Just because a barrel isn't chrome lined doesn't mean it is low end. Actually almost no match grade barrels for AR-15s are chrome lined for the reasons others have stated (they are less accurate) A chrome lined barrel has to be bored slightly larger to account for the lining and it's nearly impossible to get the lining 100% uniform down the length of the barrel. Of course some manufacturers do it better than others and there are some chrome lined barrels that are very accurate, but they are accurate in spite of the chrome lining, not because of it. I don't really think chrome lining is necessary for .223. Barrel life for this cartridge is incredibly high as is. The military does it because they put countless thousands of rounds through a barrel but I personally would rather have the accuracy.
Importance of chrome lining?
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Whew, lot of varying opinions here...
From what I have read, chrome barrels were part of the answer to M16s in Vietnam that were failing due to poor or non-existent maintenance and for corrosion resistance in a jungle environment.
I've got MOA performance at 100 yds with my Stag with a 1 to 9 chrome barrel and non-match factory ammo.
If you keep your AR clean and lubed, chrome barrels add nothing. I think it is cheap insurance if it sits for a while with a dry barrel, though.
Blue1
From what I have read, chrome barrels were part of the answer to M16s in Vietnam that were failing due to poor or non-existent maintenance and for corrosion resistance in a jungle environment.
I've got MOA performance at 100 yds with my Stag with a 1 to 9 chrome barrel and non-match factory ammo.
If you keep your AR clean and lubed, chrome barrels add nothing. I think it is cheap insurance if it sits for a while with a dry barrel, though.
Blue1
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MTMilitiaman
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If we were talking about a huge difference in accuracy potential, I could maybe see it. But we are not. I've seen a (at the time) $300 Russian SKS with a chrome lined bore shoot crappy lacquered steel cased ammo into 2 MOA. For a potential high-volume or self-defense oriented rifle, I think the advantages of chrome lining outweigh the disadvantages, and for what some manufactures are asking for their rifles, I believe the option should be standard, or at least available as an option. My Romanian AK has it, my Springfield M1A does not. I think for the price Springfield is asking for an M1A nowdays, we should at least be able to get chrome lining as an option...seriously.
And I will yield to the voice of experience on the roller locks. I've handled a few but never shot one. I just heard that their bores tend to run dirty. And we are all familiar with the stories from Vietnam concerning the reliability of the M16 without chrome lining. I realize there was other factors. But for reals, could we get some chrome lining up in here?
And I will yield to the voice of experience on the roller locks. I've handled a few but never shot one. I just heard that their bores tend to run dirty. And we are all familiar with the stories from Vietnam concerning the reliability of the M16 without chrome lining. I realize there was other factors. But for reals, could we get some chrome lining up in here?
Coal Dragger
member
Why? Chrome lining is just one way method of increasing barrel longevity, but not the only answer. The other major alternative is melonite, which is used by quite a few reputable makers.
If you really want to get worked up about something look at what grade of steel is being used to make the barrel in the first place. Bet you dollars to donuts that Springfield Armory is making barrels from 4140 chrome moly steel, which is not a high heat machine gun rated barrel steel anyway. Chrome plating it wouldn't change the fact it will not have as much resistance to heat, although it would help with abrasion resistance.
If you're really obsessed with it order a chrome lined barrel from Criterion Barrels, and have a gunsmith who knows M1A's install it for you.
If you really want to get worked up about something look at what grade of steel is being used to make the barrel in the first place. Bet you dollars to donuts that Springfield Armory is making barrels from 4140 chrome moly steel, which is not a high heat machine gun rated barrel steel anyway. Chrome plating it wouldn't change the fact it will not have as much resistance to heat, although it would help with abrasion resistance.
If you're really obsessed with it order a chrome lined barrel from Criterion Barrels, and have a gunsmith who knows M1A's install it for you.
henschman
Member
This really isn't that hard. If you are going to run your rifle hard, and put a lot of rounds through it between cleaning, you would be well served with a chrome lined or nitrided barrel.
If accuracy is of more importance to you than barrel life, reliability, and functioning while dirty, then a chrome moly or stainless steel barrel is for you.
If you don't run your rifle hard and it is a plinker or something you have for casual weekend use, then it doesn't really matter what kind of barrel it has.
If accuracy is of more importance to you than barrel life, reliability, and functioning while dirty, then a chrome moly or stainless steel barrel is for you.
If you don't run your rifle hard and it is a plinker or something you have for casual weekend use, then it doesn't really matter what kind of barrel it has.
surfinUSA
Member
In the AR 15 chrome lining helps extraction and ensures reliability. Additionally it extentds the life of the barrel. No working AR 15 should be without it. I won't buy one or a barrel for mine that doesn't have it.
