01-08-2019, 12:56 AM
Stainless isn’t as hard as a chrome lined or nitride bore.
But either lining could adversely affect accuracy in exchange for a longer life.
So an unlined barrel is preferred for ‘match grade’ accuracy.
Stainless has some advantages in corrosion resistance vs unlined moly steel. I’ve heard some claim stainless is easier to clean and break in.
So if you plan to do mag dumps of Wolf steel with bimetallic bullets then a nitride or chrome bore will have the longest life.
Most Match Grade barrels I’ve seen are stainless steel.
The first upper I owned was a stainless 7.62x39 upper, back when corrosive surplus ammo was cheap and plentiful. I didn’t know enough to clean it correctly and while the barrel & chamber looked good, I was getting rust in other areas of the upper. So I’d say stainless is more corrosion resistant than untreated moly steel.
But either lining could adversely affect accuracy in exchange for a longer life.
So an unlined barrel is preferred for ‘match grade’ accuracy.
Stainless has some advantages in corrosion resistance vs unlined moly steel. I’ve heard some claim stainless is easier to clean and break in.
So if you plan to do mag dumps of Wolf steel with bimetallic bullets then a nitride or chrome bore will have the longest life.
Most Match Grade barrels I’ve seen are stainless steel.
The first upper I owned was a stainless 7.62x39 upper, back when corrosive surplus ammo was cheap and plentiful. I didn’t know enough to clean it correctly and while the barrel & chamber looked good, I was getting rust in other areas of the upper. So I’d say stainless is more corrosion resistant than untreated moly steel.