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Posted: 4/26/2005 12:47:28 PM EDT
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I ran a search and read all related info on Chrome barrels vs Stainless vs Chrome Moly. Everyone seems to either opt for a Stainless barrel for accuracy, or Chrome lined for general shooting and plinking. I am considering building a second rifle, and don't have alot of excess money to spend. I will be scrounging parts to try to put one together with. (Not too proud to accept donations!  ) When I look at the price of Barreled uppers, or just barrels for that matter, it looks like it costs about $50 more for a chrome lined barrel. I was just wondering, just how much does this improve the life of the barrel? Has anyone here ever worn out a Chrome moly barrel? Does anyone know the expected lifespan of both chrome moly and chrome lined? If Chrome moly barrels are just plain useless like everyone seems to hint at, then why do so many manufacturers still make them? My Bushmaster has a chrome lined barrel, and I would prefer one, but just trying to figure out if it is worth the extra $50 to me. Any thoughts? Thanks |
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Chrome-moly barrels are not "useless", not by a long shot! Many people feel chome-moly barrels fit their needs just fine, enough of them that it's worth offering it as an option by all the barrel makers and gun manufacturers I'm aware of. Some people see chrome-lining as a luxury, or as an impediment to accuracy so they don't want it and they go with chrome-moly. But here you get a high percentage of chrome domes so it seems like no one wants chrome-moly. 'Taint so. |
Thanks for the info. I am thinking that I may go with the Chrome Moly, seeing as how I won't shoot near that much from this rifle. It will probably be a while though, as I need to gather a whole lot of other stuff first. First thing is to get a stripped lower before another ban comes along! Will see if I can find one at the Salem gun show this weekend, if not, it's to the EE I go!! The good thing about AR's, even if the barrel does wear over time, it's not much trouble to rebarrel it!! |
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Too many guys get wrapped around the axel on this one. Chrome moly versus chrome lined. Just get a rifle that you can afford and shoot it. If you shoot a barrel out, you'll be a much better rifleman, hell that's a lot of rounds down range. Just buy what you want and shoot the crap out of it. Just my .02 Max 
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There is a reason virtually every military-issue rifle out there is chrome-lined, (and a few pistols!) and it's not because they are gear-queers. Chrome lining prolongs the life of the barrel, provides added protection against environmental factors, and makes cleaning easier. Unless you are a benchrest-type, there is no good reason to not get a chromed AR. Wait until you have the extra $50 or so bucks and get the chrome-lined barrel. |
I agree. They are Military requirements. How many civilian rifles are going to see the harsh environment, or lack of cleaning, a military weapon will. I agree with Maxell, get a rifle and shoot the hell out of it. If you shoot the barrel out, get a new barrel. |
Are chrome lined barrels not as accurate as the non-chromed?....How is that? |
I think the logic behind 'Chrome isn't as accurate as SS/CM' is: Though both barrels may be made to the same tolerances, the chroming process is imperfect (though unoticable to most shooters in most situations), so accuracy out of a chrome-lined barrel will be somewhat less than the accuracy out of a similiar non-chrome barrel. And hey, I only mentioned 'benchrest-types'. I don't see that anyone but the benchrest crowd would ever notice a difference in accuracy. Given that the FN SPR is chrome lined, I don't know if that logic neccesarily holds anymore. But if we are talking about a 'general purpose' rifle here, chrome-lining can only be a good thing. IMO, of course. |
i would think that $50 would be worth the benifits (w/ nearly no negatives!) of the chrome-LINIED bbl--get it h/w the chrome moly will last you quite a bit too if you think about it, if you opt for the regular chrome-moly and you get some rust in it, i would think that accuracy would suffer.....so would the chrome-moly be more accurate than the chrome-line in the long run? i say maybe..... chrome lined bbls are supposidly less accurate (i would rate it negligible) than chrome moly/ss (probably not ss...) b/c they are made larger in diameter to be chrome-lined--its not always a perfect fit/manufacturing process to fit the chrome-moly bbl w/ the chrome lining... |
