Whit.....I am completely out of my boat when it comes to hard chrome and stainless steels.
The fastest way to blow the timing of any of the Smiths with stainless lockwork is extremely rapid firing. The hand pivot pin will bend in a heartbeat. Different models to different degrees. The larger the mass of the cylinder, the more load on the pin.
Your plating should reduce the wear rate on the recoil plate, cylinder latches, hand window in frame and cylinder stop window.
If you are lucky enough to have carbon steel lockwork, I would think the longevity of your gun has been enhanced quite a bit.
I want to know more about the H E issue. Electrolytic action more influence than heat. In fact, when plating 4xxx medium carbon steels, baking within a short time after plating negates a large portion of the embrittlement. Not enough tho that chrome plating can be used in high stress componants.
Like to know how it is doin after 25, 50 thousand rounds.
Sam