Aluminum Rimfire Barrels
Guys, having just come from the NRA meetings, I had the opportunity to check out several makers of .22 conversion kits for handguns I own. Some of them had aluminum barrels. They didn't appear to be lined, just solid aluminum. I admit I'm old school and resistant to change from a steel barrel, so my question for you guys is whether these hold up as well as steel and what is their overall durability? Most of these kits replaced the entire upper receiver which would allow different barrel lengths at reasonable cost. If they're as durable as steel, I may have to buy a couple. Thanks for any info!
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I've never seen one without a steel liner. 0 -
Doesn't seem correct, IMHO.
I use to own a AR 17, 12 gauge, shotgun with a aluminum barrel. Was kind of careful with it,but it held up.
Don't see a all aluminum .22 barrel being practical. High Velocity .22's are allot higher pressure than 12 gauge shotgun shells. Some of the crappy .22 ammo like thunderbolts foul so badly, that attempting to clean a rifled aluminum barrel of their residue would destroy the rifling.0 -
The brochure I picked up doesn't mention a liner, but it was so crowded I didn't get a chance to talk to any of the reps. The assembly I looked at was parkerized which made it hard to tell if it was lined. Maybe I'll give them a call on Monday. A couple vendors really had some cool stuff, if it will hold up. 0 -
When Red dot Scopes first came out they were HEAVY[:(] mounting one on a bull barrel High Standard makes for a very heavy pistol Armstead Engineering Made a steel lined barrel of High Quality I purchased 2 and they both shoot great small groups out of my RANSOM rest . I purchased another Lined barrel from Champions Choice after Armstead went out of business it also shot very good. . I think Brownell's carry them for pistols . I would be willing to bet No one makes a 22 ALL ALUMINUM Barrel. 0 -
I wouldn't think an unlined aluminum barrel is practical ... yet. Someone will create a way to hardcoat the barrel bore and maintain the rifling. It's just a matter of time. 0 -
There was a process for hard chroming aluminum. I don't recall the name
of it but it was proprietary.
I believe Porsche chrome lined their cylinder barrels.0 -
quote:Originally posted by v35
There was a process for hard chroming aluminum. I don't recall the name
of it but it was proprietary.
I believe Porsche chrome lined their cylinder barrels.
You are referring to the "nikasil" process - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikasil
That said, my Porsche has cast iron cylinders (long live the 356 and flat 4 aircooled engines!) and my only aluminum rimfire barrel was steel lined (TacSol for 10/22)0 -
quote:Originally posted by dcs shooters
I've never seen one without a steel liner.
This.
These typically are lined by rifled inserts of chrome-moly steel.
quote:Someone will create a way to hardcoat the barrel bore and maintain the rifling. It's just a matter of time.
The technology to do it probably already does exist, but why?
Rifled steel liner is cheap, easy to do and works really well. While you might give up a tiny bit of stiffness compared to an all steel barrel, a liner barrel is super durable, lasting effectively as long as a solid steel one.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Snigley
Guys, having just come from the NRA meetings, I had the opportunity to check out several makers of .22 conversion kits for handguns I own. Some of them had aluminum barrels. They didn't appear to be lined, just solid aluminum. I admit I'm old school and resistant to change from a steel barrel, so my question for you guys is whether these hold up as well as steel and what is their overall durability? Most of these kits replaced the entire upper receiver which would allow different barrel lengths at reasonable cost. If they're as durable as steel, I may have to buy a couple. Thanks for any info!
Was the inside of the barrel hard chromed?0 -
Is it possible to chrome plate aluminum? I never heard of it. 0 -
I just checed my Advantage Arms 1911 conversion kit and the barrel is steel (attracts a magnet) and the slide is aluminium (non ferrous as no magnetic attraction) although there is a small steel piece (that attracts a magnet) inset in the slide to allow the slide to lock open on the last shot 0
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