Quote:
Originally Posted by Traps
Nickel's purpose in steel is to increase tensile strength and provides uniformity which is desired to handle higher pressures and prevent fatigue failure. Chromium increases hardness which is desired in creating hard rifling.
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Nickel is a non-factor in barrels as they almost always made from a chromium based stainless with no nickle content. Usually a 410/420 grade is used which can be hardened vs the austenitic grades (304/316 18-8, etc.) which can't be hardened with heat-treatment.