Advantage of Stainless vs. Blued?

[texagun]

I've been looking at the Weatherby Vanguard in .243 with synthetic stock. The blued version runs about $100 less than the stainless version. What advantage (OTHER THAN THE OBVIOUS CORROSION RESISTANCE) does the stainless action/barrel have over the blued versions? Is there a noticeable difference in accuracy or strength between the two? I have always heard that carbon steel is stronger than stainless. Is this true? Anybody aware of any other advantages of stainless over blued steel, other than resistance to corrosion?

 

[nico]

According to a post I read by Gale McMillan, stainless is easier to machine and therefore easier to make a more accurate barrel out of, which is why match barrels are generally stainless. I'm not sure how/if this would mean anything on a production barrel.

 

[spalit]

Most of the local gunsmiths who congregate at the range tell me they won't buy stainless blanks any more because of serious QA issues with suppliers. The recent Sako barrel blowouts were all on the stainless barrels.

 

[45crittergitter]

Accuracy life of SS is generally longer than blued.

 

[jobu07]

You mentioned that stainless was corrision resistant, but I guess i'll add that it is much quicker and easier to clean.

 

[Ash]

I would have thought carbon steel would have a longer barrel life than stainless. Carbon steel blades hold an edge longer than stainless blades is my primary justification. I suppose the composition of the stainless would be the important factor.

Ash

 

[KaceCoyote]

I wish somone made a stainless steel AK, that stainless DSA is the new hotness.

 

[Father Knows Best]

I suppose the composition of the stainless would be the important factor.

A critical factor. There are lots of different alloys that are called "stainless", just there are lots of different alloys that are called "steel." My company makes surgical instruments and implants, for example, and all of our "stainless steel" has to comply with a specific ASTM standard for surgical grade stainless, not to mention come from certified suppliers. I've often wondered what the alloys were that are used in modern "stainless" firearms.

 

[nico]

You mentioned that stainless was corrision resistant, but I guess i'll add that it is much quicker and easier to clean.

Yup. I still think a shotgun should generally be wood/blued, but my SS rifle is MUCH simpler to clean and the finish doesn't get as ugly from handling as with my wood/blued shotgun.

 

[texagun]

45crittergitter wrote: "Accuracy life of SS is generally longer than blued."

That's an interesting statement. Just wondering what you base it on?

 

[corncob]

Seems like I heard that the stainless steels used in rifle barrels (some flavor of 416, generally, I think) withstand the heat that erodes the chamber's throat better than the carbon steels that are used (4140 or 4340--I can't remember). That jives with the longer accuracy life idea. Someone should look it up....

 

[AZ Jeff]

Corncob is 100% correct. The stainless steel used in rifle barrels is chosen for it's ability to withstand the hot propellant gases better than carbon steels.

This, in turn, delays the effects of bore erosion.

 

[45crittergitter]

From Glen Zediker's article, pp. 20-21 of the July '05 GUNS magazine:

"Stainless will not shoot one bit better than chromemoly, but will shoot better for a little longer. Expect another 10- to 15-percent longer sharp-edge accuracy from stainless. The reason is in how the steel 'wears' as throat erosion progresses. Chromemoly tends to get rough (like sandpaper) whereas stainless steel tends to form cracks with still-smooth areas between them (like a dry lakebed). Interestingly, though, if we were going to shoot each barrel forever, the chromemoly would probably shoot the best past either's prime. When stainless groups open up, they tend to do so abruptly. Chromemoly group sizes cone outward more slowly."

 

[texagun]

Good Info...I knew I could get the answers here. Thanks to everyone for their input.