The work aims to obtain a reasonable shot blasting time and improve the service life of 316L stainless steel by studying dry friction and wear properties of 316L stainless steel subject to surface nanocrystallization. Normal shot peening method was used to apply surface nanocrystallization treatment to 316L stainless steel. The surface Rockwell hardness for nanocrystallized and un-nanocrystallized samples was measured by Rockwell hardness meter. Three-dimensional morphology of nanocrystallized and un-nanocrystallized samples was observed by laser confocal microscope. The surface roughness was also measured. The cross-sectional metallographic structure of samples after nanocrystallization was observed by scanning electron microscope. Friction coefficient of the material was measured by taking advantage of friction and wear experiment with a surface performance general-purpose tester under dry friction conditions. The grinding surface morphology was observed by scanning electron microscope and wear mechanism of the material was discussed as well. Compared with un-nanocrystallized samples, after shot blasting for 15 min, surface hardness of nanocrystallized samples increased by 9.7%, surface roughness reduced by 17.6% and dry friction coefficient reduced by 17.3%. After shot peening for 30 min, the surface hardness increased by 34.1%, surface roughness reduced by 35.1% and dry friction coefficient reduced by 28.8%. Un-nanocrystallized samples mainly showed fatigue wear and abrasive wear mechanism. In conclusion, the sample surface hardness after surface nanocrystallization increases with the increase of treatment time while both roughness and dry friction coefficient decrease with the increase of treatment time. The wear mechanism in a short shot peening is mainly fatigue wear, and that in a long shot peening is mainly abrasive wear.