Chromoly HBAR vs Stepped Chrome Lined

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50calshooter

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I'm just curious of the pro's and con's of each. I don't know much about this. I recently bought an Armalite HBAR Chromoly (16") and I would like to know more about it. I'm a plinker shooter, hit the range just for fun (no service rifle matches), occasional "rambo" outbursts but mostly just slow and steady....
 
Non chrome lined are considered 'more accurate' by nature (don't know why - I'm sure someone will explain!), but chrome is easier to clean and a barrel will last slightly longer.

Personally, I don't see paying extra (or much) for it - and since 95% are low volume shooters, both will outlast our shooting life (most likely).
 
Modern Chrome barrels do not hinder accuracy, this is a myth. Modern chrome lining is ground to tolerance so theoretically the hardness should make them better.
 
suprathepeg said:
Modern Chrome barrels do not hinder accuracy, this is a myth.
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Wow... that certainly contradicts what every manufacturer and "expert" I speak to believes. If you take two similarly made (quality/price) barrels... 1 in Stainless and 1 in Chrome Moly and compare them for accuracy almost every "expert" agrees that the Stainless will be the more accurate (all other things being equal).

Now take that same Chrome Moly barrel and Chrome Line the chamber and bore... the accuracy will decrease. I have never seen any manufacturer claim that the same Chrome Moly Barrel when chrome lined will retain identical accuracy.

All of the custom AR being built for competition in the US are using either Stainless (most) or Chrome-Moly (some)... I'm not aware of anyone using a chrome lined barrel for competition. If there's no reduction in accuracy then they should want the longer lifetime that the chrome lining will give them.

Even many military purhcases are going with Stainless barrels (coated on the outside to eliminate reflection, etc.) for their high accuracy requirements.

So when you say it's a myth I am surprised. On what basis do you state this?

Mark
 
Well I could very well be wrong but from what I've read the practical accuracy isn't degraded. This is for military grade rifles so I guess the comparison could be being made against lower quality barrels to begin with.

Stainless is nice and your probably right precision cutting a stainless barrel would make for some sharp consistent rifling and corrosion protection.
 
The only advantage to chrome-moly barrels is that they are cheaper to make. There are exceptions to this, but if you are advanced enough of a shooter to take advantage of them, you don't need to come on the internet looking for advice.
 
I have a couple of chromed Colt AR heavy barrels that were pulled off of 'match target' and 'competition match' models.
They are very accurate and can hold their own against comparable match barrels by some of the leading manufacturers.
They definately out-perform an Armalite 'national match' Stainless barrel I have.

I agree with the general sentiment that stainless will out perform a chromed barrel all things being equal, I just don't subsribe to the theory that a chromed bore can't be a shooter.;)
 
Stainless is easier to manufacture than ChromeMoly

FYI our Mk11 and M110 barrels done by Boots Obyermeyer are....

First correct guess wins a prize.
 
It's a fine barrel. Google can answer all your specific questions about barrel types. I've been doing my own research for quite some time now and also agree with Questar. If you were concerned about chrome or non chrome barrels,firstly, the chroming process needs the barrel to be oversized so as to accommodate the chrome. When the chrome is applied, any deformaties in either layer are magnified by the overlaping process. Therefore, on a molecular scale, the chrome walls of the barrel have a higher probability of being uneven or "bumpier" so to speak, which affects accuracy. And if the chrome ever cracked or flaked via solvent or wear then your up sh*t creek. Any non-chrome barrel is processed to spec and are more uniform throughout, which improves accuracy. I've even heard people say the rifling has a better edge as there is no chrome rounding off the edges. But offcourse chrome has its benefits in other applications. I do believe most of us cant afford the ammo to actually shoot any barrel out anyway. cheers


Questar said:
Now take that same Chrome Moly barrel and Chrome Line the chamber and bore... the accuracy will decrease. I have never seen any manufacturer claim that the same Chrome Moly Barrel when chrome lined will retain identical accuracy.

All of the custom AR being built for competition in the US are using either Stainless (most) or Chrome-Moly (some)... I'm not aware of anyone using a chrome lined barrel for competition. If there's no reduction in accuracy then they should want the longer lifetime that the chrome lining will give them.

Even many military purhcases are going with Stainless barrels (coated on the outside to eliminate reflection, etc.) for their high accuracy requirements.
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50calshooter said:
SO nobody has really answered my inquiry, This Chrome-Moly barrel I have is it any good, pros & cons??? Sorry I just dont know much about barrels....
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The only way to tell if a barrel is good, is to go out and shoot it.
There are no garrantees that a barrel will shoot to your's or whoever's acceptable level of accuracy. (A manufacturer's service and support not withstanding).
If it shoots then you have a winner.
 
beltfed said:
The only way to tell if a barrel is good, is to go out and shoot it.
There are no garrantees that a barrel will shoot to your's or whoever's acceptable level of accuracy. (A manufacturer's service and support not withstanding).
If it shoots then you have a winner.
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Thats fair, I'm sure the barrel will shoot fine, I was more curious about durability, life, features and benefits that sorta info....
 
Stainless is easier to manufacture than ChromeMoly
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Kevin, I think you are confusing chrome lined with chromoly which is a grade of carbon steel. Carbon steel is actually slightly softer than stainless steel and so is easier to machine. The way a stainless and a chromoly barrel would be made is the same for both.

When you get in to chrome lining the bore then yes it becomes more difficult to make for a number of reasons.
 
Depending upon the type of Stainless.

Admittedly I am not a barrel maker, I have been told that the Stainless is easier to make a better type of barrel..
 
Admittedly I am not a barrel maker, I have been told that the Stainless is easier to make a better type of barrel..
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That is kind of different issue though. I was focused on the difficulty of cutting the material itself. Having just finished a couple of projects in chromoly and stainless, the stainless is definately more difficult to work with and chews up the tooling faster.
 
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