Gunsmiths…can you parkerize a barrel w/o sandblasting the barrel.

I have a beater Savage 22 bolt action. The blueing has worn off once and I’ve cold blued it once already(10 years ago). The gun is turning a sort of brown under the cold bluing and I’ve filled a sight dovetail with a blank(different steel) that is a different dark blue.

I was thinking I could just parkerize the barrel leaving the trigger group (it’s spot welded to the receiver) out of the bath.

Does it need to be sand blasted or sanded before I dip it into the bath. Or can I just throw it into the bath w/o blasting?

Anything else I need to know

It would be best if you sandblasted it first. Make sure you plug the barrel - you do not get the solution inside the barrel as it will etch it.

^ yup. My plan is to make a trough of a section guttering and boil it over a turkey fryer burner. Might have to stop by the local community college and see if they have an auto shop with a blasting booth…just trying to avoid it if it doesn’t matter.

Just looking to give it a utilitarian covering that won’t rust away.

Of course I could cold blue it every decade….