Any disadvantages besides the non-traditional appearance? Maybe a little more expense?
I have revolvers and while I think most people prefer the look of polished blued steel with wood stocks, there's no question I am a lot more carefree with the stainless steel guns. I realize a person could just choose not to care about holster wear, pitting, discoloration, or anything outside the finest turn line on the cylinder, but it seems I'm fastidious against my will. I just find stainless steel guns to be a relief from any bother but cleanliness.
It would seem that Glock struck-out with their grey-colored slides and promptly introduced the black option on those models. While they were never stainless steel, it seems like black-coated slides on pistols are far more popular than stainless even when some of the black coatings are flakey.
I suppose that blued steel remains a favorite on traditional sporter-style bolt-action rifles with walnut stocks because of the traditional aesthetics. Why isn't stainless steel more popular on plastic-stock rifles like the Ruger American, Tikka, Savage Axis, Mossberg, etc.? I know it's an option, but usually with fewer chamberings and less inventory. The few optional rifles are priced a little higher but it's not clear whether that is due to the expense of the material or just the slight premium market position.
What about shotguns? Why are there hardly any stainless steel shotguns? I realize the markets for both types of double-barrels feature tradition, with a few competition guns in there. A lot of the repeaters have aluminum receivers, but why are there "marinecoat" barrels rather than stainless steel? Why not a stainless 870 Express or Wingmaster? Most of the guns these days have vent ribs unless they're tactical or slug guns with peep sights, so I don't see the light colored matte-finish barrel causing too much glare. What about the old Winchester nickel steel and stainless steel barrels before the switch to "Proof Steel" ? Maybe the hardness was not good for modern steel shot, but the proof steel was not made for that either.
Do you like stainless steel long guns or do you not favor them? Why?
I have revolvers and while I think most people prefer the look of polished blued steel with wood stocks, there's no question I am a lot more carefree with the stainless steel guns. I realize a person could just choose not to care about holster wear, pitting, discoloration, or anything outside the finest turn line on the cylinder, but it seems I'm fastidious against my will. I just find stainless steel guns to be a relief from any bother but cleanliness.
It would seem that Glock struck-out with their grey-colored slides and promptly introduced the black option on those models. While they were never stainless steel, it seems like black-coated slides on pistols are far more popular than stainless even when some of the black coatings are flakey.
I suppose that blued steel remains a favorite on traditional sporter-style bolt-action rifles with walnut stocks because of the traditional aesthetics. Why isn't stainless steel more popular on plastic-stock rifles like the Ruger American, Tikka, Savage Axis, Mossberg, etc.? I know it's an option, but usually with fewer chamberings and less inventory. The few optional rifles are priced a little higher but it's not clear whether that is due to the expense of the material or just the slight premium market position.
What about shotguns? Why are there hardly any stainless steel shotguns? I realize the markets for both types of double-barrels feature tradition, with a few competition guns in there. A lot of the repeaters have aluminum receivers, but why are there "marinecoat" barrels rather than stainless steel? Why not a stainless 870 Express or Wingmaster? Most of the guns these days have vent ribs unless they're tactical or slug guns with peep sights, so I don't see the light colored matte-finish barrel causing too much glare. What about the old Winchester nickel steel and stainless steel barrels before the switch to "Proof Steel" ? Maybe the hardness was not good for modern steel shot, but the proof steel was not made for that either.
Do you like stainless steel long guns or do you not favor them? Why?