Chrome Lined Pistol Barrels

FuzzyBunny · Dec 13, 2009

First off about all I know on the topic is they plate the inside of a barrel with chrome as it is so hard it extends life. BUT I may be wrong! Feel free to correct me.

I have a few questions. Some may seem ignorant but thats because I am on this subject.

Do chrome barrels extend life and/or improve accuracy?

Do they chrome plate barrels for pistols and why or why not?

Can you send a rifle barrel out to be chrome lined?

What are the good and bad points of chrome lined barrels?

Any other info you folks may wish to be added on the topic are welcome. You can never learn too much.....or so they say.

Thanks
Fuzzy

Snowdog · Dec 13, 2009

I must admit to be rather ignorant about chrome-lined barrels as well. I understand they are common among Eastern European countries that used Berdan primed ammunition that was corrosive. I'm guessing that chrome lined barrels can stand up to the hydroscopic/corrosive effects of Berdan primed ammunition, better than plain ordnance steel anyway, if maintenance is less than ideal. I've read these barrels are also in a better position to withstand steel-jacketed FMJs too, though I'm uncertain of this.

MMCSRET · Dec 13, 2009

My early model Norinco 1911A1 came with a chrome lined barrel. Sure makes cleaning easier.

usp9 · Dec 13, 2009

Do chrome barrels extend life and/or improve accuracy?

Reduce fouling and longer useful life are the two most heard reasons.

Do they chrome plate barrels for pistols and why or why not?

Some do. Beretta and Kahr chrome their barrels. Military arms are are usually chromed.

What are the good and bad points of chrome lined barrels?

It costs more. Done poorly it can flake off.

bluetopper · Dec 13, 2009

Makarovs too come with chrome lined barrels.

Zebraranger · Dec 13, 2009

Both my Beretta's have chromed lined barrels and they are a little easier to clean compared to my others. Manufacturers say that it preserves the life of the rifling. You can see it in this photo at the end of the barrel of my 90-Two.

Creature · Dec 13, 2009

Chromed barrels are generally seen as not improving barrel accuracy in competitive shooting circles.

faizi · Dec 13, 2009

Almost all Chinese made pistols come with Chrome lined barrel.my Chinese CF-98 9mm pistol also has chrome lined barrel.chrome lining increases the barrel life.
Here is the pic of my Norinco CF-98.

LightningMan · Dec 13, 2009

I believe the FiveseveN (5.7x28mm) pistol has a crome lined barrel. LM

RedAlert · Dec 13, 2009

While you could physically chrome your barrel now; it would be worthless and certainly not practical. During the chroming process the chrome is not applied to all surfaces equally. for example, corners and other sharp edges would receive more chrome, and fillets (inside corners) tend to round over.

It would require grinding the bore and re-cutting the rifling; like I said not practical. Chrome lining barrels is something done during the original process of making the barrel.

mete · Dec 13, 2009

RDF is correct.
Chrome barrels are good for eliminating corrosion, making cleaning easier ,and increasing the life of the barrel.It shouldn't effect accuracy.

dfariswheel · Dec 13, 2009

Several of the gun refinishing companies do offer hard chrome lining of the inside of barrels and chambers.

Years ago several customers requested this and it worked out very well. I have no feel for how well it works long term or lasted, but no one ever complained about any problems with accuracy or durability:

As example, Armoloy was the first to offer hard chrome gun plating to the general public.
They offer bore plating:

http://www.brownells.com/

FuzzyBunny · Dec 14, 2009

Thanks for the input!

I learned something.

twice barrel · Dec 14, 2009

It can help resist corrosion. Hard chrome is not the same as bright chrome like we used to see on auto bumpers. At one time it was somewhat popular to send a "shot in" barrel to hard chrome it while it was in peak condition. Pretty sure Elmer Keith used to write about having done so.

I sent a shotgun in for hard chroming as a precaution against steel shot wear and corrosion once. Silly since I didn't keep it very long.

Always thought it would have been a good idea on a muzzleloader.

Regards,

TB

rmfnla · Dec 17, 2009

Snowdog said:
I must admit to be rather ignorant about chrome-lined barrels as well. I understand they are common among Eastern European countries that used Berdan primed ammunition that was corrosive. I'm guessing that chrome lined barrels can stand up to the hydroscopic/corrosive effects of Berdan primed ammunition, better than plain ordnance steel anyway, if maintenance is less than ideal. I've read these barrels are also in a better position to withstand steel-jacketed FMJs too, though I'm uncertain of this.

FYI, Berdan priming is not synonomous with corrosive priming.

Berdan primers have the anvil as part of the case instead of in the primer itself.

Corrosion is the result of the chemistry of priming mixture used (usually mercury fulminate).

Yes, most corrosive primers are Berdan construction but one does not guarantee the other.

Chrome Lined Pistol Barrels

FuzzyBunny

Member

Snowdog

Member

MMCSRET

Member

usp9

Member

bluetopper

Member

Zebraranger

Member

Creature

Member

faizi

Member

LightningMan

Member

RedAlert

Member

mete

Member

dfariswheel

Member

FuzzyBunny

Member

twice barrel

Member

rmfnla

Member

Similar threads