[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is Chrome-Lining Over-Rated? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 2/5/2010 2:02:10 PM EDT
| I've argued with people at gun-stores, gun-shows and internet gundealers when placing orders since I caught the black-rifle bug. I just wanna see how many people here agree or disagree with me and what exactly your thoughts are. |
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I've argued with people at gun-stores, gun-shows and internet gundealers when placing orders since I caught the black-rifle bug. I just wanna see how many people here agree or disagree with me and what exactly your thoughts are. There very little reason NOT to chrome line; unless of course you're shooting for hyper accuracy. But having lived in the tropics, where it rains every afternoon like clockwork, chrome is king. Barrels rust up in 2 weeks to the point of not being able to feed a round into the chamber. |
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I've argued with people at gun-stores, gun-shows and internet gundealers when placing orders since I caught the black-rifle bug. I just wanna see how many people here agree or disagree with me and what exactly your thoughts are. The difference in barrel life is something on the order of 30 or 40,000 rounds. |
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If hard use and less accuracy (Still pretty good, but not like match chambered, heavy barrels.) is most important. Yes, it's a good thing.
If better accuracy is wanted or required. No, they are usually not as accurate. I'm not sure why, but this seems to be the case, usually. |
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If hard use and less accuracy (Still pretty good, but not like match chambered, heavy barrels.) is most important. Yes, it's a good thing. If better accuracy is wanted or required. No, they are usually not as accurate. I'm not sure why, but this seems to be the case, usually. Because the chrome lining is not uniform. |
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When you go to buy a used gun you check the bore for rust or pits. You know why? Cause the bore of a gun can get rusted and pitted and this kills the accuracy. This is especially true of any gun that’s used in the field.
Chrome turns this very real problem into a very minor issue. Chrome extends barrel life. Chrome makes extraction easier. Chrome makes it easier to clean the bore. The disadvantages to chrome are… It costs more. But the costs are very minor compared to the total cost of the rifle… Hell, the costs are minor compared to the ammo people use in a single shooting session. It can make a rifle slightly less accurate. But, since a good chrome lined barrel is still more accurate than most ammo and most shooters can ever hope to be, I don’t see this as an issue. Non chrome lined stainless steel target barrels have their place, there’s no arguing with that. I sure wouldn’t mind having a target rifle with one of those barrels. But I have no use for a non chrome lined regular barrel. |
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If I have a choice I'm going with chrome. I'm never going to notice a difference in accuracy, so why not opt for durability. +1 Alot of insurance for just a little extra coin. A chrome lined barrel from a reputable vendor is usually less than $50 more than a non-chrome lined version of the same barrel. If I'm blowing a grand or so on the entire rifle, why wouldn't I spend fifty bucks on the most durable and reliable option on a part as critical as the barrel? P.S. The chrome lining on my Benelli M1S90 rules too. Easiest shotgun barrel to clean EVAR. Barrel life expectancy = 4EVAR. |
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Over rated. Chrome isn't applied uniformly to the bore, leaving tight spots, loose spots and egg-shaped bore cross section. That doesn't help accuracy. Chrome is not a solid barrier, but has micro cracks that allows bad stuff to penetrate and attack the barrel metal underneath (corrosion). Poor chrome jobs will eventually flake and peel. If you want a high quality, accurate barrel that is easy to clean and lasts longer than chrome moly steel, buy a stainless barrel. |
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When you go to buy a used gun you check the bore for rust or pits. You know why? Cause the bore of a gun can get rusted and pitted and this kills the accuracy. This is especially true of any gun that’s used in the field. Chrome turns this very real problem into a very minor issue. Chrome extends barrel life. Chrome makes extraction easier. Chrome makes it easier to clean the bore. The disadvantages to chrome are… It costs more. But the costs are very minor compared to the total cost of the rifle… Hell, the costs are minor compared to the ammo people use in a single shooting session. It can make a rifle slightly less accurate. But, since a good chrome lined barrel is still more accurate than most ammo and most shooters can ever hope to be, I don’t see this as an issue. Non