I am looking to go beyond hard chrome for barrel lining; having seen some problems with chrome-lined barrels recently. On dozens of 5.56 barrels, chrome is teared from throat & muzzle after roughly 3000 rounds…pretty disappointing.
So, I am studying the various “new” treatments now existing. Of course, there is nitriding, so widely used today. But is there anyone who tried Co-P-SiC coating ? (US patent US2012/0247962 A1)
I am not a chemist but, from what I understand, it would be a pretty good candidate to replace hard chrome for barrel lining.
LiFe is a new treatment that Parker Trutec is offering, they advertise it as the next generation of ferric nitrocarburizing. I have a cobalt kinetics barrel that is LiFe treated that hopefully I can get some high round counts through.
‘LiFe Process offers in comparison to our traditional nitride, creates a smoother (less porosity) surface finish, this imparts higher corrosion resistance and lubricity characteristics. The hardness and depth are almost identical to the QPQ process. Most firearms manufacturers are reporting a major increase on wear properties also. In my opinion the oxide is also a deeper black with the LiFe process. This process is unique to Parker TruTec MMI and the Tennessee plant we are the only company in the U.S. doing anything like this using nitrocarburizing.’
We all know that’s going to happen for any chrome-lined Barrel. I’m just wondering if that’s part of the normal life or if he is seeing problems earlier than normal. I don’t know what the generally accepted service life from a chrome-lined Barrel that has not been abused is, but I would expect past 10,000 rounds. I could be totally wrong.
According to the description on this chrome lined barrel it has a 20,000 round service life. I happen to have this one and its stamped FN.
The CHF collection of barrels from Spike’s Tactical are known for their incredible durability. Cold hammer forging hardens the steel around a rifled mandrel, which creates the lands and grooves of the barrel. Each barrel blank is certified CMV material and hard chrome-lined to the M249 SAW mil-spec for a thickness close to 2x as much as a mil-spec M4. That thickness gives this 5.56-chambered, 11.5” barrel a 20,000+ round service life!
I as well. I haven’t ever seen a chrome line barrel peel at any point. It isn’t like cheap ass bumper chrome. I’ve seen them worn through and eroded away, but that was always pretty much past the 10K mark.
Unless I missed it somewhere are you saying your FN CHF barrel lasted less than 3k? Which vendor did you buy it from? Who does the chrome lining just as or more important than lining itself.
Few barrels will hold up to 249 fire and not have a greatly decreased life
Suspect your simply burned them out, you are trying to compare apples to kiwi