Blue vs Stainless

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RKellogg

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Are there any real advantages to buying stainless . I know about the rusting and that kind of stuff . I am talking shooting better . Are they known for shooting better groups or anything like that .
I am look to buy a 50 cal ML Encore and was thinking if I should spend the extra for the stainless . Then I start thinking why should I , because I have to clean it after every time I shoot it anyways .
What are your thoughts .
 
Actually, as I understand it, the blued barrels have a reputation for shooting better. I also believe the metallurgy makes cobalt steel more resistant to wear in high friction areas such as the rifling.
 
To the contrary, stainless steel tends to be softer than high carbon blued steel (this is why stainless knives rarely take or keep a good edge), and so stainless guns tend to get "shot loose" faster, hence can be less accurate. Not anywhere nearly as bad as brass-framed guns, but the same idea. There is no free lunch; otherwise all knives, guns and other steel implements would be "stainless" alloyed.
 
I like the fact that if you scratch stainless you can clean it up with sandpaper. Makes me less likely to "baby" the gun and more willing to use (and enjoy!) it.
 
The only real advantage of stainless is the corrosion resistance. It still does not make them corrosion-proof, but they are more forgiving of weather conditions and less than timely maintenance.
 
To the contrary, stainless steel tends to be softer than high carbon blued steel (this is why stainless knives rarely take or keep a good edge)
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That isn't really correct . . . the reason stainless knives don't take as good an edge is that stainless has a much coarser grain structure than carbon steel, although even that is only a generalization. Newer stainless alloys have better properties (but they're more expensive); go visit the knife forum. Stainless is not softer, either; I have hands-on experience of that, although in some cases it's more brittle. Try welding some and you'll see.

I don't know what alloys they use for gun barrels, but I'm sure it could make a difference.
 
There are so many different variations of each that many of the properties overlap.
 
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