Chrome lined bores

[Walter Jones]

Does anyone know if chrome lined bores are safe such as those that have been used in investarms firearms? I have heard there may be problems with them.

 

[necchi]

I shot one for years,
A Cabelas/Investarms .54 Sportsterized Hawken.
No Problem, I didn't see any real advantage or disadvantage. It did like a tight dryish lubed patch and was a tack driver.
I retired that barrel and still have the rifle but put a GM IBS slow twist barrel on it.

 

[galamb]

Problems?

They are fine - HC, no, but certainly safe to shoot.

 

[Walter Jones]

I read that the chrome lined bores in the some of the Investarms firearms have separated from the base steel which caused fracturing of the chrome so I was hoping to hear from anyone that has experience with them. It was a good while back and I can't remember where I read about it. It was on the net and of course everything written on the net is true right? LOL

Thanks for the answers so far.

Walter

 

[Zonie]

If the chrome plating process was not done correctly there is a potential problem called Hydrogen Imbrittlement.
If the maker baked the barrels shortly after plating them, this problem would not happen.

As I have never heard of a crack or failure of a chrome plated barrel I must assume Hydrogen Imbrittlement is not a problem.

As for the plating chipping off, that is always a possibility but in real life it rarely happens.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

The only problem that I heard of was poorly cleaned chrome lined barrels, the corrosion causing some really sharp areas as the chrome started to come away from the barrel, so would shred patches. Properly cleaned and protected from rust...no worries.

LD

 

[Vaino]

As a toolmaker, saw many items "flash chrome plated" for various reasons.... mainly to ward off rust and to reduce friction on sliding surfaces to name a couple. The thickness of "flash chrome plating" is measured in a couple of .0001s and doesn't chip or fall off. Very durable and that's the reason some bores are "flash chrome plated".......Fred

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I have an arts aka with a chrome lined bore. However the liner is about 1/16th inch thick. Hardly a plated bore. My smooth bore investarms barrel says "chromium lined" It does not appear plated but more a dull silver color like stainless steel