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Thread: Is 4140 barrel steel all that bad?

  1. #11
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    Well I've been shooting about 100-150 rnds a week, think I should get a chf barrel? I would think this barrel would still last and be effective for thousands of rounds?

  2. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by jet80tv View Post
    Well I've been shooting about 100-150 rnds a week, think I should get a chf barrel? I would think this barrel would still last and be effective for thousands of rounds?
    You already have the barrel. I wouldn't worry about it until you manage to shoot it out. It should last you a while.

  3. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by jet80tv View Post
    Well I've been shooting about 100-150 rnds a week, think I should get a chf barrel? I would think this barrel would still last and be effective for thousands of rounds?
    It will.....dont overthink this stuff. Shoot the gun to the barrel is shot out, then worry about replacing it with something better.

  4. #14
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    If you think about it keep a range log for that AR and when the day comes that groups start to open up by alot add up the rounds fired and let us all know. Then replace your shot out tube with a CHF from a good company and start over. I really am wondering how many rounds it will take.

    I was worried that the barrle on my .204 AR would be toast in no time so I kept track for a couple years. When I hit 1K rounds I stoped counting every round, I am closing in on 2K and still shoots sub 1/2 moa.

    You have many years of shooting infront of you befor you wreck the tube you have now. Enjoy and shoot the hell out of that thing.

  5. #15
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    Thanks I plan on it and as they say it'll be good enough for government work! but you know sometimes I get caught up in what's requisite for the the military should be for me as well but im not a soldier, tho I think my rig will suffice should I have to defend my life and also provide enjoyment as it has thus far, at least my bolt is a spikes hpt/mpi fail zero coated! hell it cost as much as my barrel

  6. #16
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    I think it would be interesting to assign a monetary value between 4140 and 4150 barrels.

    Including the fact that you will most probably have to open up the chamber to proper dimensions, as 4140 barrels have a higher probability of being out of spec.

    I would also suggest that most 4140 barreled carbines have a higher tendency to use other substandard parts and also are more likely to be assembled incorrectly.

    I imagine the figure would be a couple hundred bucks, not counting time value and frustration if you get a carbine that doesn't work. Of course, this is all based on probabilities and such, so if you have a 4140 barreled carbine that works fine, just shoot it and have fun.

  7. #17
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    While I think a lot of accurate statements have been made about what is common from the AR assemblers and barrel makers that use 4140 for AR15 barrels, I think it's also useful to answer the OP's literal question: is 4140 steel "all that bad?"

    And the answer is simple: no. It's not at all bad. It's not quite as good as the mil-spec steels that meet the TDP for the M4 and most other modern US military small arms, but it's certainly a very good, very strong steel, and it's used in a huge number of firearm barrels for all kinds of (mostly civilian) firearms. It works just fine. It's just not quite as good as the mil-spec steels in wear resistance and high temperature properties.

    If you own any rifled firearms (rifle or pistol) with a non-stainless barrel made since the 1960's, other than an AR15 type (or a genuine M249, genuine M60, etc.), chances are virtually certain you have a 4140 steel barrel. Seems OK doesn't it?

  8. #18
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    Makes sense as I have thousands of rounds through my 10/22 and it's still going. I guess I would have to say overall my barrel is gtg it has relatively thick chrome lining and the diamond flutes should help with heat dissipation. It groups well, Im not really disappointed in performance or function, was just wondering about the 4140 composition in comparison to 4150 as many seem to believe it(4140) supremely inferior from what I've seen

  9. #19
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    The more you shoot, the more things like barrel steel will matter.
    Kein Mitleid Für Die Mehrheit
    What Happened to the American dream? It came true. You're looking at it.

  10. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Palmguy View Post
    Noah,

    For reference, 4150CMV compliant with MIL-B-11595E differs slightly from garden variety 4150, see page 3 in the PDF linked here: http://www.everyspec.com/MIL-SPECS/M...-11595E_14406/

    Palmguy:

    Thank you for the clarification, but my intent was to provide general info on generic 4140 vs 4150. 4150 CMV is (to the layman) in the "tool steel" family. There are many variations on the 4150 theme, for example:

    4150 CT
    4150 CT QTSR
    4150 R
    4150 RS
    4150 CTR (aka RSCT)
    4150 CMV
    4150 H

    IMO, perhaps 4150 CMV would be of interest for a barrel if one owned a select-fire lower, or was shooting 500+ rounds a week, each week, for years. Fact is, the price of non-target-grade MIL-spec AR/M16/M4 barrels is relatively low, and IMO it would make sense for jet80tv to shoot his barrel until accuracy noticeably degrades, THEN buy a 4150 CMV barrel.

    Quote Originally Posted by jet80tv View Post
    . . . sometimes I get caught up in what's requisite for the the military should be for me as well but im not a soldier, tho I think my rig will suffice should I have to defend my life and also provide enjoyment as it has thus far . . .
    Jet, I hear ya. Lots of people get wrapped up in "Mil-spec" numbers. To me, it's like owning a car with conventional "T" rated tires good to 105 MPH, then discovering that "V" rated tires good to 120 MPH exist and being concerned that "V" rated tires are "better." The question is, how often does one drive above even 75 MPH, and for how long? Wear out the "T" rated tires, THEN buy the "V" rated tires if the benefit is judged to outweigh the cost.

    Noah
    Last edited by Noah Zark; 07-11-11 at 06:47.

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