Chrome moly or stainless steel.
Chrome moly vs stainless steel barrel.
Break in of a hard chrome lined barrel is not possible due to the hardness of the chrome.
The primary purpose of the chrome is to increase depth of heat treatment for a given severity of quench.
First let s have a discussion about the chemical elements of each material and how their properties effect barrel life accuracy and cost.
416 r stainless steel is stainless steel formulated specifically for gun barrels.
Throats appear to last longer on stainless barrels than chrome moly.
416 r is stainless in name only as it is still susceptible to corrosion but at a reduced pace.
I asked brux barrels if there was any accuracy benefit with stainless over a chrome moly barrel or if there was any other reason not to use a chrome moly barrel.
On race cars they use chrome moly to save weight by using thin wall tubing made of chrome moly as apposed to heaver carbon steel tubing with the same strength.
Stainless is easier to machine because it is slightly softer.
Steel is alloyed with other metals like nickel and chrome as well as other non metals such as carbon sulfur and silicon.
It is a high carbon content steel which makes it resilient to high heat scenarios and with its abrasion resistance the barrels wear slower over time.
That said chrome moly barrels can be just as accurate when made correctly and there is evidence a chrome moly barrel will hold its.
The common grades of alloy steel have a skooch less than 1 chrome which is way more than is needed to ensure something as skinny as a rifle barrel achieves hardness to the core.
A stainless barrel will last longer than an un lined chrome moly barrel but a hard chrome lined barrel will last the longest.
It is also easier to apply a fine hand lapped finish to a stainless bore.
Over 90 of high grade match barrels are made from stainless steel.
Chrome moly is not lighter than steel but much stronger.
