M16 m4 mil spec barrels are made of chrome molly steel with chrome lined bores and chambers.
Chrome moly steel barrel.
Is called sae 4140 chrome molybdenum or chrome moly steel.
The pros of chrome lined barrels the military loves chrome lined barrels because of.
Any steel with 41 as the first two numbers are known as chromium molybdenum steels.
Alloy steels suitable barrel alloys include types having varying amounts of chromium molybdenum vanadium nickel and manganese as alloying metals.
Which one is better.
In europe vanadium and nickel steel alloys are preferred.
That said chrome moly barrels can be just as accurate when made correctly and there is evidence a chrome moly barrel will hold its accuracy longer than a stainless barrel.
When properly manufactured and heat treated they are chemically almost identical and perform similarly.
The 4140 ar barrel steel has the 41 for the first two numbers.
These 41 steels contain 0 15 0 25 molybdenum and 0 80 1 10 chromium in their composition.
Chrome moly barrels always outlast stainless steel barrels but only by a narrow margin.
Different shooters have their preferences but here are some general guidelines.
So let s detail the pros of chrome molly steel barrels that have chrome lined bores and chambers first.
A popular example and perennial favorite in the u s.
It all depends on what type of shooting you are doing.
Why in the world would i choose an expensive stainless steel barrel over a steel barrel after learning all this information about these two steels.