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Posted: 3/2/2006 11:00:02 AM EDT
| what is a chromoly AR-15? they are cheaper?? why? |
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Chrome-moly is short for Chromium and Molybdenum, two chemical elements added to carbon steel to give it better physical properties. When you see "chrome-moly" listed in a barrel advertisement, it simply means the barrel is a high grade carbon steel, but there is nothing particularly special about it, and it is by no means chrome lined. That's why they're cheaper. |
By and large chome-moly barrels ARE chrome lined. USGI mil-spec M16 and M4 barrels are chrome-moly steels with chrome lining. Chrome-moly does not necessarily mean chrome lined, but they usually are. |
Most barrels advertised as Chrome Moly are not chrome lined. RRA, M&A, et al... TS 
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Chrome-moly is the type of steel the barrel is made of... Here's a brief description of the different type barrels that are available... Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is much more corrosion and rust resistant than normal chrome-moly but doesn't compare to chrome lining... They resist fouling and clean up easier than chrome-moly barrels and typically last as long as chrome-moly barrels do... They have the ability to be highly accurate when broken in properly too... You can expect thousands of rounds with proper maintenance and no abuse... Chrome-Moly Chrome-moly barrels have the ability to be highly accurate when broken in properly and are the least expensive of barrel choices... Unlined chrome-moly barrels normally have the shortest life of any material because they experience erosion from bullet friction at a faster rate compared to chrome lined barrels... If used as semi-auto only, this life can still be thousands and thousands of rounds... Plain chrome-moly isn't resistant to corrosion or fouling and is the most difficult to clean... With all of this said, a quality unlined chrome-moly barrel will more than suffice for the average AR15 owner... Chrome-Moly, Chrome Lined: Chrome Lined is basically a chrome-moly barrel where the barrel and chamber are internally lined with a thin layer of chrome through an electro-plating process... Chrome lining offers resistance to rust, corrosion, fouling and is easier to clean... Barrel life is also extended when chrome lined... Lining a chrome-moly barrel with chrome also has the possibility of reducing accuracy... Therefore, a chrome lined barrels is often used more as a work/CQB/SHTF barrel, not as a match/target/competition barrel... Although I have seen some truly excellent accuracy from various chrome lined barrels... MOA can easily be obtained from a quality barrel that is properly chrome line... |
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