[Apec]

The main reason I prefer chrome lined is for the increased corrosion resistance, if your weapon is in ideal conditions it may not matter, but living outside with it for days-weeks at a time in real world conditions with minimal maintenance it can become a substantial benefit.

Nitride actually has superior corrosion resistance than chrome.

But going to your scenario, assuming that chrome lining offered absolute protection, it won't help much if you don't treat other critical operational parts similarly, like gas tubes, piston assemblies, springs, bolt carrier group components, etc - if a non-chrome barrel would have deteriorated from neglect to the point of lost accuracy, you can assume then the operating components will have lost reliability and will be giving you more stoppages. If you're using corrosive ammo like 7N6 in an AK74, your bore is going to corrode without cleaning regardless of its being chrome-lined.

I assure you there are many that do.

You know, that's funny. On their roller lock product lines, HK didn't chrome line any of their civilian or military barrels, with the exception of the HK21 and HK23.

Everything from the MP5 to the HK33/93 and the HK 91/G3 isn't chrome lined. Sure their more modern offerings are, but that isn't turning anyone off from buying a SP5 today or making 80s HK 9X imports less desirable.

At the end of the day, if you aren't rapid-firing at high volume, whether manually or with a DIAS/RR or a post-sample, you are unlikely to notice the benefits of a chrome-lined barrel.

All of the guns in this picture have a few things in common - they aren't chrome-lined, and their government versions with giggle switches have all been deemed fit for military/LE use.

 

[Apec]

I never incenuated it offers absolute protection, haha. The barrel is more exposed to weather than components contained inside the weapon and it is getting projectiles fired through it at 2800ft per second. I'll take any additional bore protection/durability I can get, you can do you.

There's only two points of entry into your bore - the chamber (which is protected/covered when the bolt is forward) and the muzzle, and on a 5.56 that's a pretty small point of entry, also protected by your muzzle device or suppressor if you have one.

I'm not sure how you would expose the bore to the elements/weather without purposefully submerging your weapon, keeping the bolt locked back and exposed, or finding some creative way to collect rain in the muzzle.

 

[Apec]

Chrome lining is mainly beneficial for sustained automatic/machinegun fire. I wouldn’t consider it an absolute benefit.