Method for the Production of Forged Steel for Weapons Subject to Heavy Stresses, Barrel Blanks and Thus-Equipped Weapon

Abstract

It is proposed to make a change to the barrel material and also its constituent proportions and to undertake a production method which is already known from the large caliber barrel but which is specially adapted for medium caliber barrels. A barrel is created which is now made from a NiCrMoV steel blank which as an ingot was remelted in the ESR (electro-slag remelting) process before forging and the forged bars were quenched and tempered in a liquid quenching and tempering process. A barrel for a machine gun is thus disclosed which has the quality/characteristics of a large caliber barrel.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A process for producing gun barrel blanks for machine guns, comprising the step of combining
 0.25-0.50% carbon,   max. 0.60% silicon,   max. 1.00% manganese,   max. 0.010% phosphorus,   max. 0.010% sulfur,   1.00-1.40% chromium,   2.00-4.00% nickel,   0.30-0.70% molybdenum,   0.10-0.30% vanadium,   max. 0.05% aluminum, and   remainder iron and conventional impurities, all percentages are by weight.   
   
   
       16 . The process according to  claim 15 , including
 0.30-0.35% carbon,   max. 0.40% silicon,   0.4-0.70% manganese,   max. 0.005% phosphorus,   max. 0.005% sulfur,   1.00-1.40% chromium,   2.50-3.3% nickel,   0.50-0.60% molybdenum,   0.10-0.20% vanadium,   max. 0.03% aluminum, and   remainder iron and conventional impurities.   
   
   
       17 . The process according to  claim 15 , further including producing the blanks from remelted steel or from steel which is melted in the open and has a high degree of purity. 
   
   
       18 . The process according to  claim 17 , including remelting the ingots using an ESR (electroslag remelting) process prior to forging. 
   
   
       19 . The process according to  claim 17 , including producing forged bars and heat-treating the forged bars in a liquid heating-treating process. 
   
   
       20 . The process according to  claim 19 , including heat-treating the forged bars vertically in oil or water. 
   
   
       21 . The process according to  claim 19 , wherein during heat treatment, the bars permanently rotate about their axis or are permanently turned mechanically about their axis. 
   
   
       22 . A blank for a machine gun barrel, comprising a heat-treated steel, including:
 0.25-0.50% carbon;   max. 0.60% silicon;   max. 1.00% manganese;   max. 0.010% phosphorus;   max. 0.010% sulfur;   1.00-1.40% chromium;   2.00-4.00% nickel;   0.30-0.70% molybdenum;   0.10-0.30% vanadium;   max. 0.05% aluminum; and   remainder iron and conventional impurities as NiCrMoV steel.   
   
   
       23 . The blank according  claim 23 , wherein the heat-treated steel includes:
 0.30-0.35% carbon;   max. 0.40% silicon;   0.4-0.70% manganese;   max. 0.005% phosphorus;   max. 0.005% sulfur;   1.00-1.40% chromium;   2.50-3.3% nickel;   0.50-0.60% molybdenum;   0.10-0.20% vanadium;   max. 0.03% aluminum; and   remainder iron and conventional impurities as NiCrMoV steel.   
   
   
       24 . The blank as according to  claim 22 , wherein the steel is remelted as an ingot using an ESR process prior to forging and forged bars are heat-treated in a liquid heat-treating process. 
   
   
       25 . A machine gun having at least one barrel consisting of NiCrMoV steel. 
   
   
       26 . The machine gun according to  claim 25 , wherein the NiCrMoV steel is remelted using an ESR process prior to forging and the forged bars are heat-treated in a liquid heat-treating process. 
   
   
       27 . The machine gun according to  claim 25 , wherein the barrel is comprised of a NiCrMoV steel including:
 0.25-0.50% carbon;   max. 0.60% silicon;   max. 1.00% manganese;   max. 0.010% phosphorus;   max. 0.010% sulfur;   1.00-1.40% chromium;   2.00-4.00% nickel;   0.30-0.70% molybdenum;   0.10-0.30% vanadium;   max. 0.05% aluminum; and   remainder iron and conventional impurities.   
   
   
       28 . The machine gun according to  claim 27 , wherein the barrel is comprised of a NiCrMoV steel including:
 0.30-0.35% carbon;   max. 0.40% silicon;   0.4-0.70% manganese;   max. 0.005% phosphorus;   max. 0.005% sulfur;   1.00-1.40% chromium;   2.50-3.3% nickel;   0.50-0.60% molybdenum;   0.10-0.20% vanadium;   max. 0.03% aluminum; and   remainder iron and conventional impurities.   
   
   
       29 . The machine gun according to  claim 25 , wherein the barrel has quality/properties that match quality/properties of a large caliber barrel.