SS Barrel Splitting In Cold Temps

[Edd]

I've read stuff about light weight stainless steel barrels being unsafe in very cold temperatures. Krieger has a minimum neck diameter of .940" for a .338 caliber SS barrel. That equates to a wall thickness of .300". Another barrel maker will make one with a wall thickness of .250". I am considering using one of the .250" thick ones. Has anyone had or seen any issue that would indicate a .250" wall thickness at the barrel neck is unsafe?

 

[jackieschmidt]

In particular, Krieger does not use 416R in the thinner barrel profiles in large calibers. They instead will substitute 410 stainless or chrome moly steel.

the reason is due to it’s free machining properties, 416R lacks the ductility and impact strength of the other steels, and specially at lower temperatures. This is a simple metallurgical consequence of enhancing one property at the expense of another.

Of course, the reason Krieger uses 416R in the vast majority of their barrels is because of its excellent machining qualities. The ductility issue is of no concern in heavier profiles.

 

[Edd]

In particular, Krieger does not use 416R in the thinner barrel profiles in large calibers. They instead will substitute 410 stainless or chrome moly steel.

the reason is due to it’s free machining properties, 416R lacks the ductility and impact strength of the other steels, and specially at lower temperatures. This is a simple metallurgical consequence of enhancing one property at the expense of another.

Of course, the reason Krieger uses 416R in the vast majority of their barrels is because of its excellent machining qualities. The ductility issue is of no concern in heavier profiles.

So, do you think .250" is too thin for the neck wall on a 416R barrel?

 

[Walt Krafft]

How cold we talking about?

 

[Edd]

I don’t know. How cold is too cold for it?

Is 10 below zero too cold?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I shot alot of barrels in cold temps. 15 below on may occaisions. Mostly hunting guns. But no real pencil barrels. They didnt soak in that temp either but they did get plenty cold.

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

So, do you think .250" is too thin for the neck wall on a 416R barrel?

Wait a sec...that's not what he said, he said .250" is too thin, per Krieger, for a 338.

This could easily be taken out of context to state that all barrels walls should be .300" or thicker.

 

[jackieschmidt]

If in doubt, read and follow the instructions.

I would go with Krieger’s recommendations.

 

[Hal]

It would be hard to make a good shot if you were shooting in the cold, wonder if the barrel would split with your fingers wrapped around the forend.
Better safe than sorry. Sure hate to look down and see your fingers laying in the snow.


Hal

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

Injuries don't hurt as bad when you are numb with cold....

 

[Old Navy]

As of 2017 search.
From the FAQ section on Dan Lilja's web site:

"Q. Can stainless steel barrels be safely fired in sub zero temperatures?
Yes they certainly can be. There is a myth going around that stainless steel alloys used in rifle barrels loose their strength in sub zero temperatures. There is no truth to that. We have made many thousands of barrels that have been fired safely in below zero temperatures as have all of the other custom barrel makers as well as the major arms manufacturers. This is an urban legend that should be chilled".

 

[Edd]

I found this

Crucible 416R stainless steel is manufactured using very stringent controls from initial melting, through hot rolling, heat treating, cold finishing and final bar inspection. Barrels made from Crucible 416R are used at all levels of competition and in all conditions dry, damp or salty. Although all martensitic stainless steels have reduced ductility at very low temperatures, Crucible 416R can be safely used down to minus 40°F (-40°C).

For more than 25 years, Crucible 416R, produced in Syracuse, NY, has been the choice of custom barrelmakers and champion shooters.

 

[jackieschmidt]

This is not a question as to whether 416R can be used as a material for Rifle Barrels at extreme colds.

It is a question as to whether 416R can be used in thin sections at extreme cold.

It is also not a question of Tensile or Yield strength at low temperatures. It is a question of Ductility.

One way to find out is to take a piece of 410 SS or Chome Moly, cool it to 40 below, and subject it to a Charpy V-Notch test.

Then repeat the test with a equal piece of 416R.

I do not know if Krieger did this when determine their decision on thin section 416R barrels. Maybe someone blew one up.

Does anyone know how Krieger made this decision, other than going by the actual listed mechanical properties of each steel, and decided to be on the safe side.

As a side bar, Barrel Manufactures use 416R for one main reason. Machinability, either in the manufacturing stage or the Gun Smithing stage. This positive machinability allows for the adhering to strict tolerances with a very reasonless tool if expectancy.
One of the Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steels such as 15-5 or 17-4, would make a superior end product.

But, to arrive at the the exact level of precision that is obtained with 416R would drive tooling cost up. From my experience in working with all of these alloys, that is no small matter. All you have to do is look at the machinability factors assigned to each.

The deep hole drilling would probably be the biggest hurdle. Most of the steels that lack the free machining qualities of 416 generate chips that are very unuser friendly to the deep hole drilling process in small diameters.

 

[rwj]

The ductility of many steels becomes lower with ambient temperature, though their tensile strength may remain the same. The concern in the rifle barrel application is that non-ductile/brittle metals can shatter when subjected to shock loads. As @jackieschmidt cited above, follow the manufacture’s directions!