Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Which stainless rifle is stainless???

After reading 458win's article about the remmy corrosion test, I am wondering which rifles are completely stainless - or completely made of "non-corroding" materials???

Remmy's - not the trigger group, bolt lugs?? - anything else?
Ruger's - seem to be....aluminum and stainless....
Howa - unsure of the trigger group and??
Winchesters - seem to be..but what??
Kimber - ??
Weatherby - ??
Sako - ??
Savage - ??
CZ 3 - ads say they are 100%

Anyone know for sure which are and which aren't??? Just want to know if I buy an "all weather" rifle - that it actually is... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

I am very happy with remingtons stainless rifles such as the model 700, I have no complaints on the materials they use in the SS models. I have several of there offerings and not a fluke in the bunch.


Using anti-sieze on the bolt locking lugs, clear nail polish and satin clear paint on other areas such as sight screws, ect. will help prevent rust corrosion.

The only one I know of that is for sure 100% stainless, even screws and springs, is the Sako 75. Or at least that is what THEY say. I have never owned one of their stainless rifles.

I'm not saying one rifle is better than another here.....I just want to know what parts are and what aren't so they can be properly maintained or those parts replaced. My experience tells me to Keep It Simple S...... The more stainless the better in my book.....especially 5 miles in - in the rain or wet snow. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Stainless on the bolt lugs.................ain't a good thing.......ever heard of galling???????

SC,
Winchester claims their M70's are all stainless, but I am pretty sure the sling swivel studs are nickeled, not stainless. But even so, I have had specks of light rust form on a stainless M70 from a person handling the rifle who apparently has a lot of salt or acid or something in his perspiration. Anymore, I always wipe down a gun soon when someone other than myself handles it, stainless or not!

Winchester is nearly 100% stainless.....From there bolt, action, barrel, even springs and pins...they're stainless.....

A lot of the components are used for both the steel and stainless models; such as the firing pin, extractor and the springs. I believe their trigger and sear is not stainless, but I may be mistaken on that one...They've changed that process around enough in the last few years that it may very well not be stainless.

I'm not sure how many different Steels are listed as "Stainless", but it's lots!

NONE of them will do everything desired of the "ideal" steel for making guns.

And most of them will corrode to some extent, under certain conditions, some worse than standard "gun-making" Steels.

But generally, under "normal" conditions, exposing them to moisture, they will stand up against rusting and corrosion better than normal Steels.

Typically Steels that fall into the "Stainless" category don't make good springs, or exceptionally hard or long-wearing parts.

Gun makers typically substitute various other Steels, usually plated (or left bare) in certain applications and rightly so.

In some applications they may substitute other metals, like brushed passivated Aluminum.

Is there a problem with this?

If I removed my scope and mounts I am quite sure my Sako 75 Stainless synthetic could be left ona sandbar for a year for Phil's daughter to find. It's all stainless.

Yeah, gotta watch them rings - my stainless Loopies get speckly.

The Rugers are mostly stainless other than the magazine spring, and the trigger spring. The floor plate is aluminum.

I won't buy another hunting rifle again unless it is stainless.

Ideal I would say is definitely a matter of opinion in the case of stainless, but for pure function there are several stainless's that will perform just as well, if not better than the typical chromoly steels that are used in the firearms industry.
Any 400 series stainless, such as 416 or 420 is more likely to rust on the surface than a 300 series, like 303 or 304, which gets plenty of use in the medical field. The machineability of 400 series stainless is what makes it preferred for receivers and barrel steel, but after heat treating is performed, it provides every bit as much strength as its steel counterpart. 416 has a lot of free iron on the surface, which can be almost completely removed with passivation.....Doing this nearly eliminates the rust problems that occur with normal handling, but like any rifle, made from any material, it should be wiped down with an oil to prevent minor corrosion.

When it comes to springs; stainless works exceptionally well, especially in coil configurations and tension springs...With the proper heat treatment, they'll work as well and in most cases better than steel, due to their ability to hold up under corrosive enviornments...the biggest factor in spring failure.

can anyone identify the guns in that picture?

Doesn't much matter, unless it's a handgun in your pocket, as they are are all called "stainLESS," not stainPROOF."

Some sort of lubricant/preservative is always a good idea.

Nicky

Maintaining my rifles has never been a problem. However, when I backpack in I never disassemble my rifle, raining, snowing, drop it in a creek, I don't do it. I like a rifle that will "fight" the elements better than plain steel. Stainless helps, yes it "stains", but not as fast or as much.

Looked at some of my rifles to check parts;

Ruger - stainless-except mag box and spring.(some alum)

Winchester - all stainless - except front and rear sight (375 h&h)

Kimber Montana - mag box, mag spring, trigger group(screws,springs,body etc) are not stainless.

Savages use blued steel for the trigger group, sear, mag box. I think it's a judiciuos use as it makes the trigger smoother than a lot of stainless rifles.

Sako's are all stainless including thier optilock rings. They are also much nicer rifles than Remington's. Too bad they are so much more expensive......DJ

I beg to differ. Apart from springs, my Ruger Mk II VT is SS all the way, incl. floorplate.

My ruger is the "all weather".......