Stainless steel barrel vs. steel barrel
- Thread starter sfrost1s
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themic
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it's purtier. 
(especially when it matches the guide rod on your 1911)
(especially when it matches the guide rod on your 1911)
AZ Jeff
Member
Stainless steel was first introduced in RIFLE barrels around WW2 for commericial rifles when the first of the modern "varmint" cartridges came out. Rounds like the .22-250 were destroying traditional carbon steel barrels (from an accuracy standpoint) in as little as 500 rounds.
The failure mode on rifle barrels is erosion, which is basically flame cutting of the steel caused by the hot propellant gases. Stainless steel is MUCH more resistant to this action, hence it's popularity in varmint rifle barrels.
That said, it is harder to make a stainless rifle barrel of equivalent accuracy to that made with carbon steel. That is not to say that ALL stainless barrels are less accurate, merely that it's cheaper to do it with carbon steel.
All of this is pretty meaningless on pistol barrels. The temperature of the gases, and the duration of the burning, are so much shorter than in a rifle, that erosion is pretty much not an issue.
Stainless barrels, without stainless rest-of-the-gun, are a "what for?" on a pistol.
The failure mode on rifle barrels is erosion, which is basically flame cutting of the steel caused by the hot propellant gases. Stainless steel is MUCH more resistant to this action, hence it's popularity in varmint rifle barrels.
That said, it is harder to make a stainless rifle barrel of equivalent accuracy to that made with carbon steel. That is not to say that ALL stainless barrels are less accurate, merely that it's cheaper to do it with carbon steel.
All of this is pretty meaningless on pistol barrels. The temperature of the gases, and the duration of the burning, are so much shorter than in a rifle, that erosion is pretty much not an issue.
Stainless barrels, without stainless rest-of-the-gun, are a "what for?" on a pistol.
AZ Jeff
Member
Yeah, stainless helps for corrosive ammo, but there's an even better solution, one the Comm Bloc weapons all had:
CHROME PLATED BORES.
The only ammo I shoot that is corrosive is the 9x18 stuff from Russia. Coincidentally, it goes thru a Makarov with a chrome bore. Nice combination!
On the other hand, you won't catch me running corrosive stuff thru my P7! I had a friend trash his P7 when he forgot to clean the gas system after shooting "semi-corrosive" stuff thru it.
CHROME PLATED BORES.
The only ammo I shoot that is corrosive is the 9x18 stuff from Russia. Coincidentally, it goes thru a Makarov with a chrome bore. Nice combination!
On the other hand, you won't catch me running corrosive stuff thru my P7! I had a friend trash his P7 when he forgot to clean the gas system after shooting "semi-corrosive" stuff thru it.
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