I am looking at getting a new action from MRC. I don't know the pros and cons of the stainless over the Chrome-Moly. So which is better or are the differences negligible.

I've often wondered this myself. If I were to go back to live in Francophone Africa (where I lived from 1977 to 1993) I would want a .373 H&H in stainless steel with a composite stock. I would try to make it as pleasing as possible (probably a GunKote matte black type of finish) so that at least I could look at it without cringing. Cameroon, Central African Republic, Benin, etc. would be hell to keep from rusting even at home and a real challenge in any of the forest conditions. If I win the lottery and retire to Botswana or some Southern Africa country I would go with the much more attractive Chrome Moly/wood stock.

If you want a beautiful stock on a beautifully blued rifle you don't have any other choice than Chrome Moly, whatever the supposed advantages of one or the other might be in terms of workability for the riflesmith.

i'll probably get arguements, but i don't think i'll ever had a stainless gun that would shoot as well as blued steel

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
i'll probably get arguements, but i don't think i'll ever had a stainless gun that would shoot as well as blued steel

As far as accuracy goes, if we are just talking about the materials used:

Look on the line at any of the major shooting competitions where material is not in the rules (Benchrest, match rifle, F class, etc) all you see is stainless barrels.

Some makers of the very best barrels in the world will only make their barrels in stainless.

Some of the very best competition action makers(Stiller, etc.) don't even make a chrome moly action.

I prefer CM actions - they are just a tad smoother. I like SS barrels, they copper foul a tad less.

- mike

If you blue them will the finish match?

I'm unsure of the question Match what ?.

Are you speaking of a Blued action with a SS barrel and then bluing the barrel in attempt to match the action ?. The Answer is NO .

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

quote:

Originally posted by Dr.K:
I'm unsure of the question Match what ?.

Are you speaking of a Blued action with a SS barrel and then bluing the barrel in attempt to match the action ?. The Answer is NO .

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

Pretty much, yes that is what I was asking. I don't like the look of mismatched rifles. I would have to pick one way or the other, blued or stainless.

The whole idea I have is to get a MRC barreled action and strap her into a Serengeti stock. I am unsure which way I want to go though. I do have time though, I will have to purchase each piece separately.

Neither will be significantly better than the other for big game hunting accuracy just because of what it is made of....

But, for use in the woods, especially in Montana where temps tend to change quite rapidly when either an Alberta Express or a Chinook blows in, stainless and composite are MUCH easier to adequately care for.

If I wanted one just for looks, I'd go walnut and chrome-moly. If I wanted it for Montana hunting, I'd go stainless and composite.

So, I guess I am asking you a question: What do you intend to be its primary purpose? Eye candy? Or a tool similar to a "flesh axe"?

quote:

Originally posted by GrosVentreGeorge:
... I don't like the look of mismatched rifles. I would have to pick one way or the other, blued or stainless.

The whole idea I have is to get a MRC barreled action and strap her into a Serengeti stock. I am unsure which way I want to go though. I do have time though, I will have to purchase each piece separately.

You can always use a coating on either CM or SS if you want it to the look "matched". The options are endless.
- mike

SS for benchrest.
CM for hunting.


Toss up for shooting rodents.