As far as accuracy goes, there are very few shooters that will shoot better than a chrome lined barrel. Hell, for all the sub MOA rifles I read about here, I'm pretty sure the members here could shoot sub MOA with a sewer pipe let alone worry about chrome lining. LOL.
As far as accuracy goes, there are very few shooters that will shoot better than a chrome lined barrel. Hell, for all the sub MOA rifles I read about here, I'm pretty sure the members here could shoot sub MOA with a sewer pipe let alone worry about chrome lining. LOL.
My thoughts also. Living in a dry climate, chrome is a non-issue.
It has a lot to do with why the military first began to have chrome lined barrels. This has been discussed in this thread, please try to keep up.IF you've followed this thread, then you'd realize that humidity has little to do with why those of us who like chrome-lined barrels prefer them. Have some more thoughts and get back to us!
Ar180shooter
Member
Give me nitride treatment over chrome lining any day.
Case in point, my PE90 has over 8000 rounds through it, but the neck and bore look like they're factory new. There is no appreciable wear or throat erosion, even after a high round count.
Case in point, my PE90 has over 8000 rounds through it, but the neck and bore look like they're factory new. There is no appreciable wear or throat erosion, even after a high round count.
"In the AR 15 chrome lining helps extraction and ensures reliability. Additionally it extentds the life of the barrel. No working AR 15 should be without it. I won't buy one or a barrel for mine that doesn't have it."
How does a chrome lined barrel help extraction? The bolt isn't pulling the case out of the barrel. I shoot a match grade AR upper that isn't chrome lined and have never had extraction issues. On the contrary, I won't buy an AR rifle that is chrome lined. For my uses the accuracy degradation is an issue. However, extending barrel life is something I do agree is a benefit to a chrome lined barrel, but for 90% of shooters out there it isn't an issue considering you can get close to 5,000 rounds of accurate barrel life (give or take depending on what you consider acceptable accuracy) from most stainless steel AR barrels. When you factor in the ammo cost of getting to this point, the 300 dollars (roughly) it costs to get a new barrel is negligible.
Once again this is just my opinion based on my own needs and uses.
How does a chrome lined barrel help extraction? The bolt isn't pulling the case out of the barrel. I shoot a match grade AR upper that isn't chrome lined and have never had extraction issues. On the contrary, I won't buy an AR rifle that is chrome lined. For my uses the accuracy degradation is an issue. However, extending barrel life is something I do agree is a benefit to a chrome lined barrel, but for 90% of shooters out there it isn't an issue considering you can get close to 5,000 rounds of accurate barrel life (give or take depending on what you consider acceptable accuracy) from most stainless steel AR barrels. When you factor in the ammo cost of getting to this point, the 300 dollars (roughly) it costs to get a new barrel is negligible.
Once again this is just my opinion based on my own needs and uses.
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Like others have said, it depends on what the rifle is going to be used for. Chrome lined if you want extended barrel life, don't bother if you're just going to plink a few weekends a year.
For what it's worth, when I was in the military, I could hit 300m targets with iron sights with my issue M16A2/M4 (both had chrome lined barrels), and can still do it with my M&P 15 Sport (melonite lined), so I feel like the difference in accuracy is negligible, for my shooting needs that is. Of course, your mileage may vary.
For what it's worth, when I was in the military, I could hit 300m targets with iron sights with my issue M16A2/M4 (both had chrome lined barrels), and can still do it with my M&P 15 Sport (melonite lined), so I feel like the difference in accuracy is negligible, for my shooting needs that is. Of course, your mileage may vary.
I just don't feel motivated to "keep up" with fallacious internet blather. Humidity, in fact, had little to do with why the military went to chrome-lined barrels for their M16s. Speculation to the contrary is simply the sophomoric drivel of the ignorant proletariat!
henschman
Member
The military specified a chrome lined barrel for the rifle to replace the M1 Garand, long before the M-16. The technology and all the advantages were well known in the 1920s and 30s even. The M-14 had a CL barrel when it was adopted, several years before our little Southeast Asian police action. By the time the M-16 was adopted, CL barrels were pretty much a worldwide standard for military rifles. They just skimped on it on the early ones, for various political reasons, even though it was part of the original design, and it was quickly corrected. Certainly the advantages of a CL bore come into play more in a jungle, but they extend well beyond that situation. Barrel longevity, extraction reliability, and corrosion/erosion resistance are universally valuable characteristics for a fighting rifle.
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