Stainless barrel; yay or nay?

[TacticalSpeed]

I don't have anything with a stainless barrel so I want to do one of my next AR builds (Either 16" barrel rifle or 7.5"/8" pistol barrel).

Pros & cons to a stainless barrel? Should I lean to using the stainless barrel on 1 build more than the other?

Both will likely just be a range toy.

[17K]

Their advantage is accuracy. Unless you’re doing a build for accuracy/precision, no point. A chrome lined barrel will hold up better.

[gaijin]

^^^
I run SS on a couple “precision” ARs, where strings of fire are sedate.
Mag dumps and sustained fire are Chrome or Nitride.

[MistWolf]

I deliberately abused a SS barrel, getting it so hot it turned brown. I find no reason to not use a SS barrel, if you want one.

[Dutch110]

Lots of discussion out on the interwebs over this one. I did a deep dive awhile back. Ultimately what I determined is it just doesn't matter unless you are talking about sustained full auto. Then a chrome lined barrel will hold up better. Fore the rest of us, get whatever you like.

[TacticalSpeed]

Lots of discussion out on the interwebs over this one. I did a deep dive awhile back. Ultimately what I determined is it just doesn't matter unless you are talking about sustained full auto. Then a chrome lined barrel will hold up better. Fore the rest of us, get whatever you like.

Excellent

[Pappabear]

I feel the lines have closed in on each technology. CL barrels shoot increasingly better, and SS barrels hold up better than most anticipate. So few people actually shoot out their barrels vs the volume of barrels bought ( take out the military) so if you want to pinch every bit of accuracy, I have no issue on trying a SS barrel.

Even though many CL barrels will shoot just as well as SS. Again buy what tickles your fancy.

PB

[GH41]

Their advantage is accuracy. Unless you’re doing a build for accuracy/precision, no point. A chrome lined barrel will hold up better.

One steel or the other doesn't make a more accurate barrel. Have you heard of Bartlein Barrels? Quoted from his FAQs page >>
Which steel is better?
"For the most part neither from what we see. If we had to pick one we would lean towards the C.M. possibly lasting longer but how long a barrel last is subject to all the variables involved. Such as the type of powder being used, how it is being shot and cleaned and the types of bullets being shot through it etc"

[bp7178]

It matters more the other features of the barrel and the manufacturing that went into it.

[17K]

One steel or the other doesn't make a more accurate barrel. Have you heard of Bartlein Barrels? Quoted from his FAQs page >>
Which steel is better?
"For the most part neither from what we see. If we had to pick one we would lean towards the C.M. possibly lasting longer but how long a barrel last is subject to all the variables involved. Such as the type of powder being used, how it is being shot and cleaned and the types of bullets being shot through it etc"

Right. It’s not more accurate because it’s stainless, it’s because it’s not chrome lined.