I once had this very discussion with Dave about this very subject... He explained it so that any engineer would understand it perfectly and then he tried to simplfy it for me... I really do wish I could remember exactly how and what he said, but I do not.

What promted his answer... was my question to him about the hardening process that his liners go through. I made note of the fact that Doc White had his breech plugs, and I am assuming the 'flash hole' hardened to some really high number on the Rockwell scale. He was very proud of the fact that his BP's could and would outlast just about any one elses BP's, even though it cost him extra dollars to have this process done.

When I mentioned all of this to Dave his comments went along the line, 'that you can harden the vent liner much harder than Doc suggested and of course you can choose to not harden any more than the metal demands'. He then explained that there are metals that are best for this application and there is and 'ideal' level of hardness to prevent premature wear and or failure of the metal for the longest period of time. When I suggested stainless is probably the best metal for the liner he disagreed and suggested another metal, of course a metal that I have never heard of, as SS would fail or gas cut quicker (I am not sure which term was his actual term) than other metals. Then he explained the hardening process had to be completed in the correct manner to be valid. It is not a simple heating process.

I really wish I could remember all of the information... but the jist of the conversation was as described above.

If I can remenber I will ask him to explain again or at the least suggest which metal might be the best for survival?

One thing I know the Savage liner is not stainless and as I look at the PR vent liner I do not believe it to be stainless either.