OldeTSgt
US Veteran
I am considering an M&P AR 15 - but I am not sure I want a gun that doesn't have a chrome lined barrel and chamber - just wondering how durable the M&P's are for sustained shooting and wear of the finish
How important is chrome lining
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gunny4053
US Veteran
Chrome lined barrels are very good, but aren't the be all end all that many believe they are. Some of the new Melonite treated barrels are as accurate and durable, maybe more so, as the Chrome lined barrels. I wouldn't let Chrome lining be a deal breaker.
cyphertext
US Veteran
Which M&P are you considering? Most M&P 15s have a chrome lined barrel. The ones that are not chrome lined are treated with Melonite, which is showing to be a very good alternative, with some saying that it is superior to chrome lining.
I am not aware of a S&W barrel that isn't either chrome lined or Melonite treated... although S&W no longer calls it Melonite due to trademarks, it is now corrosion resistant finish, or something along those lines.
I am not aware of a S&W barrel that isn't either chrome lined or Melonite treated... although S&W no longer calls it Melonite due to trademarks, it is now corrosion resistant finish, or something along those lines.
S&W M&P 15 SKU #811000
It reminds me of the weapon I carried for years in the USAF and in Panama in 1989.
We had to keep them pretty clean and lubed in the hot and humid environment and although not as hot and humid as Panama here in TX there is enough to make it a nice thing to have
It reminds me of the weapon I carried for years in the USAF and in Panama in 1989.
We had to keep them pretty clean and lubed in the hot and humid environment and although not as hot and humid as Panama here in TX there is enough to make it a nice thing to have
cyphertext
US Veteran
That model has a chrome lined barrel.
ChattanoogaPhil
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If unsure, just read the paper label wrapped around the handguard for full details on the barrel.
Arik
Member
If you shoot a lot of corrosive ammo you'll like chrome lined barrels.
WA101
Member
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p15-rifles/231575-melonite-vs-chrome-barrels.html
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JaPes
Member
Advantage of chrome lining = hardness, heat, wear resistance.
Con of chrome lining = increased production cost, more complex production process, the bore is cut to accommodate the thickness of the chrome lining. This can potentially decrease the accuracy of the barrel.
Non chrome lined barrel = Increased potential for accuracy because there's no accommodations made the additional chrome lining. Unlined barrels can be 4140, 4150, Stainless, or chrome moly vanadium.
Melonite treated barrel = Most people mistakenly think this is an applied finish. It is a hot salt bath nitriding process that alters the crystalline structure of the barrel steel to a depth greater than chrome lining. You get the best of both worlds with a Melonite treated barrel: similar properties to hard chrome without the potential for decreased accuracy.
Now what does that mean to the average civilian firearms enthusiast for whom getting to a 10,000 round count takes a few years? Not much. I have all three types of barrels: chrome lined, melonite, and unlined CMV. You'd think I'd be able to give evidence of a practical difference between all three types, but I can't. I don't shoot to the bleeding edge of 5.56 range, nor do I have I attained the level of marksmanship skill to eke out the small difference.
What is the ownership difference? I pull a flexible rod with a CLP moistened patch down the barrel of my unlined CMV barrel at minimum once every two months to prevent corrosion. To tell you the truth that CMV barrel on my budget AR probably has more erosion from being fired than anything else. The chrome lined and Melonite barrels are more corrosion resistant and less worrisome. I still pull a CLP moistened patch down their barrels every two months.
Good luck from the former forum AR-15 guinea-pig tester,
John
Con of chrome lining = increased production cost, more complex production process, the bore is cut to accommodate the thickness of the chrome lining. This can potentially decrease the accuracy of the barrel.
Non chrome lined barrel = Increased potential for accuracy because there's no accommodations made the additional chrome lining. Unlined barrels can be 4140, 4150, Stainless, or chrome moly vanadium.
Melonite treated barrel = Most people mistakenly think this is an applied finish. It is a hot salt bath nitriding process that alters the crystalline structure of the barrel steel to a depth greater than chrome lining. You get the best of both worlds with a Melonite treated barrel: similar properties to hard chrome without the potential for decreased accuracy.
Now what does that mean to the average civilian firearms enthusiast for whom getting to a 10,000 round count takes a few years? Not much. I have all three types of barrels: chrome lined, melonite, and unlined CMV. You'd think I'd be able to give evidence of a practical difference between all three types, but I can't. I don't shoot to the bleeding edge of 5.56 range, nor do I have I attained the level of marksmanship skill to eke out the small difference.
