Stainless vs Blued barrel.
09-21-2009, 12:42 PM
#21
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,679
His barrel lasted him 2 years. Mines still going strong with a minimum of pitting. Very little.
I know of many many blued steel ML's that have been going strong for decades..... because they were taken care of.
09-23-2009, 02:01 PM
#22
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Coralville, IA. USA
Posts: 3,802
I, too, will call BS on the stainless rust thing. It sure as heck will rust if it isn't maintained, it just won't do it overnight. I've seen it myself. The 416 stainless steel that guns are made out of isn't the same nearly rustproof stainless steel that your spoons are made of. Why? Go into your kitchen and try bending a teaspoon in your hands. Note how easy that was, and imagine if a gun were made from such a soft alloy.
As for stainless vs. blued chrome/moly... I'd say that it's really a matter of personal preference. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Stainless is far more corrosion resistant than chromoly and is more resistant to throat erosion, but chrome/moly is cheaper and easier to machine. A well made stainless barrel is better than a well made chromoly barrel, which is why all most custom barrel makers deal primarily or exclusively with stainless steel.
Overall it's about how nasty the conditions are where you live and how much effort you're willing to put into maintaining rifle to protect against corrosion, and whether you prefer one or the other. Myself, I have a real warm spot in my heart for rifles with laminated wood stocks and stainless barreled actions, with my second preference being for walnut and blued chrome/moly. Pick what you like.
Mike
As for stainless vs. blued chrome/moly... I'd say that it's really a matter of personal preference. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Stainless is far more corrosion resistant than chromoly and is more resistant to throat erosion, but chrome/moly is cheaper and easier to machine. A well made stainless barrel is better than a well made chromoly barrel, which is why all most custom barrel makers deal primarily or exclusively with stainless steel.
Overall it's about how nasty the conditions are where you live and how much effort you're willing to put into maintaining rifle to protect against corrosion, and whether you prefer one or the other. Myself, I have a real warm spot in my heart for rifles with laminated wood stocks and stainless barreled actions, with my second preference being for walnut and blued chrome/moly. Pick what you like.
Mike
