Stainless Steel Barrel Longevity

[El Chivo]

Is it worth getting a stainless steel barrel for a rifle in a "barrel burning" caliber?

Do they last longer? I'm not talking about weather-resistance or rust. But do they outlast regular barrels in high velocity calibers like .243 ?

[flatnose]

Contrary to genral impressions Stainless steel that is used in the
firearms is not more difficult but is much more machineable than
chromoly. The s/s used in barrel steel is stainless screw stock 416R made
to run on auto screw machines at high speed. The steel used in s/s
actions is 1704, a tougher steel that take more tool pressure but
machines nicely. Stainless doesn't have the tensile strength that a
chromoly like 4340 does. Due to the softness of barrel s/s which is 27
to 29 Rockwell C it will not last as long as 4140 and while it is
believed to withstand heat erosion better I have not found that to be
true. As a summery due the better machine ability, s/s barrels can be
made with closer dimensions and surface finishes. It will produce more
accurate barrels. The sole benefit of fluted barrels is that to some
people it looks neat. If you are lucky a fluted barrel will shoot as
well as or nearly as well as an unfluted barrel. And the gunsmith needs
the money.
Gale McMillan

[bdhold]

stainless also has greater thermal expansion than low alloy steel, so it grows more when it gets hot. Barrel temperature is a more important factor in accuracy.

[Chuck 100 yd]

If you spend some time looking at the barrel makers web sites like Kreiger,Lilja,Hart or Shilen, you wont find many offered to the Benchrest shooters in carbon steel.
Those guys run thousands of rounds of high pressure/velocity rounds each year and demand the best.
There must be a reason other than rusting because those boys clean them more often than anyone else.
I have yet to wear out a rifle barrel so I cant say that either will wear any longer than the other.