Stainless steel or Chrome molly

[FatBoy]

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

Well there you go.

 

[coldboreshot]

Which do you prefer in a barrel?
Thanks Bill

416 stainless

 

[6fatrat]

4140 CM and 416 SS are similar in hardness on the C scale, SS is easier to machine [IMO].
I shoot SS in all my competition rifles , is it more accurate????
Steve Bair

 

[shortgrass]

Which do you prefer in a barrel?
Thanks Bill

That depends upon what style of rifle I'm buildin'....

 

[RetiredArmy]

That depends upon what style of rifle I'm buildin'....

Would you care to elaborate?
Thanks Bill

 

[carlsbad]

Both CrMo and 416 stainless are heat treated and hardness, machinability etc depend on what heat treat is specified by the barrel maker. I can definitely tell the difference from barrel brand to brand. I don't know that harder is better. Chemistry also can vary somewhat in steels that are still called 416. So each manufacturer has their favorite formula and heat treat and I'm surprised more emphasis isn't placed on the steel.

I've noticed proof barrels machine like butter and I'm waiting to hear back on the performance.

Bartlein actually states that CrMo may last longer.

I wish there were more CrMo barrels available so I could make my own opinion. I don't care much at all what they look like.

--Jerry

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I prefer cm myself. I can cerakote it clear. Nobody wants one though i guess because of the rust

 

[Liven The Dream]

Hunting Rifles Rust Blues CM ..

My Target Rifles SS .

I must not Lie . There is Our Guy In the PNW that makes Great Barrels ..
Only out of Ordinance Grade Steel . CM
The Best Palma Barrel I ever Had ....

 

[bobm]

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



It is widely known that stainless will outlast CM...ie longer service life. The use of SS goes way back when the military was looking for longer service life in machine gun barrels.

It has been my experience that 30-35% more useful barrel life can be expected from stainless steel.

I have trashed five CM 7-08 barrels that stopped grouping to my expectations at 4300-4600 shots. I recently pulled and replaced three Douglas stainless 7-08 barrels that went another 2500-2800 shots before accuracy fell off.

I had a stock Remington 24" SS 7-08 barrel last for 7200 accurate shots. That rifle is half way done with another SS take off 7-08 barrel installed.

 

[carlsbad]

bobm,
With that barrel life, you are looking for much less accuracy that required for f-class. We are very happy with 1000 rounds

So I'd still like some more data on CrMo barrels for F-class and BR.

--Jerry

 

[shortgrass]

Would you care to elaborate?
Thanks Bill

Are you building a classic, wood stocked hunting rifle,,,, which traditionally would be slow rust blued, or are you building one that ends up looking like a piece of machinery?

 

[bobm]

bobm,
With that barrel life, you are looking for much less accuracy that required for f-class. We are very happy with 1000 rounds

So I'd still like some more data on CrMo barrels for F-class and BR.

--Jerry

Yes, I should have added that when mine can't print under 2 inches at 200 meters they are done. HP silhouette barrels can remain competitive for many shots.

 

[butchlambert]

It is widely known that stainless will outlast CM...ie longer service life.

Can you verify that?

 

[RetiredArmy]

Are you building a classic, wood stocked hunting rifle,,,, which traditionally would be slow rust blued, or are you building one that ends up looking like a piece of machinery?

Neither, getting ready to replace a factory 204 ruger barrel on a Savage. Does a little crow shooting, a little steel shooting with friends with 22-250's. Really cranks they're tractor when it runs along with them!
Thanks Bill

 

[Dusty Stevens]

It is widely known that stainless will outlast CM...ie longer service life.

Can you verify that?

Ive found just the opposite

 

[MikeT49]

Years back I googled on the question of differences. IIRC, pretty much Ford vs Chevy. However there was a post where the guy claimed to have talked with Joe Blow at Krieger barrels. They did not recommend against using stainless sporter weight barrels for high pressure cartidges for hunting in temps less than 0 degrees F. Decreased yield strength. In another post a different barrel maker, which I don't remember correctly, called BS, said it was an urban myth. I do hunt in below zero temps on occasion. Which one is it?

 

[bobm]

Butch and Dusty, let me clarify my statement. It is widely known in.. the silhouette community..that stainless will out last CM. I cite my own experience above. What other shooting competition discipline fires that many rounds from their barrels and can remain competitive?

Me, I am a cheap bastard that squeezes every penny out of a barrel I can.

 

[msinc]

Years back I googled on the question of differences. IIRC, pretty much Ford vs Chevy. However there was a post where the guy claimed to have talked with Joe Blow at Krieger barrels. They did not recommend against using stainless sporter weight barrels for high pressure cartidges for hunting in temps less than 0 degrees F. Decreased yield strength. In another post a different barrel maker, which I don't remember correctly, called BS, said it was an urban myth. I do hunt in below zero temps on occasion. Which one is it?

I guess it was around 2003-4 or so, I talked to John at Krieger and he said something about stainless not being as good in extreme cold weather. I think he might have said something about the stainless getting brittle??? But, don't quote me on that, I really don't remember. It was like a subject we talked about for a few sentences and I decided pretty quick it wouldn't matter to me.
There is one stainless used by one manufacturer that is way harder than the typical 416...Lothar Walther uses 17-4 {??? may not be the exact alloy numbers} and it is hard to the point that you will get about 5 chambers out of a reamer vs. typically 20 plus with 416 or CM. Are they more accurate?? The two I have owned were not...did they last longer??? I don't know, but I doubt it.

 

[ebb]

Dan Lilja states in his article "the making of a rifle barrel" Jan 14 2005 that stainless barrels last longer and are more resistant to harsh barrel cleaning solvents. I couldn't find the source but he has said that SS barrels last up to 25% longer than chrome moly barrels.

 

[antelopedundee]

Years back I googled on the question of differences. IIRC, pretty much Ford vs Chevy. However there was a post where the guy claimed to have talked with Joe Blow at Krieger barrels. They did not recommend against using stainless sporter weight barrels for high pressure cartidges for hunting in temps less than 0 degrees F. Decreased yield strength. In another post a different barrel maker, which I don't remember correctly, called BS, said it was an urban myth. I do hunt in below zero temps on occasion. Which one is it?

Years ago I was told the same thing; that Krieger wouldn't sell a barrel to me if it would go on a hunting rifle and used in subzero temps, so I got wunna their chrome molys. When/if the time comes, I'll see what the smith suggests. Right now he's sitting on one for me and I assume that the barrel makers must be shut down. Seeing as we're both getting right up there in age, with this CV chit hanging over EVERYTHING, I'd be reluctant to start a project where either of us might not live long enough to see it get finished.