Reflections?

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riccrouch

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OK, I've heard this from a couple of people....

"I don't like the stainless steel two-tone look because I don't want reflections."

Just curious... do these people think they are going to be creeping around stealthily behind enemy lines, or is there a legitimate concern here? Personally, if ever I have to use a gun, I don't expect to be sneaking up in the dark hoping they don't catch a glimpse of a reflection. The BG has already tipped his hand if I'm prepared to shoot--chances are sneaking is unlikely at best.

Am I really off-base here?

Personally, I like the look of the stainless slides on an auto. And if I'm going to spend the kind of money that I do on guns, I want something that I can look at with pride. Now, that doesn't mean that I value appearance over performance, but if a weapon I like comes in black or two-tone, odds are I'm getting the two-tone (everything else being equal).

Opinions?
 
Stainless steel is nice. Heck my 870 is shiny steel against saltwater which may be a possibility someday should we move. So that is useful feature.

I had several oppertunities to purchase a stainless steel pistol that had a shine on them. Very nice. One of which happened to be the Commander from Colt. Nice gun but at the price point just a bit too much that day.

When I saw that the M&P was stainless steel but actually coated in a sort of a black finish on all metal parts leaving the white sights to be very visible to my aging eyes, I liked the gun very much. So I bought it.

I dont mind a bit of shine. But discovered for myself that I can still have stainless steel without the necessary need for total anal detail cleaning every little tiny speck of something off it all the day. :neener:
 
Shiney deosn't stay looking new for too long if its a hard working carry gun.

I like the beadblasted stainless that Kimber and others use. It deosn't shine, but its not exactly olive drab either.

You can melonite a stainless gun black.

It deosn't really matter, If someone sees your carry gun it'll probally be because your shooting it. Why else would it even be visible? Usually that loud bang kinda gives away the fact that you have a gun.;)
 
Yeah, that's kinda how I figured it. The noise is going to make me MUCH more noticeable than the glint of moonlight off metal! ;)

I think many of the guys who say this (and I've heard it from quite a few!) have been watching "Navy Seals" too many times or something...
 
Even as a LEO I think the tactical aspect of polished stainless is overrated. Unless you are planning on deploying overseas sometime soon the reflection of the gun is not a problem.

Anyhow, if you have the gun out at night when a reflection could be an issue you usually have a flashlight in your other hand. Usually a very bright one.
 
A old LE guy I know ONLY carried nickle or bright stainless handguns on duty. His reason being that if he had to pull it -- he WANTED everyone to see that he did !!!
 
If someone is CCW'ing and isn't as careful as they should be, stainless (esp polished) can be easier to make.

Consider somebody carrying OWB under a jacket, they go to bend over not thinking and all of a sudden there's a flash of stainless from under their jacket.

With a black or blued gun, not so much of an issue.

The situation may seem far fetched, but I bring it up since I have made somebody in this way before.
 
If someone is CCW'ing and isn't as careful as they should be, stainless (esp polished) can be easier to make.
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I agree. I love the looks of a stainless gun as well as the less maintenance. But a black gun blends in a lot better. If you have a stainless gun in your pocket and someone gets a glance inside, they will know immediately what it is. But if it's black, I think it's harder to identify. My wife occasionally carries in her purse (I wish it was more often). She has a Glock and it tends to blend in with the abyss.

That's my $.02.
 
Shiney deosn't stay looking new for too long if its a hard working carry gun.
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I disagree, I think its easier to clean the more highly polished it is. 100_1404.jpg
and shiney is only a problem in tactical situations which home and self defense are not.
 
If someone is CCW'ing and isn't as careful as they should be, stainless (esp polished) can be easier to make.
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I agree. I love the looks of a stainless gun as well as the less maintenance. But a black gun blends in a lot better. If you have a stainless gun in your pocket and someone gets a glance inside, they will know immediately what it is. But if it's black, I think it's harder to identify. My wife occasionally carries in her purse (I wish it was more often). She has a Glock and it tends to blend in with the abyss.

That's my $.02.
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I don't agree with this. If someone gets a look at your carry piece, then they see what they see. It being silver or black is not going to alter it's "shape" which is easy to recognize.

For me, lack of rust and ease of beadblasting it back to factory appearance means that for a carry piece stainless is better than a blue or painted finish.
 
I like shiny. In low light, it's easier to pick up the sights if the gun reflects what little light is available.
Also, a BG may back off if confronted with a gun in his face. I'd like the "he's got a gun!" reaction quickly. It may prevent him from getting a little closer or doing something further.

Plus, no rust with stainless!

PS:
My wife occasionally carries in her purse....
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I was with a girl when some gazelle of a guy snatched her purse. He was gone real fast. I want my gun on me, not in the most obvious, attractive target of a thief.
 
I carry at work and hate that the bottom of my magazine is silver because when I have certain pants on and I'm carrying in my pocket holster, you can easily spot something in my pants. So yes, shiny concealed is definitely stupid. I'm going to try and paint the bottom of the mag with something as soon as I can find something that'll stick.
 
ScareyH22A said:
I carry at work and hate that the bottom of my magazine is silver because when I have certain pants on and I'm carrying in my pocket holster, you can easily spot something in my pants. So yes, shiny concealed is definitely stupid. I'm going to try and paint the bottom of the mag with something as soon as I can find something that'll stick.
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Have you tried sandpaper and paint? Usually roughing up any sort of finish and painting will help the paint stick easier.
 
I thought you guys knew one of the first rules of being a mall ninja is to be as discreet as possible.........keep reflections to a minimum.
 
In a true tactical sense I suppose dark is better than shiney -- but really, if shiney stainless is what you like -- get it!
 
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