Superalloy barrels

[Tspeis]

Some time ago, I heard about nickel based superalloys with cobalt based linings being used to make machine gun barrels and tested for some military applications. Today I happened to stumble across this:

http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2016armamen..._Armstrong.pdf

I'm sure it would be overkill for a semi auto AR, but I wonder how likely it would be that these would end up on commercially available rifles down the road. While we're on the subject of superalloys, I also came across a patent from 2012 for John Noveske. It was for an extreme duty machine gun barrel made of H13 tool steel. Pretty tough stuff. This is the same alloy Wilson Combat manufactures their TTU triggers from.

http://www.google.com/patents/US8333029

Thoughts?


Tspeis

[lysander]

Planning on shooting 350 rpm - sustained?

If not, nitriding is adequate and chrome plating is over-kill....

[TMS951]

There is an interview out there on the web with John Noveske. These barrels are touched on.

He basically said they were not finically viable. The alloy destroyed tooling. Each barrel had to be sold in the 1000-1500$ range. However they did not last long enough to justify over buying 2-3 of his normal stainless barrels so they never went into full production.

[MegademiC]

What about gas tubes? Those seem to rupture before the barrel during sustained full auto, right? I wonder how that would hold up paired with a Stellite lined barrel and what the cost would be.

[TMS951]

What about gas tubes? Those seem to rupture before the barrel during sustained full auto, right? I wonder how that would hold up paired with a Stellite lined barrel and what the cost would be.

Vseven makes an Inconel one for ~60$

http://www.vsevenweaponsystems.com/c...nment-gas-tube

[fallenromeo]

Vseven makes an Inconel one for ~60$

http://www.vsevenweaponsystems.com/c...nment-gas-tube

interesting. But I fail to understand, why? Anyone can correct me if I am wrong, because I am far from the expert most in here are, but my understanding is the gas tube is meant to be a sacrificial part. It is designed to blow before the barrel does, and is cheap enough to replace without destroying your entire barrel. Using a part like this that is designed to stand up longer to a rigorous firing schedule means it won't blow, and thus there is a greater chance of your barrel going before this does. Isn't that counter to what it was originally designed for?

[WS6]

interesting. But I fail to understand, why? Anyone can correct me if I am wrong, because I am far from the expert most in here are, but my understanding is the gas tube is meant to be a sacrificial part. It is designed to blow before the barrel does, and is cheap enough to replace without destroying your entire barrel. Using a part like this that is designed to stand up longer to a rigorous firing schedule means it won't blow, and thus there is a greater chance of your barrel going before this does. Isn't that counter to what it was originally designed for?

It is meant as a "cool" part, and also meant on the serious side for "Hey, I may trash this barrel during the Battle of Wanat, but I can still launch fast things from the flashing end, and that might just keep me alive rather than dead with a still okay barrel".

[Tspeis]

Planning on shooting 350 rpm - sustained?

If not, nitriding is adequate and chrome plating is over-kill....

Negative, but just because my intended application doesn't include sustained full auto fire doesn't mean an alloy more resistant to heat and throat erosion over what's currently available isn't desirable. Some of the larger magnum calibers burn through barrels pretty quick and they're not even gas guns. I understand the price of ammo it would require to burn through a barrel could easily pay for another barrel, but if something better came along at the same price point as current barrels, I'd see no downside to trying it.

There is an interview out there on the web with John Noveske. These barrels are touched on.

He basically said they were not finically viable. The alloy destroyed tooling. Each barrel had to be sold in the 1000-1500$ range. However they did not last long enough to justify over buying 2-3 of his normal stainless barrels so they never went into full production.

I don't think any H13 barrels were ever sold. Are you sure the interview was about the H13 tool steel barrels and not the 17-4 PH stainless ones? I recall this about the 17-4 PH extreme duty barrels he was doing a while back, but I don't remember seeing anything about the tool steel though. Not saying it isn't out there, I just haven't seen it.


Tspeis

[VIP3R 237]

17-4PH is an amazing material. I know John Noveske made a 17-4PH barrel for a M249, however I never heard if any other barrels were made from 17-4PH.

[nova3930]

Nickel alloys with cobalt alloy liners? sounds like big $$$ to me. Probably could buy at least 2 CHF barrels and quite a few more regular barrels for the increased cost at a SWAG. If you get more than double the life of a CHF barrel then it might be worth it but that seems like a stretch....