Lee Enfield
New member
I know that what's "best" is subjective and depends on a number of criteria such as overall weight, balance, application, etc. However, specifically to a 4" .357 magnum revolver carried or handled by the average or bigger guy who shoots regularly at the range and regardless of cost, what would be the best alloy for each part of such a revolver? I know that there are far more variables to consider, but I thought that this would be a fun thought exercise, and I am curious about seemingly random things like this.
If 4130 or 4140 carbon steel is a common one for firearms, along with 4340, then are they common simply due to really good performance while the cost is low due to economies of scale - but they may not be the best alloys due to the cost prohibitiveness of better alloys? If so, then what would be these steels or non-steel alloys? Why not say, a knife "super" steel heat treated to a much lower Rockwell hardness than typical for knives, such as Bohler M390 or a tougher blade steel like S7? Overkill or not, would it be objectively better across the board with respect to corrosion resistance, durability, etc.?
If the industry's current titanium-cobalt with steel liner offerings make for a great or excellent gun barrel material, then what about say, titanium 6.6.2 with a given tougher steel liner? Why not say, a Seawolf class nuclear submarine steel such as HY-180 steel? The aforementioned alloys are very specific examples that may not actually be ideal (or may in fact be worse!) for the application of a revolver's use, but they're used to illustrate my larger question of "Is there a superior alloy or material to construct a revolver out of?"
I understand that there are many caveats to this very broad question, but I do hope that what I'm getting at comes across to open ears. Thanks in advance for any thoughts on the inquiry - I look forward to getting my curiosity scratched a bit.
If 4130 or 4140 carbon steel is a common one for firearms, along with 4340, then are they common simply due to really good performance while the cost is low due to economies of scale - but they may not be the best alloys due to the cost prohibitiveness of better alloys? If so, then what would be these steels or non-steel alloys? Why not say, a knife "super" steel heat treated to a much lower Rockwell hardness than typical for knives, such as Bohler M390 or a tougher blade steel like S7? Overkill or not, would it be objectively better across the board with respect to corrosion resistance, durability, etc.?
If the industry's current titanium-cobalt with steel liner offerings make for a great or excellent gun barrel material, then what about say, titanium 6.6.2 with a given tougher steel liner? Why not say, a Seawolf class nuclear submarine steel such as HY-180 steel? The aforementioned alloys are very specific examples that may not actually be ideal (or may in fact be worse!) for the application of a revolver's use, but they're used to illustrate my larger question of "Is there a superior alloy or material to construct a revolver out of?"
I understand that there are many caveats to this very broad question, but I do hope that what I'm getting at comes across to open ears. Thanks in advance for any thoughts on the inquiry - I look forward to getting my curiosity scratched a bit.
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