chrome lined stainless steel target barrels have their place, there’s no arguing with that. I sure wouldn’t mind having a target rifle with one of those barrels. But I have no use for a non chrome lined regular barrel. Well spoken. When I try and explain to the 'go chrome or go home' set, there is always a person that INSISTS their chrome barrel shoots 1/32" groups. It very well may, but the overwhelming majority of them do not for reasons you have posted. I've heard competitive shooters say that IF (and only if) you run into the odd chrome that shoots that good, by all means hang onto it. Still, at Perry the norm is Krieger SS barrels, changed frequently. Let's face it, the AVERAGE Arfcommer does not shoot at 600 yards. Most guys don't shoot at much over 100. For normal use, that kind of accuracy is not needed. |
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Over rated. Chrome isn't applied uniformly to the bore, leaving tight spots, loose spots and egg-shaped bore cross section. That doesn't help accuracy. Chrome is not a solid barrier, but has micro cracks that allows bad stuff to penetrate and attack the barrel metal underneath (corrosion). Poor chrome jobs will eventually flake and peel. If you want a high quality, accurate barrel that is easy to clean and lasts longer than chrome moly steel, buy a stainless barrel. I agree to a point. What you say is true about most chromed barrels. Chroming the bore of barrel is an art if done right and a very low percentage are done right. As an example, I'm fairly certain my FN barrel is properly chromed. I'd rather pass (for the reasons you mention above) on a so-called chromed barrels from certain discount AR parts suppliers that advertise in shotgun news and various places on the interweb. Given that choice, I'd rather pony up for a SS barrel. |
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If you want a high quality, accurate barrel that is easy to clean and lasts longer than chrome moly steel, buy a stainless barrel. I've always heard the opposite, with SS barrels being more wear-prone than standard barrels? Seems long range competition shooters change their SS barrels at very short intervals so I always assumed it was true. |
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Easier to clean and doesn't let carbon stick like paint... Makes barrel last longer... Less prone to pitting or funky rust in difficult to "buff out" spots... It's usually a $30 option when you can get the " with or without" option and it impacts accuracy very little. If your building a safe queen that is going to be shot and then lovingly massaged back into its delicate nest... hell, buy a case of beer instead. If not, it's $30 well spent. |
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Quoted:
If hard use and less accuracy (Still pretty good, but not like match chambered, heavy barrels.) is most important. Yes, it's a good thing. If better accuracy is wanted or required. No, they are usually not as accurate. I'm not sure why, but this seems to be the case, usually. This |
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Chrome lining is a must when using corrosive ammo. It also resists erosion from high volume fire.
Not desirable in a benchrest competition rifle. Highly desirable in a combat rifle. Highly desirable for 5.45 x 39 corrosive. I have two LMT CL bbls in 2 different calibers. Both are sub moa. Chrome can consistantly be done right. |
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Quoted:
When you go to buy a used gun you check the bore for rust or pits. You know why? Cause the bore of a gun can get rusted and pitted and this kills the accuracy. This is especially true of any gun that’s used in the field. Chrome turns this very real problem into a very minor issue. Chrome extends barrel life. Chrome makes extraction easier. Chrome makes it easier to clean the bore. The disadvantages to chrome are… It costs more. But the costs are very minor compared to the total cost of the rifle… Hell, the costs are minor compared to the ammo people use in a single shooting session. It can make a rifle slightly less accurate. But, since a good chrome lined barrel is still more accurate than most ammo and most shooters can ever hope to be, I don’t see this as an issue. Non chrome lined stainless steel target barrels have their place, there’s no arguing with that. I sure wouldn’t mind having a target rifle with one of those barrels. But I have no use for a non chrome lined regular barrel. Couldn't of said it better. |
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If you want a high quality, accurate barrel that is easy to clean and lasts longer than chrome moly steel, buy a stainless barrel. I've always heard the opposite, with SS barrels being more wear-prone than standard barrels? Seems long range competition shooters change their SS barrels at very short intervals so I always assumed it was true. SS DOES wear out quickly. Figure 3.5-5 K rounds for 600 yd accrracy. |
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Go Chrome or go home.
