Chrome lining question

[Slater]

Below is one of PSA's current advertisements (20 inch rifle) with an FN barrel. This states:

"In addition, the chrome process for the bore allows for a lining almost twice as thick as a standard M16 for enhanced durability."

Is this accurate for FN or just more hyperbole from PSA?


https://palmettostatearmory.com/20-chf-a2-premium-rifle-kit.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=daily_deals&utm_campaign=20220726&utm_term=afternoon&utm_content=8818

[markm]

Well PSA was getting those FN made barrels with double chrome lining a while back... So it's very plausible.

[Evil Black Rifle]

I have a PSA upper with a mid-length FN double chrome barrel. Shoots like a laser.

No reason to think that FN is lying about the chrome.

[SteyrAUG]

Wouldn't the real question be "Is PSA better or worse than a FN rifle?"

[Slater]

Not all that familiar with FN's barrels. Is the double chrome lining standard for all FN barrels or was this a special run for PSA?

[titsonritz]

Wouldn't the real question be "Is PSA better or worse than a FN rifle?"

Nah, I think the real question is "Can one get that barrel without all the other shit at a PSA discount price?"

[DG23]

Not all that familiar with FN's barrels. Is the double chrome lining standard for all FN barrels or was this a special run for PSA?

For that barrel everything seems right. 'Machine gun steel / double chrome lined'

I got one of those uppers back in the day for cheap. The barrel is obviously good to go - The other PSA crap they used 'not so much'.

[Slater]

Nah, I think the real question is "Can one get that barrel without all the other shit at a PSA discount price?"

You can get kind of a basic upper, but I'm not sure if that's a decent price or not:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-20-chf-1-7-a2-rifle-length-556-prem-ar15-upper-assembly-no-bcg-ch.html

[titsonritz]

You can get kind of a basic upper, but I'm not sure if that's a decent price or not:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-20-chf-1-7-a2-rifle-length-556-prem-ar15-upper-assembly-no-bcg-ch.html

Barrel and FSB only or no thanks.

[lysander]

Standard M16/M4 barrels have a specified chromium plating thickness of 0.0004" minimum. (No maximum given, but historically M16A1s had an upper limit of 0.0015")

The FN machine guns, M240 and M249, have specified barrel bore chromium plating thickness of: the M249 = 0.0003" to .0009"; the M240 = 0.0006" to 0.0010".

IF they were plating to twice the thickness of standard M16/M4 barrel that would be a plate thickness of 0.0008" to 0.0030". I will believe that you can plate up to 0.0015". maybe 0.0020" and still meet the uniformity requirements, but not much more than that.

I say they are quoting their MAXIMUM thickness to the standard MINIMUM thickness, when really they are all about the same, somewhere around 1/2 thousandth of an inch thick.

(or, show me a cross sectioned barrel with 0.0030" thick plating.)

[ODgreenpizza]

FN produces their own chf ar barrels in house.
Check out the description of the chf FN barrels on the FN site and compare it to the descriptions of chf barrels from Centurion, Noveske, Rainier Mountain Series, PSA, Spike's.
It's possible the upper in the OP was assembled by FN as they have an identical upper on their site.
FN also has non chf barrels available, idk if they produce those themselves

[AndyLate]

Machine gun steel and double thick chrome lining are pretty universal in descriptions for CHF FN barrels. It may be hype, but its not PSA's hype.

Andy

[georgeib]

Barrel and FSB only or no thanks.

Here you go:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-chf-mid-length-a2-5-56-nato-1-7-barrel-assembly.html

[markm]

The other problem with PSA barrels by FN is/was that the carbine barrels came with PSA spec'd gas ports. I remember the 10.5s, I think, at one point coming with the huge ports. Rifle, however, should be standard port size.

[AndyLate]

Here you go:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-chf-mid-length-a2-5-56-nato-1-7-barrel-assembly.html

Thats a 16" - the 20" barrels are always out of stock: https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-20-hf-cl-mp-barrel.html

Andy

[georgeib]

Thats a 16" - the 20" barrels are always out of stock: https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-20-hf-cl-mp-barrel.html

Andy

My mistake. I had made the assumption that we were talking about 16s.

[AndyLate]

My mistake. I had made the assumption that we were talking about 16s.

We may well be, but the OP referenced a 20 incher.

[Amicus]

I have had fairly bad results from the "double thick" chrome lined barrels. I have a Noveske 14.5" that averages at about 3 MOA. I have a 18" FN that shot 1.9 MOA on my first group, and not less than 5 MOA on all subsequent groups, regardless of ammo. It sits on my shelf.