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Posted: 5/19/2012 11:12:31 AM EST
Anyone have experience with cold hammer forged stainless steel barrels?  I love stainless barrels for their accuracy and I love cold hammer forged barrels for their durability, but I was wondering if this is the best of both worlds.  I've heard PSA is good to go, but would like to here from guys that have shot these barrels and what type of accuracy they are getting.
Link Posted: 5/19/2012 12:56:17 PM EST
[#1]
Quoted:
Anyone have experience with cold hammer forged stainless steel barrels?  I love stainless barrels for their accuracy and I love cold hammer forged barrels for their durability, but I was wondering if this is the best of both worlds.

No.

Stainless is only "more accurate" because the metal cuts/machines to a smoother finish, which means that the bore and chamber tend to be just slightly smoother and more accurate dimensionally.

Hammer forged bores aren't cut or machined, they're just pounded into shape over a mandrel, so the finish will be essentially identical between stainless and carbon steel - they will be whatever shape and surface finish is impressed on them by the mandrel.  Whatever advantage there would be to stainless is nonexistent with CHF.

I know the arfcom communal wisdom is that CHF barrels are "more durable", but forging doesn't change the heat resistance characteristics of the metal; heat in the form of gas erosion is what kills rifle barrels, not the physical strength of the material.  CHF is not the end all of rifle barrels.
Link Posted: 5/20/2012 2:05:41 AM EST
[#2]
I understand what your saying. The accuracy advantage of a stainless barrel is lost by the hammer forging proccess. Makes sense. Thank you.
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