J. D. …I’ve heard similar stories about 12L14, but again have not seen a catastrophic failure of one. As I stated earlier, I’ve made a few BP ctg barrels out of 12L, but haven’t in a few years mostly because the steel has a few issues that I really don’t like:

First… it rusts easier than any steel that I’ve come across, heck look at it sideways and it begins to rust, not a good property for BP barrels.

Second is that it machines like butter, so what does mean for barrel wear, will the lands wear quicker than on a BBL made out of 4140…my guess is yes.

12L14 is not a cheap steel, a 1 ¼ bored & rifled barrel blank costs me about the same whether it’s 4140 or 12L14.


Mike

Mike Hunter
www.mikehunterrestorations.com