I just got a melonite barrel. Is there anything special you should do or not do with one for care and cleaning?

CLEAN AS NORMAL.

Umm...its melonite.

Bought a melonited barrel and the guy said that as a break in procedure I had to heat treat the barrel by firing 15 rounds at 1 round per second then let the barrel cool to the touch. Repeat 3 more times for a total of 60 rounds. Any ideas on this?

Was he also trying to sell you ammo?

 

I have a melonite/QPQ barrel from both Aero and AR15 Performance.

Neither have any such instructions.  If that were truly needed for such barrels I would definitely think the guys at AR15 Performance would have instructions on their web page and/or shipped with the barrel.

There's only one proven barrel break in procedure

Don't use Bullfrog on the barrel. It will discolor melonite finish.

Oh I've heard this mentioned more than several times.  The Bullshit, er frog really isn't needed anyways.

Personally running a Glock G22 (40 S&W chamber) for about 25 years with NO lube or oil on the outside of the slide, and living on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico in an area that also sees a lot of rainfall, and seeing NO rust whatsover, and not seeing any on the slides of other Glocks, I'd say that it would be extremely difficult (although not impossible) to get surface corrosoin on a melonite treated steel barrel.  

I have one on my AR, and do nothing to it other than removal of barrel fowling.  No treatment for rust.   I don't think there is any way to make them rust beyond deliberately submerging it in high saline saltwater or some kind of strong acid for very long periods of time.

You can wipe it down  the exterior with the oil of your choice for cosmetic purposes if you like, but that it as far as the exterior surface is concerned.

Lol no he didn't try to sell me ammo. He just legitimately believed the melonite needed heat treating.

Wow.

FWIW, I have an upper from Hardened Arms with a melonite barrel throughout. Until I ran 5+ mags through it, it shot 1ft. groups at 100 yards. Now down to 2 inches.

You may want to inform him that the Meloniting process is around 750-1000 *F. He must know of some SERIOUSLY "hot" loads!

More about Meloniting/QPQ/Tennifer treatments:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferritic_nitrocarburizing

Idiots abound. Especially at gun stores and gun shows.