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Posted: 5/20/2014 8:11:41 AM EDT
| Every now and then you come across a post on 4140 vs 4150 barrel steel. 4140 is just as good, 4140 is garbage etc.. Obviously 4150 is a little better suited for barrel steel because of the higher temp rating. But this is my question/thought, if the barrel is chrome lined are you not relying on the chrome lining for durability and not the 4140 or 4150 steel? Now if you are relying on the chrome for durability why does 4140 or 4150 even matter in an AR platform? Both steels are very good and almost identical in composition correct? |
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No. If the steel itself fails, then it doesn't matter what plating or coating is on it.
4140 and 4150 are almost identical. There is a bit more carbon in the 4150. It's the CMV that is NOT the same as 4150 (regardless of what the marketing divisions of companies state) that has more of a difference because of the increased amount of vanadium in it. 4140 http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=6769#2 4150 http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=6770 Chrome Moly Vanadium http://www.timken.com/en-us/products/Steel/productlist/types/PublishingImages/R_Chromium_Molybdenum_Vanadium_Steels_1.jpg It's that .25 to .35 percent of vanadium that makes the big difference. A description of what it does for steel, http://www.metallurgvanadium.com/vanadiumpage.html Between 4140 and 4150, the 4150 has a little higher tensile strength and the corners of the rifling might last a little bit longer. Not worth worrying about. All three are "mil-spec" steels... which is pretty meaningless on it's own. They aren't all proper spec for M16/M4 barrels. Different material for different purposes. |
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Quoted: No. If the steel itself fails, then it doesn't matter what plating or coating is on it. 4140 and 4150 are almost identical. There is a bit more carbon in the 4150. It's the CMV that is NOT the same as 4150 (regardless of what the marketing divisions of companies state) that has more of a difference because of the increased amount of vanadium in it. 4140 http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=6769#2 4150 http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=6770 Chrome Moly Vanadium http://www.timken.com/en-us/products/Steel/productlist/types/PublishingImages/R_Chromium_Molybdenum_Vanadium_Steels_1.jpg It's that .25 to .35 percent of vanadium that makes the big difference. A description of what it does for steel, http://www.metallurgvanadium.com/vanadiumpage.html Between 4140 and 4150, the 4150 has a little higher tensile strength and the corners of the rifling might last a little bit longer. Not worth worrying about. All three are "mil-spec" steels... which is pretty meaningless on it's own. They aren't all proper spec for M16/M4 barrels. Different material for different purposes. |
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Quoted: Every now and then you come across a post on 4140 vs 4150 barrel steel. 4140 is just as good, 4140 is garbage etc.. Obviously 4150 is a little better suited for barrel steel because of the higher temp rating. But this is my question/thought, if the barrel is chrome lined are you not relying on the chrome lining for durability and not the 4140 or 4150 steel? Now if you are relying on the chrome for durability why does 4140 or 4150 even matter in an AR platform? Both steels are very good and almost identical in composition correct? That being said, I would recommend a 4150 CL because you never know if and when you may need it.
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Quoted: What is Mil-Spec 11595E steel |
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