RIFLE BARREL STEEL

There have been many different types of steel used in rifle barrels over the years. There is much claims
by individual barrel makers that there steel that they use in there barrels is better and give more life and
accuracy than other makers. Most if not all people are greatly mislead on rifle barrels and the type of
steel that is used in there manufacture.

You may be surprised that the steel used in the past is very similar or are the same to what is used
today. Most manufactures use steel that works easily, machines good, one that gives good tool life, and
good barrel life. Most of the steels that was used 70 to 80 years will be suitable for the barrels today.

In the old days, where lead bullets were being used, almost any bar of iron was satisfactory for a barrel
for black powder and lead bullets, as long as it was easy to work.

Black powder gave a breech pressure of about 25,000 pounds per square inch, and the lead bullets
gave little wear. Wear came from the black powder and corrosive primers in the form rusting.

They did not have to worry about pressure, just corrosion. Now at the present, smokeless powder will
give pressures more than 70,000 pounds per square inch, extremely hot gases, and bullet jackets of
much harder material than lead.

Now they need steel that will machine good so a very smooth finish can be achieved in the bore to
eliminate fouling from the jacketed bullets. This requirement is easy to meet in the steels of today, and
the early 1900's.

THE REQUIREMENTS ARE

It must be free machining, stress free, and a hardness of 28 to 33 Rc.

The barrel for the old Krag Model of 1898 was made of the following,

Carbon .45% to 55%

Manganese 1.00% to 1.30%

Sulfur Not over .05%

Phosphorus not over .05%

Springfield Barrels