A 416 SS barrel question. (Warning: It maybe a dumb one.)

[Roguer]

It seems this question might be in the right area?

OK...this maybe a dumb question that may of been asked a few times before?

Is a 416 SS barrel on a 10mm wise to use in sub-zero temperatures?

Does a Melonited 416SS change it enough to use in extreme cold weather?

And am I just being worried over nothing?

I got a two LWD 416R stainless ones that should be good for cold weather. I got an alpha wolf one that is 416 but melonited is why I'm asking.

So if  I'm totally wrong on my assumptions about my consumptions of my ideas and interpretations of "informations" I readed. You may make fun of me then. 

[The_Shadow]

I don't believe you'll have any issues with any of those barrels in the extreme weather, however some oils & powders react differently in cold temps.
There is some interesting reading in this link I'm adding here: The moderator RifleDude works with various barrel making metals.
http://www.opticstalk.com/stainless-rifle-barrels_topic23505.html

[sqlbullet]

Not a dumb question at all given this:

Stainless Steel has a higher ductile to brittle transition temperature, meaning that if you shoot a stainless steel barrel in very cold temperatures it needs to have a heavier contour to account for this effect. (https://kriegerbarrels.com/caliber#mincontour)

Of course, the question becomes a definition of "very cold temperatures".  It is not the greatest definition of cold from an engineering perspective.

A paper I found on Dartmouth's server Effect of Extreme Arctic Cold on Materials by Palmer W. Roberts gives some insight.  For credentials, Mr. Roberts was a commander in the US Navy in charge of construction, Naval Petroleum Reserve #4, Alaska. He knows a thing or two about cold given the location of this site in the Alaskan North Slope where temps average -20° F in January and temps below -55° F have been recorded.

In that paper we get two hard temperature points in relation to steel.  -40° F for carbon and low-alloy steels and -0° F for nonhardenable stainless steels.  This gives us a hint that at least to 0° F we should be fine.  However, you question is specifically about sub-zero temps, so I kept looking.

The final point of reference would be the Crucible 416R datasheet available here:  http://www.crucible.com/PDFs/DataSheets2010/ds416Rv12010.pdf

This sheet specifically calls out -40° (F/C since this is where they intersect) as the minimum temperature for safe use.

I would be comfortable then using a 416R barrel from any of the well known makers down to -40°.

[The_Shadow]

One thing that does come to mind while out in the sub zero temps is oils can become solids and any moisture getting inside a barrel is likely to be frozen and add to possible restriction/obstruction thus raising pressure values inside.

Years ago they had a cold temp warning for Blue Dot powder below -20 but never found where it was actually proven...But they also Alliant had warnings for Blue Dot with 357Mag for certain bullet weights and 41 Mag for all.

[Roguer]

Dumb Me.

I should of posted this with the original poster post I posted when I posted.  I get an E-mail from LWD about my barrels.

The LWD barrels are created using 416R stainless steel, the Alpha Wolf barrels are created with 416 stainless steel, but then treated with the salt-bath nitride process. If you are worried about extreme low temperatures, then I would say just to be safe, use the LWD barrels.
I hope this answers your question, and thank you,

Some people may find that info useful. That's how I know my LWD barrels are 416R.

Would the Nitrating of a 416 SS barrel change it enough to be good for -40 degrees as well?

-40 degrees is what we get around here in winter is the whole reason I'm asking about said OP Post.

Thanks for confirming the 416Rs are good to go Barrel wise for use around my area. Its good to know that. Thanks!

[sqlbullet]

One final thing I would comment...

Even in outside temps that are below -40°, it is not super likely the barrel itself is below that temp.  We tend to keep handguns on our person, in cases, etc.  Carrying the gun in a holster under even a light out cover would probably keep the barrel above -40 even in places like Barrow Alaska.

I can easily see a rifle barrel being cold soaked and getting below that temp.  But in most use cases a handgun barrel will not get that cold unless it is carried off body and allowed to cold soak.

[sep]

I don't know the technical or metalurgical answer to your question but I live in interior Alaska, about 20 miles from Fairbanks.  It is as I type this -35F.  I have hunted in temps as cold as -47F but with shotguns not rifles or pistols. Those shotguns that actually functioned seemed unaffected by the cold.

I have lived here on and off since 1985 and in all my time up here, I have not met or heard of anyone who has had problems with their firearms in extreme temps like those you are asking about. Guns will freeze up for certain, so I use oils that are supposed to be good to -60F or colder but I'm not gonna test em.  Mind you, most folks won't venture out or hunt in those temps and going to the range to shoot in well below zero temps is nobody's idea of fun either.