smokepoler
Well-Known Member
There seems to be a consensus on barrel wear in the 28 Nosler and other overbore cartridges. I have not seen any discussion on metallurgy that might extend barrel life in these super performing calibers. Chrome moly and 416 stainless are not the only alloys out there. The cobalt steels, incolloys and hastalloys (super alloys) were developed for high strength at blast furnace temps. They are expensive and typically require EDM equipment to create features inside a bore, but it appears to be an opportunity for some enterprising entrepreneurs to create an economical process for making barrels that would open up another chapter in firearm advancements. Tungsten or silicon-carbide bullets at 5000 ft/sec?
Consider that we live in a throwaway based economy. The market is so tiny for overbore cartridges, I doubt it would be cost effective and the ROI would be a loser. There aren't a lot of shooters that want to shoot $2.00 plus a round to hunt and the ones that do would just buy another barrel (I'm on my third 28 Nosler barrel). ONce the initial tooling is purchased, it's cheaper to just throw another SS or CM barrel on the rifle. Having said that, there are methods, chamber and bore designs that can mitigate throat erosion and extend accurate barrel life.