I am a traditionalist - I like wood and blue. When I think of all the truely GREAT animals taken by the likes of Jack O'Connor and such - I remember these gusy hunted AK with BLUE and WOOD rifles - did more than ok. I don't buy the SS is needed cuz if you spit on wood it will warp 6 inches.

I have both, from various makers and find that the REAL difference between them is not that great, stainless can and will rust and the bbl. will pit in the grooves nearly as quickly as chrome-moly.

I have carried blued rifles throughout B.C. and most of Alberta for 40+ yrs. and NEVER had a problem with rust, period. This includes working in coastal environments and muskeg swamps with little chance to baby the rifle and some of mine look their age, under the careful re-finish.

I much prefer a chrome-moly action due to strength and smoothness and use primarily Mauser types made in the '30s-60s era due to their overall quality. I cover my rifles with electrical tape when using them in tough conditions and wipe the bore with Ballistol regularly; many of my rifles are 40+ yrs. old and in superb condition.

Regular maintenance of your gun is simply good bush practice as those among us who have been/are professional outdoors workers know well. I do my rifle right after supper, every night, this takes maybe 5-10 minutes. I do not allow alcohol in any camp I have, so, I have time for this due to not wasting time swilling beer.

I would point out that almost all of today's stainless rifles are not as smooth in operation as the older chrome-moly ones were, this is important to me.

I use a stainless/synthetic gun almost all of the time.I do have a nickel plated/wood stocked .270 though that is an excellent foul weather gun as well.
Dave

Just bought my first stainless / synthetic gun. A Weatherby Mk V in 7 mm mag. Can't wait to try it out.

I remember around 1980 seeing my first synthetic rifle,it was a steyr manlicher model m profesional.It was the ugliest rifle I seen.Iwas interested in a kluegenther after reading Jack o'connor stories in hunting mags.At that time I was just finishing high school and big game hunting was just a dream.Two years later I recieved it as a gift.I owned it for more than twenty years before trading it in for a scope.

I like stainles and synthetic.

I think they look better than blued guns, and I think they are easier to maintain...

When I used to huint with wooden stocks, I'd cringe when they got dinged. When my fiberglass/kevlar stock gets whacked, I just grin...if it even leaves a mark, then it is just moe character. and no need to work at refinishing etc when you get home.

The more I hunt with stainless and synthetic rifles, with GOOD synthetic stocks, the more I like thier properties and thier looks. Most wood stocks look like shit, anyway, unless it is a nice custom job, or it's form pre 1970.

On a saltwater grizzly hunt last year, my buddies S/S rifle needed almost no attention, but I had elected to take my 375 H&H, and even though it had a fine fiberglass stock on it, the blued barrel needed daily attention...Even after using a rust preventative beforehand.

When you hunt in an area that your rifle never dries out, and you are around salty water constantly, you'll see a difference.

If you like wood and blue, that is fine by me. To each his own..But don't tell me my stainless rifle has no "soul" it has killed many a animal, and they never gave a shit what clour it was...