OK. Been searching for material properties of steel suitable for rifle barrels, particularly my .50 cal. So far only found two which are capable of even withstanding stresses of my .50 cal at 25,000 psi. One of them, the strongest, is a chrome-moly alloy (4140)which has a yield strength of 195,000 psiif oil quenched. Tensile strength is 230,000 psi.

The other, a precipitation hardened Stainless steel(Inconel), was strong enough with withstand breaking, but not strong enough to operate within the elastic properties of the alloy. I do wonder whether my ML could withstand 25,000 psi for any substantial lentgh of time. I mean, maybe a partial milisecond of this pressure isn't sufficient to burst it but maybe prolonged exposure at the same pressure would.

I have yet to find a Stainless alloy with greater that 168,000 psi yield strength. Yield strength is the stress at which the material begins to deform plasticly. Tensile strength is the stress required to rupture the material.

Any comments or suggestions for other alloys?

Happy Hunting, Phil