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Posted: 12/31/2008 12:00:11 PM EDT
| Title explains it all, wich is better and why. |
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stainless for precision/sniper/varminter builts
chromed for duty/carbine builds Chroming a bore decreases the accuracy potential of the barrel because the chroming process is not as precise as machining out the bore and lapping it like a stainless steel match barrel. Stainless = accuracy Chromed = reliability There is no 'better' they just serve different purposes |
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I like both, but stainless can be so heavy. I would say chrome lined unless it is to be a benchrest gun. Not its not, the barrel weight depends on the profile of the barrel. Since stainless steel rigs are geared towards precision type shooting the barrels are made heavier. Chrome lined barrels tend to be lighter because they are profiled lighter for carbines where accuracy is less important. You can make a lightweight profile stainless or a heavy profile chromed barrel if you wanted to |
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Go with accuracy which usually means a stainless barrel. A good quality stainless barrel will last effectively as long and be much more fun to shoot because you will be able to actually hit what you are aiming at. I had a factory Bushmaster chrome-lined barrel that would not shoot better than 4 to 5 inch groups at 100 yards with M855. I could never tell if it was me or the gun and so I never much cared to shoot with it. I decided to change the barrel out and I purchased a Rainier Arms stainless barrel. Best barrel I have ever shot. I consistently get 1 to 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards with the same M855. Now I shoot it every chance I get.
A chrome-lined barrel have a longer barrel life than a stainless barrel. But considering that, I have never seen any barrel, stainless or chrome-lined that has been shot enough to be worn out. And if you know anything about metallurgy, then you will know that you could consider stainless steel to be "chrome-lined". Most stainless steel used for high quality rifle barrels is 416 stainless which has 12-14% chrome. |
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In reality it it will never matter either way to 99.99% of the AR owners. So get what appeals to you. In all sporting guns they are not chrome lined or stainless and we don't have any problems with them. So the choice is about warm fuzzy feelings. This is for the most part a true statement, however, most folks don't dump 10,000+ rounds through their Remington 700's (or even 1,000, for that matter) and not at nearly the same rate of fire either. Many on here may quite possibly exceed the 10K mark with their AR's. Ergo, I would say for absolute best barrel life one is best off obtaining chrome lined CMV from a manufacturer such as Colt, LMT or Sabre. One that is chrome lined CMV and also hammer forged, such as the Noveske N4 light series and IIRC, some of LWRC's offerings is even better. As for stainless, 416 is far from the best stainless from which to make an ultra durable barrel. Other alloys are better and in use by shops such as Larue. |
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I like both, but stainless can be so heavy. I would say chrome lined unless it is to be a benchrest gun. Not its not, the barrel weight depends on the profile of the barrel. Since stainless steel rigs are geared towards precision type shooting the barrels are made heavier. Chrome lined barrels tend to be lighter because they are profiled lighter for carbines where accuracy is less important. You can make a lightweight profile stainless or a heavy profile chromed barrel if you wanted to This is only one of the reasons stainless (mostly 416) barrels are made heavier - the other is (high temperature) rupture strength. Consult "The Black Rifle" for more info - any of you guys ever see a true superlight or A1 diemeter stainless barrel? ETA: Page 36. |
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In reality it it will never matter either way to 99.99% of the AR owners. So get what appeals to you. In all sporting guns they are not chrome lined or stainless and we don't have any problems with them. So the choice is about warm fuzzy feelings. This is for the most part a true statement, however, most folks don't dump 10,000+ rounds through their Remington 700's (or even 1,000, for that matter) and not at nearly the same rate of fire either. Many on here may quite possibly exceed the 10K mark with their AR's. Ergo, I would say for absolute best barrel life one is best off obtaining chrome lined CMV from a manufacturer such as Colt, LMT or Sabre. One that is chrome lined CMV and also hammer forged, such as the Noveske N4 light series and IIRC, some of LWRC's offerings is even better. As for stainless, 416 is far from the best stainless from which to make an ultra durable barrel. Other alloys are better and in use by shops such as Larue. Actually "Most" folks don't do that with their AR either! But I'll concede one digit though, so 99.9% rather then 99.99% |
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In reality it it will never matter either way to 99.99% of the AR owners. So get what appeals to you. In all sporting guns they are not chrome lined or stainless and we don't have any problems with them. So the choice is about warm fuzzy feelings. This is for the most part a true statement, however, most folks don't dump 10,000+ rounds through their Remington 700's (or even 1,000, for that matter) and not at nearly the same rate of fire either. Many on here may quite possibly exceed the 10K mark with their AR's. Ergo, I would say for absolute best barrel life one is best off obtaining chrome lined CMV from a manufacturer such as Colt, LMT or Sabre. One that is chrome lined CMV and also hammer forged, such as the Noveske N4 light series and IIRC, some of LWRC's offerings is even better. As for stainless, 416 is far from the best stainless from which to make an ultra durable barrel. Other alloys are better and in use by shops such as Larue. Actually "Most" folks don't do that with their AR either! But I'll concede one digit though, so 99.9% rather then 99.99% Agreed - I was just pointing out the other side of the story to those potential newbies that may end up with hard-core BRD and find their 416 barrel a little lacking. 