Most of the idiots preaching non-chromed lined are suckers dumb enough to have bought a 1:9 twist non chrome lined el-cheapo gun show special. service rifle guys excluded. chrome was one of the original product improvement steps colt took in the 1960's to improve combat reliability in Vietnam |
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Over rated. Chrome isn't applied uniformly to the bore, leaving tight spots, loose spots and egg-shaped bore cross section. That doesn't help accuracy. Chrome is not a solid barrier, but has micro cracks that allows bad stuff to penetrate and attack the barrel metal underneath (corrosion). Poor chrome jobs will eventually flake and peel. If you want a high quality, accurate barrel that is easy to clean and lasts longer than chrome moly steel, buy a stainless barrel. Well, I'm convinced. What chemicals can I purchase to strip the chrome out of my Noveske N4's? |
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Quoted: Quoted: When you go to buy a used gun you check the bore for rust or pits. You know why? Cause the bore of a gun can get rusted and pitted and this kills the accuracy. This is especially true of any gun that’s used in the field. Chrome turns this very real problem into a very minor issue. Chrome extends barrel life. Chrome makes extraction easier. Chrome makes it easier to clean the bore. The disadvantages to chrome are… It costs more. But the costs are very minor compared to the total cost of the rifle… Hell, the costs are minor compared to the ammo people use in a single shooting session. It can make a rifle slightly less accurate. But, since a good chrome lined barrel is still more accurate than most ammo and most shooters can ever hope to be, I don’t see this as an issue. Non chrome lined stainless steel target barrels have their place, there’s no arguing with that. I sure wouldn’t mind having a target rifle with one of those barrels. But I have no use for a non chrome lined regular barrel. Well spoken. When I try and explain to the 'go chrome or go home' set, there is always a person that INSISTS their chrome barrel shoots 1/32" groups. It very well may, but the overwhelming majority of them do not for reasons you have posted. I've heard competitive shooters say that IF (and only if) you run into the odd chrome that shoots that good, by all means hang onto it. Still, at Perry the norm is Krieger SS barrels, changed frequently. Let's face it, the AVERAGE Arfcommer does not shoot at 600 yards. Most guys don't shoot at much over 100. For normal use, that kind of accuracy is not needed. Beyond all the above points, which I agree with completely... I can't afford to change my barrels frequently. Well, maybe I could, but I'd much rather put that money into more guns. Being relatively young and hoping to have many years of shooting ahead of me... the extended life that chrome lining offers is exactly what I want in a barrel. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Over rated. Chrome isn't applied uniformly to the bore, leaving tight spots, loose spots and egg-shaped bore cross section. That doesn't help accuracy. Chrome is not a solid barrier, but has micro cracks that allows bad stuff to penetrate and attack the barrel metal underneath (corrosion). Poor chrome jobs will eventually flake and peel. If you want a high quality, accurate barrel that is easy to clean and lasts longer than chrome moly steel, buy a stainless barrel. Well, I'm convinced. What chemicals can I purchase to strip the chrome out of my Noveske N4's?  But just the fact that he says SS will last longer than Chrome Moly discredits everything else. In fact, I wish that would have been his first point so I could have disregarded and moved on sooner. |
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It's usually a $30 option when you can get the " with or without" option and it impacts accuracy very little. If your building a safe queen that is not going to be shot but lovingly massaged back into is delicate nest... hell, buy a case of beer instead. If not, it's $30 well spent. Fixed |
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I don't think you can get rid of it that easy. It has been electro-deposited in, and anything that dissolves the chrome, will probably destroy the barrel.
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Over rated. Chrome isn't applied uniformly to the bore, leaving tight spots, loose spots and egg-shaped bore cross section. That doesn't help accuracy. Chrome is not a solid barrier, but has micro cracks that allows bad stuff to penetrate and attack the barrel metal underneath (corrosion). Poor chrome jobs will eventually flake and peel. If you want a high quality, accurate barrel that is easy to clean and lasts longer than chrome moly steel, buy a stainless barrel. Well, I'm convinced. What chemicals can I purchase to strip the chrome out of my Noveske N4's? |
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Hard chrome plating of bores & chambers is not over-rated, as long as it pertains to fighting weapons.
But to those who don't have them in stock when potential buyers ask for them, to those who can't afford them, and to those who don't understand their attributes, chrome lining is frequently disparaged. Which doesn't matter to me. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I don't think you can get rid of it that easy. It has been electro-deposited in, and anything that dissolves the chrome, will probably destroy the barrel.Quoted: Over rated. Chrome isn't applied uniformly to the bore, leaving tight spots, loose spots and egg-shaped bore cross section. That doesn't help accuracy. Chrome is not a solid barrier, but has micro cracks that allows bad stuff to penetrate and attack the barrel metal underneath (corrosion). Poor chrome jobs will eventually flake and peel. If you want a high quality, accurate barrel that is easy to clean and lasts longer than chrome moly steel, buy a stainless barrel. Well, I'm convinced. What chemicals can I purchase to strip the chrome out of my Noveske N4's? I'm pretty sure he meant it facetiously  |
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Over rated. Chrome isn't applied uniformly to the bore, leaving tight spots, loose spots and egg-shaped bore cross section. That doesn't help accuracy. Chrome is not a solid barrier, but has micro cracks that allows bad stuff to penetrate and attack the barrel metal underneath (corrosion). Poor chrome jobs will eventually flake and peel. If you want a high quality, accurate barrel that is easy to clean and lasts longer than chrome moly steel, buy a stainless barrel. I agree to a point. What you say is true about most chromed barrels. Chroming the bore of barrel is an art if done right and a very low percentage are done right. As an example, I'm fairly certain my FN barrel is properly chromed. I'd rather pass (for the reasons you mention above) on a so-called chromed barrels from certain discount AR parts suppliers that advertise in shotgun news and various places on the interweb. Given that choice, I'd rather pony up for a SS barrel. Care to point out some of these places? Not asking you to bash anyone, just like to know if mine is "properly chromed" |