Now it seems fairly obvious that Stainless performs better than Chrome Moly in barrels, but I just hate the way that they look. Bead blasting seems to be the immediate solution for a finish. Does anybody get used to looking at it? It seems pointless to wear camo while carrying a shining stick...

What about the various black finishes? Are they durable? The scratch will be shiny.

I've never seen it, but a gunsmith here says that he has dropped the stainless barrels in the bluing tank which produced a different look that some people have liked.

Any comments?

I don't know that stainless barrels outperform Chrome Moly barrels unless you're talking about a rifle that is going to be used for high volume shooting or in foul weather. A good CrMo barrel on a big game rifle will last you, your son's, and probably your grandson's lifetime if well cared for.

I have some of both. The stainless / synthetics are more or less just a tool too me. They sit in the safe until it's time to use them. The beautifully stocked and blued ones, on the other hand, get admired, rubbed on and shown off.

Although I don't have any personal experience I've heard some of the "teflon" type finishes on stainless are very durable.

I only say that they "outperform" because my survey of gunsmiths turns up a majority only want to work with and guarantee performance from stainless barrels. Principally Lilja, Hart and Krieger. Only two have I found prefer Douglas Premium Select in 4140.

Stainless seems to last longer in terms of throat erosion and fouls less.

That being said I "LOVE" the look of blued metal.

A scratch is a scratch. They all will be shiney. Of course with a blued gun you can touch it up with some cold blue. The black coatings on stainless are very durable. I know one gunsmith who will beadblast and parkerize (zinc phosphate) stainless for a very attractive and durable medium gray finish.

I have a strong preference for stainless. Over time, blue wears off or even gets some pitting (Yes, I hunt in rain and snow and stay in tents, and it's hard on my guns).

In my opinion, a worn stainless bbl looks better than a worn/pitted blue barrel.

The Lothar-Walther barrels that I have been using lately, sure don't take a backseat to any stainless barrel...the difference in barrel life is not enough to make a big deal over IMHO.....

I don't like things shiney when I hunt and I'm not convinced that dulled SS doesn't reflect..I sure believe I see it reflecting now and then across the snake river canyon when I know the folks on the other side and what they are shooting rock chucks with...sooo I had mine poly coated OD green. and its doing well enough...I still like rust blue, but it is expensive..

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Blasted SS barrels reflect some but not as bad as a polished blued barrel. Have someone walk across the sage with a Weatherby V factory blue (the polished ones) or even a Ruger 77 blued rifle. You can see the reflections a mile away on a sunny day! I'm for stainless barrels any day over CM. At the end of a rainy day you don't have to worry about rust pits in the bore. I've had rust pits show up in CM barrels even before I got back to camp! If you don't like the silver finish with SS you can do two things which will cut down the reflections: 1. You can have SS blasted with alum oxide which will give it a flat gray look with no reflection whatsoever.2. You can have your SS barrel blasted, coated and baked with one of the epoxy finishes in any color you like. I'll be coating my new coyote rifle(SS barrel) in KG Gunkote flat black this week. It's a tough finish, it was specifically designed for the Navy SEAL's weapons being in the salt water all the time. I will put a KG Gunkoted SS barrel up againest any CM rust blued barrel any day of the week rain or shine! sure-shot