I currently have 3 AR's and am contemplating another build. One of mine has a chrome lined phosphate finished barrel, and the other two have stainless barrels. I am considering a non chrome-lined barrel with nitride finish.

Tell me about nitride. How durable is it, and how does it stack up against phosphate and stainless barrels? If not chrome lined, does the rifle bore also get the nitride treatment?

Any comments, experiences, or suggestions are welcome.

I have a couple black rifles with the nitride treatment. Both clean up easily. One is a SW Sport with 3k rounds or so thru it. The other is a heavy varmint barrel with a few hundred thru it. The sport is as accurate today as when new. I know 3k is not a huge amount of ammo but so far so good.

Here is a thread from another forum that you might find helpful.

http://forum.accurateshooter.c...ound-update.3795644/

I’m convinced that a nitrided barrel is fine for the majority of AR owners. I used to think I need CHF double chrome lined barrels. I just don’t see the upside for most people.

As far as cleaning, running a snake (bore cleaner and oil) through a nitrided barrel after extended shooting will get it squeaky clean.

I don’t know enough about chamber/throat erosion on chrome vs nitrided to comment on that aspect.

quote:

Originally posted by Bigboreshooter:
How durable is it

Nitride is very durable. Think Glock.

quote:

Originally posted by Bigboreshooter:and how does it stack up against phosphate and stainless barrels?

Stainless is durable but suffers throat erosion much faster than a nitride barrel would. A phosphate barrel would usually have a chrome lining. Which is durable. On paper, the nitride barrel should be as accurate as a stainless barrel, and more accurate than a chrome lined barrel. Some say nitride is just as durable as chrome, others say chrome is more durable...

quote:

Originally posted by Bigboreshooter:If not chrome lined, does the rifle bore also get the nitride treatment?

Yes they nitride the entire barrel, so the inside and outside is treated.

Nitride barrels are very good in my experience.

From what I have been able to gather:

Nitride:

Exceptional corrosion resistance

more durable than stainless or phosphate, but not quite on par with chrome lined.

Does not dimensionally affect the bore like chrome, more accurate in theory



I have owned all of the above, and still own all of them except for the chromed barrel which I sold.

Going forward right now my plan is for nitride barrel on everything.

quote:

oing forward right now my plan is for nitride barrel on everything.

This for me. Good nitrite barrel from Faxon. You can't go wrong for 99% of shooters. If you are throwing match grade Dollar Bills down range. Making close groups at far away.

Step up to something else. One of the custom barrel makers.