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What will wear-out faster blue or stainl
- Thread starter ggm
- Start date
Blue Duck357
New member
Stainless is a bit more wear resistant, not sure exactly how much though. I remember rifles in 264 mag being offered with stainless barrels long ago just to combat the erosion problems associated with that cartridge. I doubt you would ever fire enough rounds to notice the difference in a 308 class weapon.
Whether you shoot your weapon hot and fast or let the barrel cool between strings seems to make more difference than anything else though.
Regards, Blue Duck
Whether you shoot your weapon hot and fast or let the barrel cool between strings seems to make more difference than anything else though.
Regards, Blue Duck
Depends on what you consider wear
It really isn't wear as much as it is surface embrittlement from the produced gas. The gas produced upon firing is a mix of carbon dioxide/monoxide, nitrogen oxides,ammonia, water and nitrogen with traces of other stuff. The nitrogen and carbon containing gases are the most at culprit.
After repeated firing, these gases diffuse into the barrel, increasing the surface hardness and causing a loss of elasticity. Repeatedly, this causes a network of small surface cracks to spread over the throat. This effect eventually allows small pieces of the bore to be broken off, resulting in a rough throat.
The most effective prevention is chrome plating which is impervious to diffusion. Stainless steel is only slightly better than chrome-moly or "blue steel" as it still is mostly iron, the species most suseptible to nitriding/carburizing.
It really isn't wear as much as it is surface embrittlement from the produced gas. The gas produced upon firing is a mix of carbon dioxide/monoxide, nitrogen oxides,ammonia, water and nitrogen with traces of other stuff. The nitrogen and carbon containing gases are the most at culprit.
After repeated firing, these gases diffuse into the barrel, increasing the surface hardness and causing a loss of elasticity. Repeatedly, this causes a network of small surface cracks to spread over the throat. This effect eventually allows small pieces of the bore to be broken off, resulting in a rough throat.
The most effective prevention is chrome plating which is impervious to diffusion. Stainless steel is only slightly better than chrome-moly or "blue steel" as it still is mostly iron, the species most suseptible to nitriding/carburizing.
Keith J is da man.
Many believe that blued steels can hold closer tolerances due to their relative ease in machining compared to SS. I know that wasn't your question, but I couldn't help myself.
I do not think that here is appreciable difference in wear. At least nothing that proper maintainance and overheating avoidance would not more than make up for.
Many believe that blued steels can hold closer tolerances due to their relative ease in machining compared to SS. I know that wasn't your question, but I couldn't help myself.
I do not think that here is appreciable difference in wear. At least nothing that proper maintainance and overheating avoidance would not more than make up for.
handgun357
New member
All I have is blued and I have not worn any out.