What is the ownership difference? I pull a flexible rod with a CLP moistened patch down the barrel of my unlined CMV barrel at minimum once every two months to prevent corrosion. To tell you the truth that CMV barrel on my budget AR probably has more erosion from being fired than anything else. The chrome lined and Melonite barrels are more corrosion resistant and less worrisome. I still pull a CLP moistened patch down their barrels every two months.
Good luck from the former forum AR-15 guinea-pig tester,
John
JaPes
Member
gunny4053
US Veteran
sgtsandman
US Veteran
I see what you did there.
Should that be done in the shop or at home?Now we're just being mean.
Don't be feeding the bear now gentlemen!
schgsd
Member
Rick_A
Member
If left unattended for long enough after shooting corrosive a chrome lined barrel will still be a mess...it'll just have less permanent damage than a non chrome lined. Don't ask me how I know.
It all depends on who makes the barrel, not necessarily what the surface treatment or type of rifling is used. A quality barrel is a quality barrel.
Match and target barrels sacrifice some durability for accuracy. Hard use barrels are often double chrome plated and use steels that withstand extreme temperatures better at the expense of absolute accuracy, and most commercial barrels fall somewhere in between.
For those not shooting competitively or firing registered machine guns or dedicated bump fire guns it's all of little consequence.
My play gun is the only one with a chrome lined barrel. The others have match barrels. It's doubtful I'll wear any of them out.
People obsess over the most random of specs when it comes to these rifles, but if it runs well and shoots well why mess with it internally?
It all depends on who makes the barrel, not necessarily what the surface treatment or type of rifling is used. A quality barrel is a quality barrel.
Match and target barrels sacrifice some durability for accuracy. Hard use barrels are often double chrome plated and use steels that withstand extreme temperatures better at the expense of absolute accuracy, and most commercial barrels fall somewhere in between.
For those not shooting competitively or firing registered machine guns or dedicated bump fire guns it's all of little consequence.
My play gun is the only one with a chrome lined barrel. The others have match barrels. It's doubtful I'll wear any of them out.
People obsess over the most random of specs when it comes to these rifles, but if it runs well and shoots well why mess with it internally?
red dragon
Member
My moe mid 4150 CMV 5r 1/8 barrel has held up exceptionally well. Close to 7000rd(mostly tula) and it still shoots 2-3moa with most decent ammo. I've been extremely hard on this rifle and have yet to experience a malfunction or see a decrease in accuracy.
I also own three other m&p rifles with melonited barrels and all have held up extremely well. I don't know if it makes much difference, but I only use hoppe's 9 cleaner and oil on all my guns. Based on my experience with the m&p rifles and pistols, S&Ws melonite finish is definitely good to go.
I also own three other m&p rifles with melonited barrels and all have held up extremely well. I don't know if it makes much difference, but I only use hoppe's 9 cleaner and oil on all my guns. Based on my experience with the m&p rifles and pistols, S&Ws melonite finish is definitely good to go.
GranCazador
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My question for you is this -
"How many non chrome lined / non AR style weapons do you have?"
Do you have any problems with them?
What corrosive ammo are you planning on running?
"How many non chrome lined / non AR style weapons do you have?"
Do you have any problems with them?
What corrosive ammo are you planning on running?
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Arik
Member
Yes. Chrome just adds an extra layer of protection against corrosion. It doesn't actually stop it.
Are modern handgun barrels chrome lined? I have no idea. It never occurred to me to even find out. I would say they are probably my only none chrome lined barrels. I'm also not sure about my Colt 6721. Otherwise everything else I have is AKs and they are ALL chrome lined. I shoot plenty of corrosive 5.45 and 7.62x39.
OK, virtually no handgun barrels are chrome lined. They don't need the increased resistance to heat and abrasive wear because they don't generate the bore/chamber temperatures & pressures that require it.
When doing the CQB portion of our training, our dedicated training rifles will fire in the neighborhood of 2000 rounds per week. Without a chrome lined barrel, bullets start going through the target sideways in a couple of months. We used to have a barrel of shot out barrels.
Now, if you're not firing strings of multiple shots in very short times, the lack of chrome lining may not be as apparent. It's the heat build up in the barrel, abrasive wear from the bullets and flame temperature from the powder that accelerates the wear.
When doing the CQB portion of our training, our dedicated training rifles will fire in the neighborhood of 2000 rounds per week. Without a chrome lined barrel, bullets start going through the target sideways in a couple of months. We used to have a barrel of shot out barrels.
Now, if you're not firing strings of multiple shots in very short times, the lack of chrome lining may not be as apparent. It's the heat build up in the barrel, abrasive wear from the bullets and flame temperature from the powder that accelerates the wear.
JaPes
Member
*cough* current production Brunitron finish Beretta 90-series pistols *cough*
Kindly note the qualifier "virtually".
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