Stainless steel barrel vs. steel barrel

[sfrost1s]

Other than corrosion and cost, what are the major pros and cons between a stainless steel barrel and a steel barrel?

 

[9mmepiphany]

i don't know if it applies to handguns, but stainless rifle barrels are supposed to be more accurate and wear better...more consistent?...at least that's what armalite said when i ordered my M-15T

 

[CZ-75]

They also cost more, so think about that when someone is selling you a gun.

 

[9mmepiphany]

they also lend themselves better to being fluted, coated with teflon and then polished. the colored/filled flutes contrasting with the polished stainless steel is very ... especially on an ar with a colored/vented/floating handguard

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd like stainless steel a lot better if it could be blued. I don't mind it too much in a carry gun, since a.) it's fairly practical, and b.) it's supposed to be concealed, but blued steel always looks better to my eye.

 

[JohnKSa]

You see a lot of stainless steel barrels on benchrest guns...

It's not because they are cheaper.

 

[dakotasin]

what i have heard, but do not personally know for fact:

stainless barrels are more accurate and provide longer life.
stainless barrels do not handle extreme cold weather as well.