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Stainless barrels have the potential to be more acurate than any other barrels. This is important to clarify. A cheap Shaw barrel is not a Lilja, Krieger, or even an affordable yet impressive lothar walther. Those high end barrels are hand lapped to a tool mark free interior and are very easy to clean and very accurate because of this. Incidentaly stainless has better harmonics than anything else. This is the reason match shooters started using stainless barrels.
Chrome lined barrels have a longer life than stainless especially when heated up with rapid fire. Chrome is slick and easy to clean. However not as easy as a lapped stainless because they are not as smooth. Chrome lined barrels cannot be made truly accurate at any price because of the coating. Non-lined are cheap and pretty crappy. Hard to clean, inaccurate (because few makers do quality carbon steel), and quickly worn out (much quicker even than stainless because the chromium content in stainless makes is wear resistant). They will rust to. Hammer forged last the longest. They general have poor accuracy comparable to stainless. They do not rust as easily as simple carbon steel even though that is what they are. This is because of the tension in the material created during the hammering process. This is also why the last so long and cannot be made truly accurate. In general hammer forged do everything that chrome lined do a little bit better. |
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Stainless barrels have the potential to be more acurate than any other barrels. This is important to clarify. A cheap Shaw barrel is not a Lilja, Krieger, or even an affordable yet impressive lothar walther. Those high end barrels are hand lapped to a tool mark free interior and are very easy to clean and very accurate because of this. Incidentaly stainless has better harmonics than anything else. This is the reason match shooters started using stainless barrels. Chrome lined barrels have a longer life than stainless especially when heated up with rapid fire. Chrome is slick and easy to clean. However not as easy as a lapped stainless because they are not as smooth. Chrome lined barrels cannot be made truly accurate at any price because of the coating. Non-lined are cheap and pretty crappy. Hard to clean, inaccurate (because few makers do quality carbon steel), and quickly worn out (much quicker even than stainless because the chromium content in stainless makes is wear resistant). They will rust to. Hammer forged last the longest. They general have poor accuracy comparable to stainless. They do not rust as easily as simple carbon steel even though that is what they are. This is because of the tension in the material created during the hammering process. This is also why the last so long and cannot be made truly accurate. In general hammer forged do everything that chrome lined do a little bit better. 
This is pretty full of misinformation dude. Chrome lined barrels have a longer life than stainless especially when heated up with rapid fire. This is not a function of the chrome lining at all, but rather, a function of the low alloy steel or CMV barrel steel material. Chrome is slick and easy to clean. However not as easy as a lapped stainless because they are not as smooth. Chrome lined barrels cannot be made truly accurate at any price because of the coating. I disagree - my noveske N4 VIS's shoot under 1MOA with good ammo - FN makes more than a few precision bolt rifles with chrome lined bores. Granted, the best chrome lined bore may not be as good as the best match stainless barrel, but to say they cannot be made accurate is entirely incorrect for all but hard-core benchrest shooters. I'll take 1MOA or less any day from any rifle I own. Non-lined are cheap and pretty crappy. Bullshit - there is nothing at all wrong with a low alloy steel (READ - 4140, 4150) barrel that is not chrome lined. Hard to clean, inaccurate (because few makers do quality carbon steel), They are seldom (if ever) made out of plain carbon steel - they are LOW ALLOY STEEL. and quickly worn out (much quicker even than stainless because the chromium content in stainless makes is wear resistant). Much quicker is not true at all either - depends on what stainless you compare them to. They will rust to. Agreed, and so do most stainless barrels when not properly cared for. Hammer forged last the longest. They general have poor accuracy comparable to stainless. Bullshit - Noveske N4 is only one example of this. They do not rust as easily as simple carbon steel even though that is what they are. Bullshit - they ARE NOT plain carbon steel - they are LOW ALLOY STEEL. This is because of the tension in the material created during the hammering process. This is also why the last so long and cannot be made truly accurate. In general hammer forged do everything that chrome lined do a little bit better. I'm not a professional metallurgist, but you are undoubtedly further from one than myself. Start first by studying the difference between PLAIN CARBON STEEL and LOW ALLOY STEEL, and then go from there. |
Barrel accuracy = 90% shooter 10% barrel. Most of the public that does have an AR takes it to the range twice a year. They only take it out to show it off to there friends! 50% of the shooters that can shoot 1” groups at 200 meters would crap there pants and drop there weapons when getting fired upon! 
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| very debated topic that usually stirs the hornets nest. I own a cro-moly (non-chrome lined) and a chrome lined barrel. I used to think if it wasnt chrome lined it was crap. Thats simply not true. I have found (as other have poointed out) that non-chrome lined is more accurate. However it is not that much more accurate. I have also found out that no matter which barrel you choose If you can see it you can hit it, and thats all that really matters. As far as reliablilty goes, both my rifles have never had a single malfunction not even with cheap ammo. I do however, keep them VERY clean and oiled. If i was building a full auto rifle which i leagally cant, I would choose a chrome lined barrel. Since all i can own is a semi i opt for non-chrome lined. The only down side to non-chrome lined IMHO is the break in procedure. Its boring and time consuming. With chrome lined its not so critical. To answer your question even with extended shooting sessions the non-crome lined still performs reliably. There is a test video on you tube that demonstrates a DPMS 10,000 round torture test done by guns and ammo. Almost everything they make (unless its a special run) is non-chrome lined. This should dispell any myths that exist about stainless steel/non-chrome reliablity. [URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHNvUPjIOzY] |
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