Chrome Lined VS Not

T

trky chsr

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I'm saving my pennies for an AR this year and I'm on a pretty tight budget. I'm looking at the Colt Expanse (non-chrome lined) or the OEM-1 (or OEM-2) (chrome lined). From an accuracy perspective would it be better to save a little more for the OEM-1 or just go with the Expanse? I'm considering the OEM as I'm going to put Magpul furniture on either one regardless. I've read a lot of reviews on the Expanse and they are pretty much all "glowing". The OEM-1 is the LE6920 which of course is widely used in various duties. TC
 
Accuracy wise they are the same and you not not going to shoot fast enough in semi auto with 5 round mags to wear your barrels out before you get bored with your AR.
 
There are only three reasons to not get a chrome-lined bore in an AR-15:

1- You are buying a high end match barrel and hope to shoot tournament-winning groups in regular regional benchrest competitions;

2- You have decided on a specific configuration of barrel length/profile/gas system/chamber/rifling twist and it is simply not available chromed;

3- You are on a budget and the extra $40 would make or break your purchase.

Otherwise, go chrome.
 
I don't know of any glowing reviews of the Expanse. About the only thing that is actually made by Colt is the lower. Everything else is made by third parties and it's not even assembled by Colt.

$1000 for an Expanse or $1100 for an OEM-1? It's a no brainer. Why people keep talking the Expanse up as a bargain is beyond me. I'd recommend Wyndham for those on a budget, not the Expanse.
 
Kelly's guns had them listed at $1100 but it looks like they're currently out of stock.

Others may have them but MSRP is $1250 Cdn.
 
There are many other differences between the expanse and the 6920. The expanse is a budget rifle with budget parts. If you want that, just get a s&w sport 2.

Chrome lined is almost always better. Only thing I'd take over chrome is a CHF nitride barrel.
 
the expanse is not a rifle I would recommend to anyone. Even those on a tight budget. These are the golden years of ar15s in Canada. Don't get the expanse.
 
I have an Colt M4 Expanse. I have no complains with it except the grip on the handle and that if you do buy it expect to immediately buy a mag pull magazine for it. The magazine they give you has a habit of failing to feed. The AR-15 platform is very versatile if you want to replace the barrel down the road with a chromed barrel you can. Another thing to look at is the barrel length is legal in the USA without modification if you do a lot of shooting in the USA.


The Colt Expanse is the perfect AR if you want a budget rifle now and want to change anything but the lower at a later date.
 
why chrome better? other than longer lasting in full auto (not an issue here) and some corrosion resistance (who doesnt clean and store in a dry place, cant take them out doors really anyways) what is the point?
 
Leg said:
I don't know of any glowing reviews of the Expanse. About the only thing that is actually made by Colt is the lower. Everything else is made by third parties and it's not even assembled by Colt.

$1000 for an Expanse or $1100 for an OEM-1? It's a no brainer. Why people keep talking the Expanse up as a bargain is beyond me. I'd recommend Wyndham for those on a budget, not the Expanse.
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The searches I have done did produce quite a few positive reviews. The main negative ones are from one particular site. The $1100 for an OEM-1 is not really a no brainer for someone on a budget as you still have to buy furniture, a mag and a trigger guard to be able to use it. They both need a rear sight. As someone else mentioned the S&W M&P 15 may be a better buy for a quality firearm. I'm waiting to see what the price will be for the Springfield Patriot, I'm guessing it's going to be up there. TC
 
P0WERWAGON said:
why chrome better? other than longer lasting in full auto (not an issue here) and some corrosion resistance (who doesnt clean and store in a dry place, cant take them out doors really anyways) what is the point?
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plus chrome-lined is outdated, 80s technology.

New flavor of the decade is nitrided/ nitro carburized/QPQ etc etc. Get with the time
 
sky52 said:
plus chrome-lined is outdated, 80s technology.

New flavor of the decade is nitrided/ nitro carburized/QPQ etc etc. Get with the time
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Chrome lining small bore is more like a 60's technology.

Nitriding has existed in various forms since the 50's but the process has evolved, and the US had done a study on machine gun barrel life that compared chrome lining to Nitride. It must be done in the 70's ish because the whole thing was done on a type writer.
 
There's only one reason to go with chrome-lined - you're always on a mission and don't have time to clean your rifle for several days after firing.
 
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