Krieger barrel question???

M

minnesota

New member
I am having a rifle built right now. I was looking at the Krieger website and it says that you should not soot a stainless barrel below 0 degrees. Anyone know why?
 
Very interesting. I've not heard that. I do know a bunch of Alaskans that would argue that fact though. I'll get back to you on this.......
 
Sounds right to me. I've never heard such a thing, and know plenty of guys, myself included, that shoot SS in freezing cold temps........
 
All metals loose tensile strength at extremely low temperatures, but stainless looses more than chrome-moly steel.

I live in Northern Minnesota and in a community where logging is a common occupation. Loggers generally will not run their heavy equipment in the extreme cold. The strength of the steel in the booms and hydraulic cylinders often bend or fail at temperatures down in the -20*F range.
 
Yeah, makes sense with the heavy equipment. To what extent do yo think it would harm a barrel, if at all? How many shots? Have never even given it any consideration.....
 
I am certainly no expert on this subject, but was aware of the strength issues on metal. I have heard that folks hunting in extreme cold climates often select CM barrels instead of stainless. When I looked up the tensile strength of the different metals, it showed that SS had a higher tensile strength at room temperature, but fell way short of CM at extremely low temps.

I don't think it's a question of a "life span" type failure. I think the strength just drops and you may get a split or rupture. Just like the logging equipment, it just won't some of the same tasks that can be done all day long in the summer.
 
Your right on with what I've heard Dtech. 416 SS is more prone to fatigue at very low temps and 4140 is retains strength at lower temps.

If I had to guess, the first shot from an extremely cold SS barrel would be the one that does all the damage. I'd also guees that unless your leaving your rifle out all night in -30 temps and firing a shot at dawn there probably isn't much to worry about. I know I've shot my Krieger barrel at below zero temps with no burst yet. (fingers crossed) LOL
 
Has anyone seen or known firsthand of a SS barrel in the quality range of a Krieger, Lilja, etc... that actually ruptured from firing in extreme cold?
 
May I suggest that if the temps are low enough to cause stress cracks in stainless, that it is time for a guy to take up another hobby to keep him indoors where warm and fuzzy things hang out.
 
I don't think Krieger uses 416 R or RL steel. If you look closely at a Krieger and any other custom SS barrel you will see a color difference. They were making 2 different barrels using 2 different aloys a few years back, don't see it on the site lately, one was for cold weather.
 
Last edited:
Krieger told me the 410 SS, that they had been using for "cold weather sporter weight barrels" was a pain to machine and they had to scrap too many barrels and quit using it.
 
If it gets much below about 5 degrees I'm heading back inside! Just imagine the chill with about 10 mph of wind. And trying to sking a yote, gut a deer, or quarter an elk at those temps...
 
I did a late season cow elk hunt just west of Wilkerson Pass. Opening morning was -16F, but there was no wind so it wasn't too bad. The daytime temps stayed around 0F for the rest of the week...until the last day when it warmed up to 17F. But, the wind kicked up to about 15 mph, and man...that was one of the most miserable days I've spent in a long time. I was very happy when that season ended, and I wasn't too disappointed that I didn't have to skin one out in that weather.

I was using a .270 Win with blued barrel. I own a Krieger SST barreled rifle, along with a few others with custom SST barrels. From what I've been able to find, Krieger is the only manufacturer that posts this warning about sub-zero and SST.

Mike
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top