Can anyone tell me if the barrels on these AKs are chromed or forged?

[migkillertwo]

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info...62x39-caliber-/cPath/209_214/products_id/3448

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info...caliber-rifle-/cPath/209_214/products_id/1080

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info...liber,-by-cai-/cPath/209_214/products_id/4274

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info...ype-1-bayonet-/cPath/209_214/products_id/4082

I was browsing arfcom and someone said that the WASR-2 has a chrome-lined, hammer forged barrel. For me, that's a huge feature. Can anyone confirm this? and can anyone tell me if these other barrels are chrome-lined or hammer-forged?

 

[Carter]

Can't tell you about the barrel but the polish ak looks like it has a chrome bolt carrier, which is always a good thing.

 

[Shear_stress]

Hammer forging is a barrel making process. Chroming is a barrel plating process. They are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Maverick223]

I believe that most CAI AK-47 pattern rifles have a chrome lined bore and am near positive all are forged. Conversely I believe that most CAI AK-74 pattern rifles are not chrome lined, and only some are hammer forged. It's a nice feature but I wouldn't worry too much about it on the 7.62x39mm. I would insist that the 5.45x39.5mm be chrome lined because most ammunition is corrosive. I would also insure that the bbl has the correct bore diameter, as some have been assembled with .223cal bores and tend to exhibit keyholing.

 

[migkillertwo]

I understand that they're not mutually exclusive. I dont know how you got the idea that I thought they were. Probably the "or", but w/e.

Hey, does anyone know how the hell they actually chrome plate a barrel?

 

[Maverick223]

The barrel is oversized to account for the layer of hard chrome (henceforth referred to as HC) and the HC is depostited by electrolysis. This process generally takes place in large hexavalent chromium tanks with nearly pure chromium trioxide dissolved in acid, with high voltage/high current DC running through it, and annodes of lead. The process is expensive and potentially lethal if you make a mistake...in short, forget about trying it yourself...or even getting it done after the fact (due to the incorrect bore diameter).

 

[migkillertwo]

expensive? but chrome-lined barrels, In my experience, usually cost only about 40$ more than non-chromed barrels

 

[migkillertwo]

what if they could chrome-plate the barrel blanks with a really thick layer of chrome, and then forge them? I think that would get rid of the one disadvantage of chrome-plated barrels.

 

[Maverick223]

expensive? but chrome-lined barrels, In my experience, usually cost only about 40$ more than non-chromed barrels

Yes, the equipment is very expensive. Hammer forged barrels are some of the cheapest, and that is some of the most costly equipment in a bbl makers arsenal (in fact most manufacturers don't have it). The key is the speed at which you can use this expensive machinery.

what if they could chrome-plate the barrel blanks with a really thick layer of chrome, and then forge them? I think that would get rid of the one disadvantage of chrome-plated barrels.

First a thick layer would be no more durable (actually less because it would be more prone to delamination), secondly hammering on it with a hammer forge is a violent process, and hexavalent chromium is hard, but not very malleable, and would likely result in cracking.

 

[nalioth]

All WASRs come with hammer forged chrome lined military-grade barrels.

Please note that Century imports the WASR, they do not manufacture it.

Can't tell you about the barrel but the polish ak looks like it has a chrome bolt carrier, which is always a good thing.

It's good that it "looks chrome"?

That's all it is - looks. No AK has a chromed bolt carrier (unless someone had it done for themselves).

What you're seeing is a "polished" bolt carrier, which is more prone to rusting.

I believe that most CAI AK-47 pattern rifles have a chrome lined bore and am near positive all are forged.

Not so. Century uses barrels from black powder barrel manufacturer "Green Mountain Barrels". They are not chromed, nor are they forged (to my knowledge).

CAI uses these in all it's current builds (not just AKs).

 

[Maverick223]

Not so. Century uses barrels from black powder barrel manufacturer "Green Mountain Barrels". They are not chromed, nor are they forged (to my knowledge).

CAI uses these in all it's current builds (not just AKs).

I was referring to the WASR, which may not be built by CAI, but it has their hallmark, however I didn't know that CAI used GM barrels for builds other than the AK-74s (some if not all have .223cal. bores).

 

[nalioth]

I was referring to the WASR, which may not be built by CAI, but it has their hallmark, however I didn't know that CAI used GM barrels for builds other than the AK-74s (some if not all have .223cal. bores).

If Century's monkeys have built it from an imported parts kit in the last 6 months to a year, it's got a GM barrel.

Their current Cetmes.
Their current HK33 contraptions
All of the Kalashnikovs they manufacture in-house (not the WASRs), not just AK-74s.
etc

 

[Maverick223]

You know more than I, but I wouldn't be worried about the GM in a 7.62mm rifle, just as long as it was the correct bore diameter...GM makes a pretty decent barrel.

 

[nalioth]

You know more than I, but I wouldn't be worried about the GM in a 7.62mm rifle, just as long as it was the correct bore diameter...GM makes a pretty decent barrel.

I'd not worry so much, either, but the OP asked about chrome and forging.

 

[migkillertwo]

Well I contacted century arms. They couldn't tell me if their barrels are forged, but they told me that all their WASRs (WASR-10 and WASR-2) have chromed barrels.

Oooh! What to get? I'm leaning more towards the WASR-10 because I already have an AR-15, and there isn't a permanently attached muzzle nut. But teh ammo for the WASR-2 is so damn cheap!

well just a few weeks ago I was considering getting the Arsenal SGL-21, maybe i'll just get both

 

[Maverick223]

Do you like to clean your rifles?

If you answered yes, get the WASR-2 and shoot all day. If you answered no, get the WASR-10 and shoot half a day. Most 7.62x39mm is non-corrosive (still needs to be cleaned, but not immediately or exceptionally well), whereas most 5.45x39.5mm is corrosive (requires immediate, thorough cleaning, including the gas system).

Best answer, get both! Shoot the AK-47 often but for short periods of time. Shoot the AK-74 for lengthy range sessions, relatively infrequently.