A popular example and perennial favorite in the u s.
4140 chrome moly steel barrel.
Chrome moly this name is used to describe a broad family of steels the most common in use for the ar are 4140 and 4150.
Multiple steel types are used in the manufacture of the nbsp ar 15 barrel.
So which steel is the best ar 15 barrel material then.
Suitable barrel alloys include types having varying amounts of chromium molybdenum vanadium nickel and manganese as alloying metals.
First let s have a discussion about the chemical elements of each material and how their properties effect barrel life accuracy and cost.
Some other manufacturers prefer to chrome line the inside of their ar barrels and some do not.
The 41xx indicates the aisi sae numbering for chromium.
4150 holds up better to serious abuse and it s found primarily in mil spec ar 15 barrels.
The highest grade of each series of steels carbon and stainless respectively.
Steel is alloyed with other metals like nickel and chrome as well as other non metals such as carbon sulfur and silicon.
Is called sae 4140 chrome molybdenum or chrome moly steel.
This is an alloy selected to produce hammer forged barrels.
41v45 a chrome moly variant it has a dash of vanadium in it.
4150 the same as ordnance steel but with the carbon content upped to 0 5 percent.
Aisi 4140 chrome molybdenum steel can be oil hardened to a relatively high level of hardness.
In europe vanadium and nickel steel alloys are preferred.
About 99 of barrels are made up of one a few different types of steel alloy of these the choice is pretty much between chrome moly steel and stainless steel.
Faxon is often asked which barrel material we d recommend for a given application.
Chrome moly or stainless steel.
Typically the answer to the question all depends on what you as the shooter are going for in your intended build and its application faxon only uses 4150 or 416 r steels in its barrels.