hi, sorry if I'm beating a dead horse but I'm still in the course of deciding between the two.
Here is what I know (or think I know), based of factual, word-of-mouth, and/or anecdotal claims.
Button rifling:
-more expensive to make barrels, but since the machining is everywhere, many smaller-scale manufacturers that don't have the tens of millions sitting around go this route.
-are generally more inherently accurate, not withstanding quality of manufacturer or equipment
-do not tolerate heat as well; which can lead to quicker erosion and loss of accuracy overtime and temporarily during excessive use
-interiors are rougher and need more machine work to finish; this can lead to variance
-quality can suffer greatly if a manufacturer uses bad or worn equipment; this can also lead to more variance and non-concentric manufacturing.
CHF:
-manufacturing process is dirt cheap and extremely fast, but the machinery needed is extremely expensive
-less overall machining needed
-metal is more cold-worked and made to a denser or less rougher grain, leading to better tolerance to heat
-inherently not as accurate because the machining process is not as precise in respects to the rifling (though high quality control and standards can overcome this)
-the extra strength and heat tolerance means less erosion, which saves its inborn accuracy much longer
so, it sounds like that CHF would be the way to go if one wants more life out of the barrel.
BUT...all of these excludes the fact that - in a serious AR as well as other guns - the barrels are chrome-lined. From what it seems to me, the chrome-lining dictates more on heat tolerance and durability than the material does. Sure, chrome is extremely thin in barrels. But, it takes tens of thousands of rounds to wear out a chrome-lined barrel. That says a lot on the importance of chrome in a barrel meant to take a lot of abuse, as we already know.
So, once you factor in chrome-lining, what advantage does CHF have then? I was thinking maybe the denser material helps 'reinforce' the lining and hinder erosion since heat and friction is overall more tolerated by the barrel? Or does it simply just last longer once the chrome wears out?
And then, for that matter, how much longer would a CHF barrel last compared to a button-rifled barrel?
Here is what I know (or think I know), based of factual, word-of-mouth, and/or anecdotal claims.
Button rifling:
-more expensive to make barrels, but since the machining is everywhere, many smaller-scale manufacturers that don't have the tens of millions sitting around go this route.
-are generally more inherently accurate, not withstanding quality of manufacturer or equipment
-do not tolerate heat as well; which can lead to quicker erosion and loss of accuracy overtime and temporarily during excessive use
-interiors are rougher and need more machine work to finish; this can lead to variance
-quality can suffer greatly if a manufacturer uses bad or worn equipment; this can also lead to more variance and non-concentric manufacturing.
CHF:
-manufacturing process is dirt cheap and extremely fast, but the machinery needed is extremely expensive
-less overall machining needed
-metal is more cold-worked and made to a denser or less rougher grain, leading to better tolerance to heat
-inherently not as accurate because the machining process is not as precise in respects to the rifling (though high quality control and standards can overcome this)
-the extra strength and heat tolerance means less erosion, which saves its inborn accuracy much longer
so, it sounds like that CHF would be the way to go if one wants more life out of the barrel.
BUT...all of these excludes the fact that - in a serious AR as well as other guns - the barrels are chrome-lined. From what it seems to me, the chrome-lining dictates more on heat tolerance and durability than the material does. Sure, chrome is extremely thin in barrels. But, it takes tens of thousands of rounds to wear out a chrome-lined barrel. That says a lot on the importance of chrome in a barrel meant to take a lot of abuse, as we already know.
So, once you factor in chrome-lining, what advantage does CHF have then? I was thinking maybe the denser material helps 'reinforce' the lining and hinder erosion since heat and friction is overall more tolerated by the barrel? Or does it simply just last longer once the chrome wears out?
And then, for that matter, how much longer would a CHF barrel last compared to a button-rifled barrel?