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2/21/2016 10:32:22 PM EDT
Does chrome lined mean resistant to rust, or is it more of a pressure thing? I was made to believe that chrome lined was more durable and rust resistant.
2/21/2016 10:43:18 PM EDT
[#1]
A combination of corrosion and wear resistance.
2/22/2016 7:34:55 AM EDT
[#2]
Quoted:
Does chrome lined mean resistant to rust, or is it more of a pressure thing? I was made to believe that chrome lined was more durable and rust resistant.
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The throat and bore are chrome plated primarily to provide better resistance to erosion/wear.

The chamber is chrome plated primarily to provide corrosion resistance.

Chrome plating is .0005" to .001", it does not do anything 'for pressure'.
2/22/2016 8:16:43 AM EDT
[#3]
If your worried about rust, look at nitride/melonite QPQ treated barrels. They have way more corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and are better in all categories as well as generally more accurate. Hammer  forged is even better and worth it. Try to get the best barrel steel(4150), but since 4140 commercial steel will work.
2/22/2016 10:48:57 AM EDT
[#4]
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Quoted:
If your worried about rust, look at nitride/melonite QPQ treated barrels. They have way more corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and are better in all categories as well as generally more accurate. Hammer  forged is even better and worth it. Try to get the best barrel steel(4150), but since 4140 commercial steel will work.
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It's more accurate because it's a more uniform process. CL, regardless of who applies it, isn't as uniform down the barrel.
2/22/2016 1:45:47 PM EDT
[#5]
Chrome lining is a government requirement for duty weapons because they know the weapons will be used in the field rain or shine. They are not meant to be the most accurate barrels made, they're designed for combat. It's an added measure of rust prevention for soldiers who can't keep it clean 100% of the time.

I use my chrome lined barrels for combat style matches, self-defense courses and other venues where they will be rode hard and put up wet. I only own a few, I buy stainless steel match grade barrels for accuracy based rifles.

Some chrome lined barrels shoot very well in spite of being chromed. Quality match grade bullets will improve the groups from any firearm. Shooting FMJ's from a match grade barrel is like putting lipstick on a pig.

If you want the best accuracy and are willing to pay for better ammo buy a match grade barrel. If you want a simple reliable defense rifle and will only be shooting ball ammo any barrel will do. Magazine dumps ruin barrels, chrome line or not. Accurate aimed fire is the only way to practice.

3/8/2016 4:02:31 PM EDT
[#6]
Shooting FMJ's from a match grade barrel is like putting lipstick on a pig.
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It's more like running a race car on low octane pump gas.  If you want performance, buy racing fuel.
3/8/2016 9:25:41 PM EDT
[#7]
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Quoted:


It's more like running a race car on low octane pump gas.  If you want performance, buy racing fuel.
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Quoted:
Shooting FMJ's from a match grade barrel is like putting lipstick on a pig.


It's more like running a race car on low octane pump gas.  If you want performance, buy racing fuel.



What is good ammo then?
3/8/2016 10:13:23 PM EDT
[#8]
http://www.hornady.com/store/223-Rem-68-gr-BTHP-Match/

I hand load my own, however I'm a fan of Hornady's V-max and A-max bullets.  There's better out there, but these are very consistent. Don't expect premium performance from milsurp M193, M855, or it's civilian equivalents.

3/8/2016 11:11:43 PM EDT
[#9]
Feeding my 1.7's some Fiocchi 77 gr SMK and also some Win Match 69gr SMK 223. 1.5 MOA if I do my part, it's been awhile.
3/9/2016 2:14:50 AM EDT
[#10]
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Quoted:



What is good ammo then?
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Shooting FMJ's from a match grade barrel is like putting lipstick on a pig.


It's more like running a race car on low octane pump gas.  If you want performance, buy racing fuel.



What is good ammo then?

Read any of Molon's threads in the ammo forum, They will point you in the right direction.
3/9/2016 2:15:26 AM EDT
[#11]
Sorry double post
3/9/2016 12:35:56 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote History
Quoted:
Chrome lining is a government requirement for duty weapons because they know the weapons will be used in the field rain or shine. They are not meant to be the most accurate barrels made, they're designed for combat. It's an added measure of rust prevention for soldiers who can't keep it clean 100% of the time.

I use my chrome lined barrels for combat style matches, self-defense courses and other venues where they will be rode hard and put up wet. I only own a few, I buy stainless steel match grade barrels for accuracy based rifles.

Some chrome lined barrels shoot very well in spite of being chromed. Quality match grade bullets will improve the groups from any firearm. Shooting FMJ's from a match grade barrel is like putting lipstick on a pig.

If you want the best accuracy and are willing to pay for better ammo buy a match grade barrel. If you want a simple reliable defense rifle and will only be shooting ball ammo any barrel will do. Magazine dumps ruin barrels, chrome line or not. Accurate aimed fire is the only way to practice.

