Chrome-lined barrels VS. Non-Chrome-lined barrels

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SOVEREIGN

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Hello Fellow Nutz,

I have questions about the durability of different barrels with regard to heat stress.

Previously I owned a CZ858 tactical 2, non-restricted Czech semi-auto with no chrome lining on the barrel. Now I have a Chinese surplus SKS Type 56 with a chrome-lined barrel. How can the Czech CZ with no chrome-lining possibly have been of use to the Czech military? It is my understanding that if a semi-auto rifle is fired repeatedly with 7.62 x39mm, the barrel will "burn up" or warp from the sustained heat stress.

I think the Czech military was originally using them with unpinned 30 round magazines. How significant is a chrome-lined barrel for preventing "burn up"? When I owned the CZ, I'd be at the range firing the thing rapidly, five shots in about 5 seconds, then switch mags 3 more times, in the end firing 20 shots from 4 mags in about 30 seconds.

Has anyone ever had a barrel "burn up" on them? How major of a difference does this chrome plating provide?

Thanks for any insight you folks could provide.
 
I had a sks non chrome and we beated the hell out of it one night at the range 700 + rounds in an hour and a half. We measured the day after to see if their was any warping and non was seen. So id say don't worry about it.
 
The chrome lining would have been used on original vz58 rifles with the 15.3 barrel it is key to have for surplus ammo and sustained firing. The cz858 isnt chrome lined and reflects on the general low quality of that rifle made for the canadian market. Some yugo ak's are not chrome lined.
 
The SKS I got is chrome-lined, the CZ 858-T2 was not. It's amazing to me that the CZ is 3-4 times the price of an SKS, mainly because of looks, yet the SKS is a battle-ready rifle that can handle sustained fire... I've watched some videos now where folks say the non-chrome barrels are more accurate at long range (in excess of 500 yards) so I guess the 858 does have it's place when used by a skilled long-range operator.

I know the mil-spec VZ58 have chrome-lined barrels but they're restricted. I wonder if one could buy a 19" chrome lined barrel for the CZ858 somehow... Probably not possible. Chris at canadaammo told me of some treatment one could do to the barrel, some chemical salt bath thing or something to strengthen it.

P.S. Faith Goldy is a hawty.
 
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I don't think comparing an sks to the cz is fair the cz is better design and its more accurate and precise then the sks. Cz csn be had brand new norc sks to but norv isn't known for their great manufacturing skills.
 
Parabelum said:
but norv isn't known for their great manufacturing skills.
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I don't imagine they would be, considering Norinco doesn't actually manufacture the surplus SKS rifles we get here. Norinco sells firearms and other kit that has been manufactured by numerous state arsenals all around China, they are a distributor. A factory 26 SKS made in the mid 1960's has about as much to with Norinco in terms of manufacturing as a Lee Enfield does. As for the quality of Chinese SKS rifles, as long as they're military issue, they're absolute fine and worth more than we're charged for them.
 
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I agree with the posts here, especially the one about the CZ being superior in build to the SKS, however, that chrome barrel issue, at least to me is a big deal... And I don't fully know how important it is... I never warped the barrel on my CZ from heat stress... And like I said, shot 20 rounds thru it in a matter of 30 seconds via the four mags loaded with 5 rounds each.

Just thinking about the future is all... I know we don't like fringe blogs here on CGN, but IF things were to ever take a **** globally, I want a firearm that won't be warping from heat stress when many shots must be fired. From a "prepper" standpoint, the SKS (Type 56 supervised by the Ruskies) is superior, because of the chrome-lined barrel, which is sad since the SKS is a bit of a wallflower and the CZ is such a hawty, like Faith Goldy.

I understand what you all mean, particularly the first few posters... The "CZ858" is actually a VZ58 with a civilian, non-chrome barrel. They must not have had 19" barrels that were chrome-lined to drop in for export to Canada. Such a shame.

Whatever, looks do not trump performance. I wish someone in Canada would manufacture some 19" aftermarket CZ858 barrels with chrome lining. I truly believe many shooters would pay up to $250-300 for something like that... And that's the cost of a chrome-lined SKS right there.
 
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SOVEREIGN said:
I agree with the posts here, especially the one about the CZ being superior in build to the SKS, however, that chrome barrel issue, at least to me is a big deal... And I don't fully know how important it is... I never warped the barrel on my CZ from heat stress... And like I said, shot 20 rounds thru it in a matter of 30 seconds via the four mags loaded with 5 rounds each.

Just thinking about the future is all... I know we don't like fringe blogs here on CGN, but IF things were to ever take a **** globally, I want a firearm that won't be warping from heat stress when many shots must be fired. From a "prepper" standpoint, the SKS (Type 56 supervised by the Ruskies) is superior, because of the chrome-lined barrel, which is sad since the SKS is a bit of a wallflower and the CZ is such a hawty, like Faith Goldy.

I understand what you all mean, particularly the first few posters... The "CZ858" is actually a VZ58 with a civilian, non-chrome barrel. They must not have had 19" barrels that were chrome-lined to drop in for export to Canada. Such a shame.

Whatever, looks do not trump performance. I wish someone in Canada would manufacture some 19" aftermarket CZ858 barrels with chrome lining. I truly believe many shooters would pay up to $250-300 for something like that... And that's the cost of a chrome-lined SKS right there.
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There's 1 CGN member that have a non chrome bore 858 and so far the rifle have 50 000+rounds and acuracy still good. With our 5 rds mag limit, a non chrome bore will do the job.
Joce
 
svt1940 said:
There's 1 CGN member that have a non chrome bore 858 and so far the rifle have 50 000+rounds and acuracy still good. With our 5 rds mag limit, a non chrome bore will do the job.
Joce
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Definitely, I don't want this to seem as though I'm trashing the 858, I think it's beautiful, an absolute work of art... Shoots great, never had problems with it... I just really wonder though, I wish I could have one to field test with a 100 round drum, fire it all and see at what point the barrel becomes unsafe/warps. It's of great interest to me for some reason. I realize it is a GUN and was built to be shot, but I always revert to the what-ifs of durability stress tests as a measure of dependability.
 
Blegend said:
How is 308 less of a concern in regards to chrome lining than 762x39? 308 is a hotter faster round.
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The way I see it the more heat and muzzle velocity, the sooner the barrel could warp from continuous fire... It may be splitting hairs but the potential is there... Although I've never experienced it first hand, the internet is awash with tales of "burned up" barrels, since reading I've become spooked and consider a chrome barrel a necessity for military use... And if it's good for the military, I sure want the same quality for myself.
 
From what I understand, a chrome barrel is not as accurate, generally, but is easier to maintain, without doing any maintenance. Hot water = clean bore with corrosive, chromed or not. Really not that big a deal. Stainless Vz-58 would be pure win!
 
Chrome line pros

-smoother extraction "prevents hard extractions"
-easyier to clean
-prevents rust
-longer barrel life on full auto guns

Cons

-price
-lose of accuracy "like less then .25 moa" so not a issue with any semi auto lol.
 
I like the over engineering of military style rifles in principle but I wouldn't sweat a non chrome lined barrel in a casual plinker, corrosive ammo or no.
 
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