Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game SS barrels spook game?

Probably not a huge issue but if a human can spot a stainless barrel from a ways out then I’m sure animals can as well. I’ve watched hunting partners walking through timber and the first thing I see is their rifle barrels but one could argue movement is a bigger issue with being spotted. If it is a concern, just have it coated.

I've seen other hunters carrying stainless rifles and in a dark hemlock forest it looks like they're carrying a white pole in their hands. Sticks out like a sore thumb. The only stainless rifle I own/hunt with is a Ruger 77 Hawkeye all weather. The barreled action has what Ruger calls their "target gray" finish and it is truly gray, decidedly not silver and completely flat/non reflective.

The last 6 or 8 deer that I have killed with a rifle have ranged in distance from 15 to 40 yds. Some while hunting on the ground, some from a relatively open elevated tree stand. All with a stainless rifle. My answer to the op would be no.

Nope

By the time the see it, if they ever do, lights out. It’s too late.

Dull finish on all mine.

DF

No, my only SS gun is my Model 7 and it has a matte stainless finish. I think I’d be more likely to get a harsh glint off of one of my shiny blued guns or the glass in my scope.

Classic campfire topic....

Laughing here....

If I’m wearing my Oakley’s and I can’t see a glare of reflection, nothing else can either. It’s a special power I have 😎

Yes, when the sun hits it, it can show a glint. I cover my barrels up.

A SS barrel with a matte finish is less likely to reflect light than an old school polished blue barrel. The color doesn't matter, in nature there are lots of things that are the same color as a SS rifle. The only SS rifle I ever was concerned about was the highly polished original Ruger SS Synthetic rifles. For the most part they blend right in.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/13859528#Post13859528

YEP !

Opinions don't change even after seeing evidence !


Jerry

I wondered about this for a long time before I decided that I wanted to buy my "Last 30-06." I was approaching 60, and I had a bunch of 30-06 rifles and wanted one last one before I spent the rest of my shooting career concentrating on smaller chamberings. I picked a matte stainless finish for several reasons. Chief among them was I wanted a finish that didn't require a lot of care. I picked the Ruger Hawkeye, because folks on the 'Fire said it had a matte finish that could be spruced up with a Scotch-brite pad if there were any light scratches.

I've had that Ruger Hawkeye since 2014. I've been up close and personal with a bunch of whitetails in the interim, and none of them had the slightest idea that rifle was slowly being brought up and pointed at them.

Thats why I posted a pic of that gun...if the SS didnt scare them and the stock didnt...I'll just have to try harder....

JeffO personally taught me how to mount a scope!

I hope he got to see an appropriate hand signal.

I have a stainless M70 22-250 with what I guess is matte SS. I've called (mouth blown calls) and killed more than a few coyotes with that rifle. If I can get away with something on coyotes it is usually a gimme on other critters.

I have a savage SS mach2 that I take grounhogs and other small game. I shoot from 20 yds to 100yds and don't recall having spooked game from the ss rifle.. if you were in very bright sunlight. there might be a problem.. but I have never had any.. my blued rifles are just as shiney or more so than SS and never had a problem.. there are shiney things in the forrest or on the water that are just as bright .animals are used to it...

My hunting partner decided to go stainless when he realized the Sycamores in the bottoms where we hunt have lots of white/silver patches on them. Be Well Rusty

lol

[quote=Dogslife57]Have yo su ever been busted or spooked game because of the shine or glare of a stainless steel barrel/rifle Coyotes will pick up the shine when calling on a sunny day. Just paint your barrel.

My two main rifles have stainless barrels, but both are full camo painted, problem solved. I did put one very nice buck into launch mode at an amazing long distance with the glint off my then new Remington M700 with that mirror like RKW high gloss finish that Remington thought was a good idea. That stock is gone now too. A few years back I was in a tree stand when another hunter walked by with his rifle slung over his back and I was amazed at how many times I got the flash of the sun also from his back off of his blued barrel. Stainless or blued and the stocks too get camo flat paint because it is just one more thing that I can do to put things in my favor.