View Quote


Agree with this assessment overall.  I would add, however, that like almost any process or procedure in barrel manufacturing and finishing, all of them are not created equal.  A CL barrel from one source can be highly superior to one from another source.  No mystery there, but it does point out how the source quality can often be more important than CL, melonite, SS, or whatever.  I have a CL 20" Armalite .308 barreled rifle that is nearly sniper quality...me being the weakest link, of course...LOL!  Then on the other hand, I have an Adams Arms Voodoo melonited (in and out) 14.5" barrel that I got on a good sale for $149.  I'm frankly shocked and pleased at how accurate this rifle shoots.  Go figure.
3/9/2016 5:07:02 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote History
Quoted:
Chrome lining is a government requirement for duty weapons because they know the weapons will be used in the field rain or shine. They are not meant to be the most accurate barrels made, they're designed for combat. It's an added measure of rust prevention for soldiers who can't keep it clean 100% of the time.

I use my chrome lined barrels for combat style matches, self-defense courses and other venues where they will be rode hard and put up wet. I only own a few, I buy stainless steel match grade barrels for accuracy based rifles.

Some chrome lined barrels shoot very well in spite of being chromed. Quality match grade bullets will improve the groups from any firearm. Shooting FMJ's from a match grade barrel is like putting lipstick on a pig.

If you want the best accuracy and are willing to pay for better ammo buy a match grade barrel. If you want a simple reliable defense rifle and will only be shooting ball ammo any barrel will do. Magazine dumps ruin barrels, chrome line or not. Accurate aimed fire is the only way to practice.

View Quote


Then go with a quality barrel that's nitrided to get best of both worlds? I mean a 4150 maybe hammer forged nitride mid length!
3/10/2016 3:56:50 AM EDT
[#14]

Quote History
Quoted:


If your worried about rust, look at nitride/melonite QPQ treated barrels. They have way more corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and are better in all categories as well as generally more accurate. Hammer  forged is even better and worth it. Try to get the best barrel steel(4150), but since 4140 commercial steel will work.
View Quote
Agree with everything here except wear resistance. There are multiple tests that show chrome beats nitriding for durability and wear resistance. Both are good and much better than bare steel.

 
3/10/2016 9:30:18 AM EDT
[#15]
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Quoted:
Agree with everything here except wear resistance. There are multiple tests that show chrome beats nitriding for durability and wear resistance. Both are good and much better than bare steel.  
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Quoted:
Quoted:
If your worried about rust, look at nitride/melonite QPQ treated barrels. They have way more corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and are better in all categories as well as generally more accurate. Hammer  forged is even better and worth it. Try to get the best barrel steel(4150), but since 4140 commercial steel will work.
Agree with everything here except wear resistance. There are multiple tests that show chrome beats nitriding for durability and wear resistance. Both are good and much better than bare steel.  


Thanks for the correction, although I thought melonite (QPQ) beat chrome even in wear resistance with a lower coefficient of friction. I'll will look into the tests you mentioned, I haven't seen too many real world tests that compare one over the other but I realize though that bore/throat/gas port erosion is inevitable. I guess one good thing is that it won't pit or chip, supposedly. I do own both CL and QPQ bbl's and I personally don't put enough down range for me to see the difference. I was just going off Burlington Engineering's website...http://www.burlingtoneng.com/wear_resistance.html
3/11/2016 12:55:21 PM EDT
[#16]
Chrome only works on the inside of the barrel for corrosion resistance.  Melonite/QPQ/nitrocarborizing treats the complete barrel so you get the corrosion resistance inside AND out.  

As for lifespan the average shooter will never shoot out the softest stainless barrel, and almost certainly won't do it to a CL or melonited barrel.  

I prefer the melonite across the board for ease of cleaning, accuracy, look, and that it can be done to stainless match barrels, giving the best of all worlds.  I have a Remmy 700 that is .270 WSM.  I had everything about it QPQ'd that wasn't a spring; barrel, action, small parts, everything.  It is the most accurate thing I own.  I've put nearly a thousand rounds of magnum ammo down it and the chamber throat still looks nearly new.
3/11/2016 7:35:11 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote History
Quoted:



What is good ammo then?
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Shooting FMJ's from a match grade barrel is like putting lipstick on a pig.


It's more like running a race car on low octane pump gas.  If you want performance, buy racing fuel.



What is good ammo then?


What you load, test, and reload.

Quoted:
http://www.hornady.com/store/223-Rem-68-gr-BTHP-Match/

I hand load my own, however I'm a fan of Hornady's V-max and A-max bullets.  There's better out there, but these are very consistent. Don't expect premium performance from milsurp M193, M855, or it's civilian equivalents.



Just be aware that some A-Max bullet profiles have a more pronounced forward ogive and may reduce seating depth when using data from other bullet types in the same grainweight.
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