AR Sponsor
Posted: 11/25/2009 1:22:00 AM EDT
|
I have a Bushmaster XM15E2S with a 24" chrome-lined heavy barrel (no muzzle device).I have been thinking about sending the barrel off to Adco to have it cut to 20" and threaded for a flash suppressor.A few things I'm not sure of:
Can you cut a chromed barrel without the chrome flaking off? Is it cheaper to just buy a new barrel and maybe sell the 24" one? Should I leave it alone and just learn to love it? Thanks in advance for your advice. |
|
I wasn't aware Bushmaster, or anyone else for that matter, chrome lined a 24" barrel.
But that said, sending it to ADCO is the right way to do it. This question has come up in the past few years and the consesus seems to be that there is no problem with the chrome flaking if the work is done right. And everyone has always said the guys at ADCO do the work right. I believe ADCO barrel chopping price is in the $65-ish range and adding muzzle threads and flash suppressor will only bring the price to ~$100 or slightly more, you can confirm prices on their website under the services tab. While sometimes just replacing the barrel is the cheapest and easiest option so far you're well under the price of replacement. |
|
Quoted:
One of the guys at Noveske recommend against cutting down a chrome lined barrel because the possibility that rust could get under the chrome at the crown... I personally WON'T run a barrel that's been cut down... but people do this all the time.  I wont either |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
One of the guys at Noveske recommend against cutting down a chrome lined barrel because the possibility that rust could get under the chrome at the crown... That must have been the guy at Noveske working the mop, not running a lathe. I don't know for sure. He was posting on another board where the members appeared to know him as credible.
|
| I am pretty sure industrial hard chrome doesn't flake. It is completely different than the chrome on a car bumper. Some surface rust could possibly form on the cut bare steel on the end of the barrel if it wasn't reparked or before there was some carbon build up. I don't think corosion could get under the hard chrome very easy. I would call or email and get the answer straight from John N . |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Some of them even turned out to be more accurate after they were shortened. 
AR15barrels,com used to hear this a lot due to the nice crown job he put on his barrels. I have had about a half dozen or more barrels cut down by the awesome folks at Adco and I have never had any issues with rust or chrome flaking etc. All the barrels came back to me more accurate than before and that is to include 14.5" or even 16" barrels that were cut down to 10.3". It is amazing what Adco can do if you slip in a package of cookies with your barrel work 
|
I have shortened many barrels with no flaking, nor loss of accuracy. A few of my FAL barrels had light pitting in the FH area, so nothing was to be lost. I liked the results so I cut several barrels, will cut another this week. After I cut, reshape, and crown the barrel, I usually repark the barrel. I have never seen a barrel flake, just heard rumors. Has anyone here actually seen one flake 
I cut with a bandsaw. Then shape with a beltsander, no flakes... |
AR Sponsor