Blued or stainless steel?

[theredballoon]

I'm new to BP (although not to shooting) and am probably going to buy some Uberti replica revolvers here in the UK. My query is which 'finish' is best in terms of wear, corrosion resistance, etc? I appreciate there was no such thing as stainless steel in the era in which the original firearms I expect to buy were made, but, then, as I understand it, the blueing process nowadays is not the same either.

 

[Mike Sr.]

Stainless.

 

[dwave]

Stainless will be corrosion resistant, but don't let that fool you into thinking that you won't have to clean it, or let it go a while after shooting Black Powder or Pyrodex. I have seen a stainless 1858 with a pitted out barrel due to a lack of cleaning.

 

[mykeal]

Stainless is better than bluing, even the newest process. However, as dwave pointed out, stain resistant is not the same as stain proof, so you still need to clean and oil it.

 

[Hellgate]

If you can afford it: Stainless.

 

[mike101]

Stainless. You can get yourself some Mother's Mag Polish, shine it up, and it doesn't look too much different than a nickel plated gun that's been around for a while.

 

[MCgunner]

Stainless is easier to clean, especially if you have a dish washer.

 

[CoRoMo]

Back when I first began my BP journey, I spoke to a number of other BP hunters and one similar piece of advice they all seem to give me is...

"If I could buy this gun all over again, I'd get it in stainless".

The reasons varied, but were all valid.
I went stainless.

 

[deacon8]

In all reality, if one makes sure to wipe the gun down with a little gunslick after using it, bluing holds up just fine. Sure stainless does not lose its finish as bluing does, but corrosion is simply a result of negligance. Of course, I am VERY partial to bluing. I have quite a few guns and all of them are blued, except for one-my S&W 629, which I do love. Water and snow does not hurt bluing as long as its removed with a little oil (or whatever equivalent). Stainless, not taken care of, will corrode.

Not to start a war here, but I honestly think stainless is over-hyped because it is actually easier for gun manufactures.

 

[Calibre44]

My heart says ‘blued’ but my head says ‘stainless’.

 

[wep45]

stainless........less maintainence and it will stand up better to more cleaning products

 

[mykeal]

it will stand up better to more cleaning products

If you're using cleaning products that damage the finish, blued or otherwise, you're doing something very, very wrong!

 

[matrem]

Another advantage to silver: It's easier to see where you've neglected cleaning when you're in "hurry mode."

 

[madcratebuilder]

I have BP revolvers in stainless, blued, nickle, brass and German silver. If you clean them after shooting it's really not an issue, but if you don't, the stainless is more forgiving. For the average casual shooter stainless would be the best bet.

 

[P97]

I have older blued guns, but everything I buy new is Stainless. I wouldn't buy a new blued gun, but thats just me.

 

[theredballoon]

Okay, stainless seems to be winning this debate as regards keeping the gun pretty, but is there a difference when it comes to shooting? In other words, do we know what the difference is in the steel and the corrosive effects of the powders or pellets used?

 

[Hellgate]

I find that in general, the steel is HARDER than the blued stuff so I think also stronger. Often the blued BP cylinders are surprisingly soft.

 

[Beagle-zebub]

Is the difference in quality enough between Cimarron-vetted Ubertis and Uberti-brand Ubertis to justify passing up a stainless Uberti-brand Remington for a blued Cimarron?

 

[Sagetown]

If your weather there in the UK is normally on the damp side, I'd lean towards the stainless.