07-26-2018, 06:29 PM
Yes Proof barrels are on the expensive side, but that's b/c they are premium barrels. There are several good "value" barrels in mid-price range, and some pretty cheap ones too (think BCA et al), the cheaper ones seem to have several problems but even so they have made some good shooters too. My point in this, from 40+ years in an industry that had to (and has to) have high-quality high-grade steels (lives depend on it), is that good steel will cost you some coin but save you problems down the road as well. IMO some Chinese commodity-like goods may be ok, but I'm skeptical of ones for essential-quality roles...
Disclaimer I don't own any Proof barrels, I also don't own any chinese barrel either.
You can't fix bad or cheap steel.
In steel, you get what you pay for. And pedigree, heat-treatment, grain structure, % compositions, groove-cutting, etc, are all important. Think of the old MIM/powder metal parts and the issues they caused.
Disclaimer I don't own any Proof barrels, I also don't own any chinese barrel either.
You can't fix bad or cheap steel.
In steel, you get what you pay for. And pedigree, heat-treatment, grain structure, % compositions, groove-cutting, etc, are all important. Think of the old MIM/powder metal parts and the issues they caused.
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