They recommend to shoot a couple dozen rounds down the barrel to smooth it out and clean it really good before you send it off.
The barrel I have was bought used with a couple hundred rounds thru it. I had it bore scoped and it looked really good so after I cut it off, threaded, chambered and installed the muzzle brake
, I took it to get melonited. All the machining has to be done first because it makes the surface between 60 and 70C Rockwell hardness. The place here in Phoenix had it finished the next day. The outside of the barrel has a satin black color from the treatment and then bead blasting to get the excess salt off.
They say it will double barrel life, so I thought what the heck, I only paid $130. for the barrel, I will spend the extra $80. to get it done and it will shoot forever, I hope.
I usually go around 120 rds between cleaning and I have about 600 rds thru it so far and after I clean it ( with Bore tech eliminator ) the bore just seems shinier, almost mirror like.
I got to shoot some 185 Hybrids on friday and with 43gr. AA2520 gave me 3 shots in 5/8 inch at 300 yrds and the next best was 44gr AA2520 gave me 3 in just under 1 inch at 300 yds at 2815 fps. More testing on the way.