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Thread: Current LaRue Barrel Steel

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    Current LaRue Barrel Steel

    LaRue is being really tight-lipped about the steel used for the current Stealth barrels. Anyone know what they're using, or at least how it compares to the 416 and 410 stainless offerings from other sources?

    I'm sure they're good barrels, but for my own info, I would like to know what I'm buying & how it compares to the other options.
    Mike

    I teach for Defensive Response Training in Colorado. We're an OPS affiliate & also host SouthNarc & Progressive Force Concepts.

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    Rearden Steel.


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    Quote Originally Posted by ColtSeavers View Post
    Rearden Steel.
    From Atlas Shrugged?
    "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
    — Robert Heinlein

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    Quote Originally Posted by YammyMonkey View Post
    LaRue is being really tight-lipped about the steel used for the current Stealth barrels. Anyone know what they're using, or at least how it compares to the 416 and 410 stainless offerings from other sources?

    I'm sure they're good barrels, but for my own info, I would like to know what I'm buying & how it compares to the other options.
    It used to be LW50, a low-sulphur steel with an RC hardness of 21-24, which had longer throat-life than 416 and 410 typically has due to less impurities burning out and causing erosion.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mars attacks... View Post
    From Atlas Shrugged?
    I believe that is the reference they are going for, yes.

    However, WS6 is a much better man than I, as he immediately gave the answer and I decided to take the low road first.

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    Quote Originally Posted by WS6 View Post
    It used to be LW50, a low-sulphur steel with an RC hardness of 21-24, which had longer throat-life than 416 and 410 typically has due to less impurities burning out and causing erosion.
    Interesting. That soft, really? I know barrel steels aren't used at very high hardnesses (due to brittleness and wanting a failure to be plastic deformation rather than shattering) but I thought that most quality barrel steels were in the RC 25-30 range, with a few into the low 30's. It may sound like I'm splitting hairs but 21-24 is significantly softer than, say, 28 or 30.
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    Quote Originally Posted by SomeOtherGuy View Post
    Interesting. That soft, really? I know barrel steels aren't used at very high hardnesses (due to brittleness and wanting a failure to be plastic deformation rather than shattering) but I thought that most quality barrel steels were in the RC 25-30 range, with a few into the low 30's. It may sound like I'm splitting hairs but 21-24 is significantly softer than, say, 28 or 30.
    Read up on LW50 barrels a bit. That data came straight from LW, and was confirmed by a friend of mine who owns an LW barrel and tested the hardness on it because it was curious to him, as well. However, LW50 may be work-hardened, in which case the carbide button being pressed down the bore could result in a harder actual bore surface. I forget/am not sure on that front.

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    The LW stainless steel barrel I had lasted longer than any other button rifled 5.56 barrel I've owned.

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    I found they were previously made of LW50, and I heard about the Reardon Steel marking, but neither of those two tell us anything about what Reardon Steel actually is.

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    Quote Originally Posted by YammyMonkey View Post
    I found they were previously made of LW50, and I heard about the Reardon Steel marking, but neither of those two tell us anything about what Reardon Steel actually is.
    Yup, pretty lame IMO that hey aren't very up front about what it is made out of, be it proprietary or not.

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