Stainless steel or Chrome molly

[RetiredArmy]

Which do you prefer in a barrel?
Thanks Bill

 

[Papa Charlie]

I like the stainless appearance. But if you prefer a blued or coated barrel then the Chrome Molly is the only way to go.

In talking with Benchmark, there is supposedly no difference between the two for performance or life.

 

[PhilKeil]

I also prefer stainless, I have both and I see no difference. Good luck in your decision

 

[jds holler]

I can remember way back when, they used to talk like the "new" stainless steel barrels was what made the 220 Swift a viable cartridge.

Can anyone tell me if that was true, and if it is still true when compared to the modern Chrome-Moly steels? jd

 

[butchlambert]

I shot a couple CM barrels in PPC in the old days. Couldn't see a difference. I have a custom rimfire that has a special made barrel and it came SS. I polished it and Melonite treated it. It looks like a nice Weatherby blue.

 

[DickE]

I like the looks of blued barrel with blued action. CM is a little less money up front, but then you add on the price of the hot bluing,(I do that) comes out to be about the same.

 

[antelopedundee]

I like the stainless appearance. But if you prefer a blued or coated barrel then the Chrome Molly is the only way to go.

In talking with Benchmark, there is supposedly no difference between the two for performance or life.

Does stainless blue up as nicely as chrome moly does? Especially for a high polish blue.

 

[FatBoy]

My gunsmiths reamers prefer stainless.

 

[Papa Charlie]

Does stainless blue up as nicely as chrome moly does? Especially for a high polish blue.

The process will not work on Stainless Steel.

 

[msinc]

Which do you prefer in a barrel?
Thanks Bill

I have many of both. I cannot tell any difference in accuracy at all or the way either machine. I also cannot see any difference in the time it takes to cook a throat. If you got a barrel burner cartridge you can believe it don't care. Resale value still has to go to the stainless barrel. Seems like the first question when you say, "I have a rifle for sale" is always, "is the barrel stainless??"
All that said, the one thing I don't see mentioned is that you cant rust blue stainless. I very much love the soft velvety silver blue glow of a rust blued finish. Can you tell what metal is rust blued in this photo???

 

[antelopedundee]

The process will not work on Stainless Steel.

So what process does that will give a decent result?

 

[butchlambert]

Did you read my post?

 

[msinc]

So what process does that will give a decent result?

Stainless can be "blackened", cant remember the number, but Brownell's offers an "oxynate" that works on stainless. Used similar to hot blue {Oxynate #7}, in my experience it works better if you just bead blast the surface so that it appears flat or matte black. It doesn't really work or end up looking the same as bluing on steel if you polish the stainless. It's a little hard to get it real even or consistent..
As Mr. Lambert says, various different coatings might give you the look and possibly even the durability you are after.

Edit: back in "the day" when Winchester used stainless barrels on their model 70's in 220 Swift they first copper plated the barrel then blued the copper plate. It didn't look too bad when it was first done.

 

[Papa Charlie]

I have many of both. I cannot tell any difference in accuracy at all or the way either machine. I also cannot see any difference in the time it takes to cook a throat. If you got a barrel burner cartridge you can believe it don't care. Resale value still has to go to the stainless barrel. Seems like the first question when you say, "I have a rifle for sale" is always, "is the barrel stainless??"
All that said, the one thing I don't see mentioned is that you cant rust blue stainless. I very much love the soft velvety silver blue glow of a rust blued finish. Can you tell what metal is rust blued in this photo???View attachment 1172802

That is a beautiful shotgun. Love side by sides. Rabbit ears would be even better.

 

[RetiredArmy]

My gunsmiths reamers prefer stainless.

Is that because stainless is "softer" then chrome molly?
Thanks Bill

 

[antelopedundee]

Did you read my post?

I did, but I know it can be done. Here is one reference on it.

https://gunblue.homestead.com/Stainless.html

I have a rifle finished in high polishe blue and am thinking of rebarreling it. I would use a Hart barrel, but I don't think that they even offer chrome moly anymore so I would want to refinish the stainless to at least come close. What would you suggest? Any chrome moly barrel would need to match the contour from Hart.

 

[butchlambert]

I did, but I know it can be done. Here is one reference on it.

https://gunblue.homestead.com/Stainless.html

I have a rifle finished in high polishe blue and am thinking of rebarreling it. I would use a Hart barrel, but I don't think that they even offer chrome moly anymore so I would want to refinish the stainless to at least come close. What would you suggest? Any chrome moly barrel would need to match the contour from Hart.

If you do not want to Melonite, get a CM barrel from Shilen, Douglas, or Lilja.

 

[FatBoy]

Is that because stainless is "softer" then chrome molly?
Thanks Bill

Not sure if softer is the correct term but that's kind of how I interpret it too.

 

[butchlambert]

Is that because stainless is "softer" then chrome molly?
Thanks Bill

Softer?, never heard that before. I don't think that is the reason. Ain't a hill of beans difference in chambering.

 

[Papa Charlie]

To my understanding the blueing process requires the carbon to work. Stainless does not have the elements to take the blueing. As pointed out, there are other processes but it won't match hot dip blueing. Actually looking at the shotgun above, it is a very nice look if that is what you want.