Time for new barrel

[Iron Worker]

Dropped my rifle off at the Gun smith shop today.(Rem 700 6x284) I've had a 1,000+ rnds down it. Hart SS 416R bbl. Smith had a bore scope,first few inches looked like a checker board with out the checkers. All my loads were full throttle loads. Smith said " Chrom Molly bbls last longer then SS barrels ? What ? Did a search and dang I found no evidence to the contrary ! I called up a Brux barrels they said " 6 of one and a half a dozen of the other. SS barrels collect less copper then chrom Molly". Plus no evidence as one to be more accurate then the other. Found a post from a another barrel maker for over 30 years saying basically same thing. Thought that was quite interesting.

[HARPERC]

I'm starting in on my first 6.5/284 I've heard all those things stated, and also haven't found the objective testing that clarifies the subject. My current smith is of the school that chrome-moly will be better in this current application. I always yield to the man performing the work, as perhaps there something in the way he works that yields better results one way over the other. I'm hopeful I beat the 1000 round mark. Again styles making the difference (I hope) I'll be feeding a semi-auto so the loads will be in the moderate range.

[J E Custom]

Originally Posted by Iron Worker

Dropped my rifle off at the Gun smith shop today.(Rem 700 6x284) I've had a 1,000+ rnds down it. Hart SS 416R bbl. Smith had a bore scope,first few inches looked like a checker board with out the checkers. All my loads were full throttle loads. Smith said " Chrom Molly bbls last longer then SS barrels ? What ? Did a search and dang I found no evidence to the contrary ! I called up a Brux barrels they said " 6 of one and a half a dozen of the other. SS barrels collect less copper then chrom Molly". Plus no evidence as one to be more accurate then the other. Found a post from a another barrel maker for over 30 years saying basically same thing. Thought that was quite interesting.

You can always find someone that has a different opinion on barrel material.

I would have to disagree that chrome Molly barrels last longer than stainless if treated the same
way.

If they are subjected to extreme heat such as a full auto can produce the chrome will hold up
better for a short while then they have to be replaced. CM is cheaper so if you are going to
over heat a barrel and throw it away it might as well be half the cost.

For normal shooting the stainless has an edge in toughness and with out the problem of rust.

So a lot depends on application and use.

I have a hart stainless barreled 308 match rifle that has in excess of 20,000 rounds down the tube
and it will still shoot 1/2 MOA with iron sites and all of the chrome molly barreled rifles have lost accuracy long before that.

This is just my opinion based on many years of shooting both CM and Stainless.

J E CUSTOM

[Iron Worker]

I like that ! I plan on shooting slowly,cleaning frequently.

[joe0121]

Man I piss and moan about getting 3k out of my .300 win mag. Have you tried cryo treating and using gun juice. A lot of guys I take seriously swear by it. Buddy has a .300 wsm with 7k down the tube still shooting bug holes and is well withing sammii COAL and touching the lands.

[HARPERC]

Originally Posted by J E Custom

You can always find someone that has a different opinion on barrel material.

I would have to disagree that chrome Molly barrels last longer than stainless if treated the same
way.

If they are subjected to extreme heat such as a full auto can produce the chrome will hold up
better for a short while then they have to be replaced. CM is cheaper so if you are going to
over heat a barrel and throw it away it might as well be half the cost.

For normal shooting the stainless has an edge in toughness and with out the problem of rust.

So a lot depends on application and use.

I have a hart stainless barreled 308 match rifle that has in excess of 20,000 rounds down the tube
and it will still shoot 1/2 MOA with iron sites and all of the chrome molly barreled rifles have lost accuracy long before that.

This is just my opinion based on many years of shooting both CM and Stainless.

J E CUSTOM

I haven't got the requisite experience/knowledge to have a valid opinion. Hence my policy of allowing the man that's putting his name on the work the latitude to put his best work forward. I would not hesitate in letting J E custom put his experience into a rifle build.
I have had custom rifles built for me for 30 plus years, I've had stainless and chrome-moly, various smiths various times, and I've had some great rifles. Letting the guy at the lathe have input into the project has worked well for me.