Uh-oh....

[Boberama]

From: Bart Bobbitt <[email protected]>
Subject: Stainless Barrels vs. Cold Weather

Several arms companies have recently offered hunting rifles with a
stainless steel barrel. Here's some cautionary information about
stainless steel barrels.

When the temperature goes down, stainless steel has less fatigue
resistance. Its physical properties drop off with temperature.
There have been instances of stainless barrels in hunting rifles
bursting when the ambient temperature is around zero degrees, or
less.

Some custom barrel makers specifically caution against using their
stainless barrels in hunting rifles. One (Krieger) doesn't even
make sporting/hunting barrels in stainless steel. In a conversation
with B.J. Obermeyer some years ago, he told me that some of his
stainless barrels were installed in hunting rifles and used in
Alaska winter-time hunts. Some of these barrels burst when fired.

Chrome-moly (i.e., type 4140 or 4150) barrels maintain their fatigue
resistance very well in really cold temperatures. Stainless steel
(i.e, type 416R), typically used for rifle barrels, is the really
cold-weather culprit.

I'm wondering if anyone who has bought a new rifle with a stainless
steel barrel has noticed any cautions in printed material supplied
with the rifle. Even more so, I'm wondering if rifle makers even
concern themselves with this issue.

 

[sta500rdr]

I just purchased a Tikka T3 Lite Stainless in 30-06 last week. I just read through the owners manual and there is no mention of this in there at all. I will have to do some more research on this topic. It is interesting. Usually when its close to 0 degrees outside, I find that I spend more time inside rather than hunting, haha. Looking forward to seeing what anyone finds out on this topic.

 

[sarduy]

well he did use a stainless barrel and it was cold.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkz_Zuo8g0U

 

[Jon_Snow]

Umm, I think some of that information may be a little off, but to answer your question, my Krieger stainless steel barrel has no such markings.

 

[Boba Fett]

well he did use a stainless barrel and it was cold.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkz_Zuo8g0U

Hmmm....interesting.

From the YouTube site:

The tiniest bit of dirt, snow or debris can cause a rifle or handgun barrel to split just like kindling wood.

That doesn't really seem likely. "Snow"?? ROFL!

IIRC, the Mythbusters did something on this and they had to weld the muzzle shut to even get close to something like that youtube video to happen.

 

[Beagle-zebub]

So by this logic, if the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare rifles (or the US military sniper rifles, for that matter), which have stainless steel barrels, were used in actual arctic warfare, they would be at risk of bursting at the barrel?

Somehow I'm not buying that. But hey, whatever floats your boat.

From Krieger's website:

Q: Which is better Chrome Moly or Stainless Steel?

A: For the most part neither one is better than the other. The only difference we find is that sometimes the chrome moly might take a little longer to break-in and might have a little more affinity for copper or seems to show it easier. In terms of barrel life and accuracy, we can find no difference.

 

[Dr T]

I regard this one as an urban legend.

There is also an urban legend going around that a stainless barrel will wear out in a couple of hundred rounds. I haven't put enough rounds through a high power rifle with a stainless barrel to get a feel for how fast accuracy will deteriorate.

Just because it is on the Internet doesn't mean it is true...

 

[taliv]

if it is an urban legend, it's one i've heard many times from pretty reputable people. but who knows? (more specifically, what I've heard is that there is a tiny difference in extreme cold... not a huge difference)

 

[W.E.G.]

I will note that the OP dug this up from a 1993 rec.guns post.
See http://groups.google.com/group/rec.guns/browse_thread/thread/f37d8432b0bf9351/7702fb5b5bfe195

Here is one barrel maker that clearly says this internet myth is crap.
See http://www.riflebarrels.com/faq_lilja_rifle_barrels.htm#subzero

 

[Uncle Mike]

This so called, Myth is TRUE!

And, as a good gesture, you may send any stainless steel barrel, and/or action to me for disposal....Pistols, rifles, shotguns, revolvers...it does not matter!

I have experience in this type of thing, and you will sleep better knowing that you have gotten rid of that 'unsafe in the cold' shootin' iron!

Seriously folks!

 

[Boba Fett]

This so called, Myth is TRUE!

And, as a good gesture, you may send any stainless steel barrel, and/or action to me for disposal....Pistols, rifles, shotguns, revolvers...it does not matter!

I have experience in this type of thing, and you will sleep better knowing that you have gotten rid of that 'unsafe in the cold' shootin' iron!

Seriously folks!

Will you pay for the shipping?

 

[MachIVshooter]

Of course, the proof of this lies in all the blown up stainless rifles out there................

 

[MCMXI]

I currently have two stainless Krieger barrels with a third on order. I've read about the cold issue but here's what Krieger has to say on their website (at the bottom) ...

http://www.kriegerbarrels.com/Calibers__Prices-c1246-wp3390.htm

I'm assuming that they mean 0˚F rather than 0˚C ... and if they do and I'm out in that temperature, I've got more serious things to worry about and shooting a rifle isn't one of them!!

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

Stress vs. Strain curve of an atypical brittle material like stainless steel is different than steel. When you include as a factor the temperature, at around -40 celcius, the stainless steel become more and more brittle than steel as the temperature goes down.

The question is: When will it have an impact on your gun? If I look at the graph, it will be at about -100 celcius, you don't want to hit your barrel with a hammer between each shot because the temperature difference between the interior and exterior will create "lines" of weaknesses.

Bottom line: If you are shooting at -100 celcius: you are a gun nuts!!!!

Thank you

 

[MachIVshooter]

When will it have an impact on your gun? If I look at the graph, it will be at about -100 celcius,

That being -148*F, and the coldest ambient temperature ever recorded on earth being -128.6*F in Antarctica (not alot of ranges or game animals there), I'd not worry too much.