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I'm not familiar with why, but even today many of the muzzle loader/black powder only barrels are made from a different steel than barrels intended for cartridge fired firearms. 1137 fro the BP only/ML barrels and then the standard 4140 CM and 416 SS for the rest.

Again, I'm not sure why, just something I've noticed...

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Unfortunately many ML barrels by "custom" makers are made of cold rolled free machining leaded screw stock.
Hot rolled 1137 is "OK" but the CM steels are much better.
416 is turning out to be a poor choice too with a number of barrels failing for no apparent reason. It is a free machining alloy and this means its brittle so the chips break easily when its cut.

Note the warning at the bottom of Krieger's "caliber and pricing" page.
http://www.kriegerbarrels.com/Calibers__Prices-c1246-wp3390.htm


From LaSalle Steel and published in the Black Powder Report back in the late 70s IIRC I cropped it too close when I scanned it and did not include the date.




Dan