Blued vs. Stainless
#1
Blued vs. Stainless
Which do you prefer? Is stainless really that much better than blued? To get exactly the gun I want I have to either go blued or have stainless custom made - something I can't afford. I can get what I want in blued somewhat reasonably. But it has to last the rest of my lifetime and I would like it to last well into my kids. I worry a lot about blued and powder residue.
What do you think?
What do you think?
#2
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
Posts: 10,918
Stainless is nice. I have one stainless (the X7) and a whole bunch of blued. Blued guns have been around for a mighty long time and hold up just fine with reasonable care.
Personally, if the prices are close I would probably go with stainless. But I sure wouldn't pay a high premium just to get stainless.
Personally, if the prices are close I would probably go with stainless. But I sure wouldn't pay a high premium just to get stainless.
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Anne Arrundle County, Maryland
Posts: 1,672
Blued. It will last as long as you take care of it. I've had my Hawkins for over 20 years and there's not a speck of rust on it, inside or outside. And I worry about light reflection off of stainless when hunting.
#6
Spike
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 15
I own both and have not seen rust or corrosion on either. If I find find the right gun for the right price, doesn't matter if it is blued or stainless, I am buying it. The biggest advantage to stainless is it is easier to see when it is not clean. That said, it still needs to be cleaned and while might take longer to corrode, it will still corrode. Look close while cleaning, take care of your gun and it does not matter.
#7
Typical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 921
The above post have summed it up quite well.
I have blued guns from the 70"s. They looks like new but I clean and oil them after I use them. My SOP is to wipe all surface areas down with an oiled rag as I put it away. I'm careful not to leave fingerprints on the blueing.
Personally, I prefer the look and feel of a blued barrel.
I have blued guns from the 70"s. They looks like new but I clean and oil them after I use them. My SOP is to wipe all surface areas down with an oiled rag as I put it away. I'm careful not to leave fingerprints on the blueing.
Personally, I prefer the look and feel of a blued barrel.
#8
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 374
just remember that stainlees is not corrosion proof,i bought a stainlees gun off gun broker that came with a gray looking bore.when cleaning i could not get a clean patch so i put up in the to see and saw specks in the bore.so out came the solvent and a brass brush,the more i scrubed the worse it looked.300 strokes of JB helped a little but the pitting can still be felt when loading.one of these days i'll try to make a slug and lapp the the bore with diamond paste......karl
#10
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location:
Posts: 818
I prefer stainless. I like the looks and feel better. I have hunted with stainless forever and have not had any issues with glare. I think a high gloss blued barrel actually shines a lot more in the woods than a stainless.