went to the XD but the parts availability was so restricted that you couldnt get parts for it , so I went with the Glock 21 . I have lots of Glocks and carry one on duty . I can break it all the way down , a complete dissassembly , in only a few seconds and have her back in no time. And the Glock parts are extremly cheap . This is why I went with Glock . Oh yeah , and its reliabilty and its rust resistance

[ultra_magnus]

Originally Posted by RogueXD

I have been trying to talk SA into using Cerakote. It has a high abrasion, salt and chemical resisitance. I got my XD mags done too. sweet stuff...

Can you post pics? How does cerakote stand up to holster wear?