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In rifles like the AR-15, the advantages of chrome lining far outweigh the disadvantages.
The advantages:
The bore is much easier to clean since carbon and copper fouling can't stick to the "slick" plating like it does in a plain barrel.
The bore is much more resistant to corrosion and pitting, and the barrel can survive not being cleaned as often or as well.
Extraction and feeding reliability is enhanced.
The barrel is much less affected by erosion, so the barrel lasts longer.
Disadvantages:
Cost. The plated barrels cost less. However, figure the price versus the years of use and the number of rounds fired, and the cost isn't a real factor.
Accuracy. A plated barrel is "usually" a little more accurate, but this is only a factor on a target rifle where you're trying to squeeze out the last tiny bit of accuracy.
On a standard AR-15 the average owner will see no difference between a plated and non-plated bore.
Bottom line is, on a standard AR it's kind of silly not to get the plated barrel. The long term benefits far outweigh the short term few dollars saved.
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