[Dorian]

So please enlighten me :)

What are the differences and pluses or negatives to each?

Thanks in advance.

And feel free to link me to somewhere this has already been discussed, I couldn't find it in a search.

[Graystar]

Carbon Steel
Steel that has properties made up mostly of the element carbon and which relies on the carbon content for structure. Most of the steel produced in the world is carbon steel.


Stainless Steel
The term for grades of steel that contain more than 10% chromium, with or without other alloying elements. Stainless steel resists corrosion, maintains its strength at high temperatures, and is easily maintained. For these reasons, it is used widely in items such as automotive and food processing products, as well as medical and health equipment. The most common grades of stainless steel are:

TYPE 304 The most commonly specified austenitic (chromium-nickel stainless class) stainless steel, accounting for more than half of the stainless steel produced in the world. This grade withstands ordinary corrosion in architecture, is durable in typical food processing environments, and resists most chemicals. Type 304 is available in virtually all product forms and finishes.

TYPE 316 Austenitic (chromium-nickel stainless class) stainless steel containing 2%-3% molybdenum (whereas 304 has none). The inclusion of molybdenum gives 316 greater resistance to various forms of deterioration.

TYPE 409 Ferritic (plain chromium stainless category) stainless steel suitable for high temperatures. This grade has the lowest chromium content of all stainless steels and thus is the least expensive.

TYPE 410 The most widely used martensitic (plain chromium stainless class with exceptional strength) stainless steel, featuring the high level of strength conferred by the martensitics. It is a low-cost, heat-treatable grade suitable for non-severe corrosion applications.

TYPE 430 The most widely used ferritic (plain chromium stainless category) stainless steel, offering general-purpose corrosion resistance, often in decorative applications.

[mete]

The martensitic types are heat treatable and are also magnetic. The austenitic 300 series are NOT heat treatable and are not magnetic. Stainless steels are more difficult to machine though there are free machining grades. Rifle barrels are typically made of 416, the free machining grade of 410, or 4140 an alloy steel. The more alloying elements ,the more expensive. The 300 series has about 18 %Cr and 8% Ni.

[one-shot-one]

carbon: less expensive, quicker cooling, can be blued,nickled,parkerized,etc.
stainless: more resistent to rust,scratches, expands more under heat(can be a problem for some revolvers)

[firestar]

The most important thing you need to know is that carbon will rust where stainless will not. Stainless will rust but not to a great extent and it takes some severe neglect to get it to rust. Carbon is often blued and stainless is almost always left unfinished. Stainless will be silver in color and carbon that has been blued will be black or dark blue.

That is the simple take on it. I thought some of the other responses may have been more than you needed or wanted to know.

[4v50 Gary]

Want a cheapskate perspective? Blue steel when it rusts you take to a gunsmith and he reblues for you. Stainless steel you hit with 0000 steel wool and oil afterwards.

[firestar]

I always want a "cheapskate perspective".;)
When SS gets scratched or frosted, it can be fixed by anyone with a Dremel or steel wool. Blued guns look bad when they get scratched and I am way too cheap to pay some guy to reblue my gun. I don't know if it is my cheapness or something else but I would rather buy some kind of kit and do it myself even if it costs me twice as much to get the same results.

[XLMiguel]

FWIW, bladeforums.com has a great description of the various types of steel/alloys, their properties and appropriate uses.