Stainless finish worth the cash?

[CmdrSlander]

I am considering buying this rifle: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_62_974/products_id/70937 (for those afraid of links: Savage Axis XP .223) There is a stainless version for about $60 more, but my FFL charges $60 to transfer so that brings the whole thing to around $433, which is a little hard to swallow for me right now (on a recreational/sporting item). I like the look of the stainless model, but can appreciate the quiet professionalism of the all black package. Looks aside, how much rust-resistance, weather resistance etc. am I sacrificing if I don't go with the stainless finish? The rifle will be used for light varmint control, but will spend most of its time (when not locked up) at my friend's private range and or the county range, so I don't exactly plan on stalking through the wilderness with it. I plan to clean it, as I do with my other guns, after every range trip with the Hoppes #9 kit. In the long run is the stainless finish worth the extra money?

 

[briansmithwins]

What's the standard finish? Blued steel is pretty bad for outdoor abuse. Parkerizing OTOH, is very rust resistant if kept lightly oiled.

Stainless is probably the best.

And $60 is a rip off. Find another FFL. Lots of pawn shops have FFLs and will do transfers cheaper. I use one that charges $10 per transfer.

BSW

 

[CmdrSlander]

The website says Barrel Finish: Matte, Barrel Material: Carbon Steel.

 

[LoonWulf]

Its blued carbon steel, I handled both today (again). Sportsauthority here has them for 280 with a scope, id REALY like to get a stainless one in .30-06. I make a point of painting pretty much EVERY blued gun i get as soon as i get it home and cleaned up. Where i live if you forget your gun in the case overnight, or even forget to go over them atleast once a month, they will rust. Else where its probably not so much of an issue. My very accurate 6x47 sat in the truck for one day and its bore was frosted, and there are pits at the muzzel end.....HATE rust.....

 

[ColtPythonElite]

A fraction of cent worth of oil goes a long way...My favorite Rem 700 has spent days on end hanging on a hook behind me in my stand with rain soaking it. At the end of the day, a wipe with an oily rag is all I ever gave it. I bought the gun in 1992 and had never had it out of the stock until last year. I was surprised to see the bottom of the receiver/barrel as like new as the top. I guess a little oil had wicked down over the years and did the job.

 

[Sav .250]

Go with what you can ....afford.

 

[RECIT]

I think the $60 is worth the upgrade to stainless finish, but the $60 to transfer is not the best bargain out there. And yes there is considerable rust resistance from stainless, but you have to do your part as well. Not rust proof.

 

[SpryNotI]

There are a number of sites that will list FFL transfer agents by zip code.

Buds Gun Shop does this, they do not however tell you what their transfer fee is, you would have to call each one.

GunBroker and AuctionArms will list FFL by distance from your zip code and list the transfer fee. You should call and verify the fee is correct; these listings are not always up-to-date. But the listed fee will tell you which ones to not bother with.

If you do buy the rifle from Buds correlating the lists from GunBroker and AuctionArms with Buds preferred FFLs will reduce the hassle factor slightly.

 

[BigN]

Go with stainless. Not only is it more practical in the area of fighting off crap/rust, it's cooler looking.

 

[ball3006]

If you take care of your guns, it doesn't matter what the gun is made of....chris3