Author Topic: Be honest--Can you tell the difference? (Read 1050 times)

HHI #4694 · « **on:** May 06, 2003, 04:22:23 AM »

How many of you guys can honestly tell the difference between a SSK Khromed barrel and a stainless barrel by SSK? I honestly have a hard time telling myself.

When I have purchased used barrels, I just have to take the word of the fellow selling it. How about you? Can you tell the difference?

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2003, 08:20:13 AM »

Not me. And apparently not Ed of Ed's TCs. I long ago bought a 7 JDJ #2 barrel from him that was listed as SS. When we spoke he fessed up he really didn't know if it was SS or SSK Khrome. When I got it I couldn't tell either.

GB

Jay HHI6818 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 06, 2003, 10:42:19 AM »

YES. My 309JDJ,6.5JDJ,445SM barrels are stainless. The 309 & 6.5 are bead blasted and the 445 is not. The 445SM looks like the Freedon Arms stainless finish. The bead blasted ones are less shinny. My old 309JDJ barrel was SSK Krome and it appears a grayer dull finish.

Gregory · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2003, 01:00:57 PM »

My Armour Alloy barrels clean up much easier than blue barrels because of the lubricity. Leading is almost non existant. This might be a clue on SSK Krome barrels too.

MePlat · « **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2003, 07:54:25 PM »

Yes a stainless SSK barrel looks different from an SSK Khromed barrel. I have both.

Javelina · « **Reply #5 on:** May 07, 2003, 05:46:02 AM »

Unless the two types of barrels are next to each other, telling them apart can certainly be a challenge, if not impossible.

One thing that stands out in my mind is that there are sometimes minute imperfections in the SSK Krome application that look like small (really small) round indentions similar to air bubbles that have been present and then popped (like in a painted surface). You must look very carefully to see them. Over time, these small indentions or pits, if not cleaned regularly or sufficiently, will collect just enough oil/particulates/stuff in them to be darker than the surrounding finish, making them easier to see. These imperfections are the vast exception rather than the rule, you may never see any at all in the SSK Krome finishes you run into. I do happen to own one like that and I have seen one other SSK barrel with those imperfections - but they still shoot like a million bucks and the small cosmetic anomalies sure won't get me to part with my SSK barrel (you know what they say about prying it from cold, dead fingers!). :grin:

Good and safe shooting to you.

Javelina

billjoe · « **Reply #6 on:** May 07, 2003, 07:23:29 AM »

I have a barrel that has has very tiny imperfections on it and always thought them to be ver minute rust spots. I don't know if the barrel is stainless or Krome. I'm betting it's Krome based on Javelinas observations. It looks like a million bucks otherwise and shoots the same way.

Question- can either of these barrels rust?

bj

contendernut · « **Reply #7 on:** May 07, 2003, 12:09:55 PM »

bj,

Both stainless and the SSK Krome finish will rust.

Eric N. · « **Reply #8 on:** May 07, 2003, 04:19:13 PM »

How about using a magnet? I know some stainless is magnetic,but not as magnetic as iron. You should feel the the diference.

Javelina · « **Reply #9 on:** May 08, 2003, 08:20:56 AM »

My barrel that has the imperfections was bought new from SSK as a Kromed barrel and it perfectly matches the SSK Krome I had applied by SSK to a brand new blue frame I sent them at the same time I bought the new barrel.

The pits in my SSK Kromed barrel have been there since day one when I took delivery of it and they are not rust spots. They are just cosmetic imperfections in the SSK Krome process. I have always thought that this particular barrel had some minute contaminates on the barrel such as grease or some type of particulate matter that caused the bubbling or pitting (whatever you want to call it) and that the barrel might not have been sufficiently cleaned and prepared before it was dipped and Kromed. Regardless, it is an exceptionally accurate barrel and I sure won't part with it - I guess the imperfections give it some character - that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Javelina