Well my dilemma between CL and non CL is that I want to purchase one from the CMMG bargain bin and they just ran out of the CL. I have no idea when they will sell them again so its more a matter of patience for me. My predicament is weighing out patience vs a CL barrel.
AR15: I know chrome-lined is better but...
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Well my dilemma between CL and non CL is that I want to purchase one from the CMMG bargain bin and they just ran out of the CL. I have no idea when they will sell them again so its more a matter of patience for me. My predicament is weighing out patience vs a CL barrel.
The other question is if they will get them again, at that price. No, I haven't heard any rumors or indications that they'll run out, but that is a screaming deal and they're selling like hotcakes. Just something to consider.
Mike
Mike
offthepaper
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I bought a M4 and a 20"H-Bar from CMMG's Bargin Bin. Both non CL'ed. No Problems or complaints. And yes they are selling like hotcakes. CL just wasn't a deal breaker for me.
Its going to come down to some personal preference too. You can talk about a chrome lined barrel being less accurate but I'm not shooting competitions and likely neither are you so that .20" of an inch group difference might not matter as much as you appreciate the easy clean up. I'd wait a month and see if they get more in, cmmg usually restocks pretty quick it seems.
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
I have both chrome-lined and unlined barrels and until this year, I did a fair bit of shooting with ARs.
In my opinion, the longevity, corrosion resistance, and ease of cleaning of a chrome barrel is overstated. I would also say that the decrease in accuracy from chrome lining is overstated as well. Most chrome-lined barrels were just 2-3MOA barrels to begin with and are still 2-3MOA barrels afterwards.
The anecdotal reports I have actually seen on longevity suggests that chrome lined barrels take longer to reach the "sweet spot" for accuracy; but hold that spot slightly longer and hold overall accuracy maybe 1,000 rounds longer than an unlined barrel of the same quality.
Ease of maintenance? Again, I think this has more to do with the initial quality of the barrel than the lining.
I think that chrome-lining does enhance reliability though. Because ARs are direct impingement they are very sensitive to the timing of the extraction and ejection. Chrome-lined chambers are a bit slicker and seem to be less sticky when they get dirty and hot (though an unlined chamber can still be very dirty and hot and function just fine).
At the end of the day, the quality of the barrel is more important than the lining issue. A stainless steel barrel from MSTN is going to blow away a mass-produced chrome-lined 1:9 from your local gun show parts house in every category. Likewise a chrome-lined GT Operator barrel will blow away the same 1:8 parts house stainless steel bull barrel in those same categories.
Also, the easy way to check for a chrome chamber is to look for the dull gray ring around the chamber. To check the bore (sometimes only the chamber is chromed on some Colts), remove the muzzle device and look for the same dull gray ring around the muzzle.
In my opinion, the longevity, corrosion resistance, and ease of cleaning of a chrome barrel is overstated. I would also say that the decrease in accuracy from chrome lining is overstated as well. Most chrome-lined barrels were just 2-3MOA barrels to begin with and are still 2-3MOA barrels afterwards.
The anecdotal reports I have actually seen on longevity suggests that chrome lined barrels take longer to reach the "sweet spot" for accuracy; but hold that spot slightly longer and hold overall accuracy maybe 1,000 rounds longer than an unlined barrel of the same quality.
Ease of maintenance? Again, I think this has more to do with the initial quality of the barrel than the lining.
I think that chrome-lining does enhance reliability though. Because ARs are direct impingement they are very sensitive to the timing of the extraction and ejection. Chrome-lined chambers are a bit slicker and seem to be less sticky when they get dirty and hot (though an unlined chamber can still be very dirty and hot and function just fine).
At the end of the day, the quality of the barrel is more important than the lining issue. A stainless steel barrel from MSTN is going to blow away a mass-produced chrome-lined 1:9 from your local gun show parts house in every category. Likewise a chrome-lined GT Operator barrel will blow away the same 1:8 parts house stainless steel bull barrel in those same categories.
Also, the easy way to check for a chrome chamber is to look for the dull gray ring around the chamber. To check the bore (sometimes only the chamber is chromed on some Colts), remove the muzzle device and look for the same dull gray ring around the muzzle.
that exact thing happened to me. I originally was set on the Chrome Lined CMMG, but when I went to order they were out. I decided I wanted my AR sooner rather than wait till they potentially got more in. Ordered a 16" M4 barrel. about three days later they had the chrome lined version again, but Zundfolge pointed out to me that the CL version is the crappy 11.5" barrel with a 5.5" permanent useless extension on the end. I like a little flash, I don't want six inches of useless steel on the end of a velocity killing 11.5" barrel|!
An 11.5" SBR would be awesome, but with the hider it is pointless to me. you'll do fine with the other one, and you're uses sound the same as mine. You will have to buy a rear sight though.
An 11.5" SBR would be awesome, but with the hider it is pointless to me. you'll do fine with the other one, and you're uses sound the same as mine. You will have to buy a rear sight though.
Chrome lining isn't "over-accessorizing" if it just costs a couple of bucks more for a CL vs the same non-CL barrel. The chrome is a nice peace of mind type deal for those times when you know you won't have a chance to clean the rifle right away or if you're doing a LOT of shooting.
But that's about it. It's not like a non-CL barrel will be decidedly inferior in reliability or durability, or decidedly superior in accuracy. It's just not that huge of a deal.
Add in the fact that, apparently, the CMMG CL barrels are SBRs with permanently attached muzzle devices (I forgot about that), there is no way I'd wait for a chromed CMMG bargain bin rifle. Just buy the regular 16". The loss of barrel and replacement with useless metal far outweighs the benefits of CLing the barrel (unless you plan on SBRing it and legally removing the FH).
Mike
But that's about it. It's not like a non-CL barrel will be decidedly inferior in reliability or durability, or decidedly superior in accuracy. It's just not that huge of a deal.
Add in the fact that, apparently, the CMMG CL barrels are SBRs with permanently attached muzzle devices (I forgot about that), there is no way I'd wait for a chromed CMMG bargain bin rifle. Just buy the regular 16". The loss of barrel and replacement with useless metal far outweighs the benefits of CLing the barrel (unless you plan on SBRing it and legally removing the FH).
Mike
Zundfolge
Member
IF that happens (which I think is unlikely, but who knows) then sell your non CL rifle (probably at a profit) and buy one of the CL ones
Or better yet buy both (always looking for more excuses to buy guns).
You might call CMMG and ask them what the percentage chance is that they'll have chrome lined bargain bin rifles any time soon (no guarantee they'll have an answer for you).
Barrels are $210 or so and easily replaceable, so get what you can afford now, shoots the crap outta it, and rebarrel if necessary in the future. Then, if you want/need chrome, you can get it. Sheesh...
Personally, I like 5.56 chambers, cl chambers and bores, but I don't clean my AR's.
Personally, I like 5.56 chambers, cl chambers and bores, but I don't clean my AR's.
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