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I am building Chrome Moly SPR and RECCE barrels with NO chrome lining. Not only will a CM barrel out last a SS barrel, but there is a VERY good chance that they will shoot AS GOOD if not BETTER (am doing some testing now). It also stated to me that SS barrels warp under high heat (mag dumps). C4 www.gandrtactical.com |
Not quite right. Chrome-lined barrels are incorrectly considered (by many) to be less accurate because that was sometimes true of .22" bore barrels that were chromed in the 60s. At that time, the technology to evenly apply chrome to the inner surface of such a narrow bore was still being perfected, and it wasn't unusual for there to be problems, enough that accuracy could be affected. Materials science has come a long way since then, and that problem has long been corrected. Also, chromed bores are NOT made any larger. The bores are chemically etched to ensure that they are clean and that the chrome will adhere to the steel, and this is enough to offset the layer of chrome, which is very thin anyway. -Troy |
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My basic understanding is that SS machines better, which is why they are more accurate, not because the others are chrome lined. ETA- A shooter with a ChromeMoly or SS barrel will do better than a chrome lined barrel that you can't afford. Not having a barrel is always the worst.....
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my fault troy 
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Grant, You should also test these barrels with chrome lining and see what the accuracy difference is.
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I am thinking about getting one chrome lined to see what the difference is. I personally don't have a need for chrome lining as I don't abuse my weapons (actually clean them). C4 |
As Troy said, the old "chrome lined is less accurate" thing is just that, old. If the deal I got for my current AR had included a chrome-lined barrel, I'd have paid the extra $50 for it. As it is, I don't feel bad about it. The next one I buy/build will have a chrome-lined bore because of the advantages it provides for keeping the barrel clean--no other reason. |
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Per Lilja Precision Rifle Barrels (http://www.riflebarrels.com/faq_lilja_rifle_barrels.htm#stainless%20steel%20barrels): Q. What are the differences between chrome-moly barrels and stainless steel barrels? A. We buy our steels directly from the steel mills. Our steel is made to our specifications as far as chemistry and heat treatments are concerned. Our chrome-moly is a modified 4140 type steel and the stainless steel is type 416 with a few extra steps and tests in its manufacture. We have used steel of both types from several different mills and have settled on what we feel is the best available. The primary difference between the two types, as far as rifle barrels are concerned, is that chrome-moly can be blued and stainless steel cannot be using conventional methods. Rifle barrels made from stainless steel will last longer, as related to throat erosion, than chrome-moly. Stainless steel resists heat erosion better. Also we can get a slightly better internal finish when lapping with stainless steel. Approximately 90% of the barrels we manufacture are made from stainless steel. In our experience, most of the chrome-moly barrels we make go on high-grade custom hunting rifles that are going to have a nice custom made wood stock. And some shooters insist on having a blued barrel. An exception to the above is the large number of 50BMG barrels we make from chrome-moly. Our recommendation for steel choice with 50BMG barrels depends on the bullet type the shooter intends to use. If you are going to use conventional jacked bullets, such as the Hornady or ball ammunition, then the stainless steel barrels will probably last longer and foul less. But if your choice is one of the custom made lathe-turned bullets made from brass, bronze, copper, or even steel, then the chrome-moly barrels will probably last longer and give better accuracy. Please see our comments on moly coating and these types of bullets. If you plan to shoot both types of bullets then the chrome-moly barrels are a better choice. |
| For $50 bucks extra in most cases it isnt really an big deal to add chrome lining to a barrel. It's only an issue on complete rifles from companies that dont offer the option at all. I think only DPMS does this, with Olympic offering 4160 SS barrels instead of chrome lining |
DPMS offers chrome-lined barrels as an option, just like RRA.... |
I didnt see it as an option on their complete rifles page. Thanks for the info. |
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