Stainless worth it for backpack hunting?

Backpack hunting = Sako Finnlight and a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40. Can't go wrong. Or if you are poor like me, carry a few extra pounds with a Winchester 70, Remington 700, or Savage 116 stainless. If you really, really want irons for backup then maybe choose a Sako 85.

I run stainless and synthetic with a Leupold scope. Wet weather hunting for days on end is not a worry.
 
gorby said:
After reading all the responses and thinking about this waaaay too long, I have decided to work toward getting two hunting rifles.

So, I have just ordered a blued CZ 557 .308 with iron sights as this first season I will be, at most, doing an overnighter and walking around in the bush. Then, in a couple years I am intending to invest in a stainless set-up dedicated to a scope as my skills progress and I get into more extended hunts.

Thanks for all the advice!
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I think that is a great choice, keep a bit of lube on her for damp conditions, but that will be a rifle you'll want to hold on to.

I believe there was a thread, maybe in the rimfire section that had a link to someone's own personal lube/rust prevention solvents, test. It was very informative, I ordered frog lube off of amazon after reading it but it was a good comparative experiment that quantified a lot of brands. Maybe have a look for that if you have some concerns still.
 
gorby said:
After reading all the responses and thinking about this waaaay too long, I have decided to work toward getting two hunting rifles.

So, I have just ordered a blued CZ 557 .308 with iron sights as this first season I will be, at most, doing an overnighter and walking around in the bush. Then, in a couple years I am intending to invest in a stainless set-up dedicated to a scope as my skills progress and I get into more extended hunts.

Thanks for all the advice!
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good choices!
 
Ive sold off every stainless gun ive had. I dont hunt mountains or coastlines but i do backpack hunt for up to 2 weeks in northern ontario. Even my fancy custom high gloss bluing rifles see days of rain at a time and ive never had an issue. I keep them well oiled and wipe them dosn with g96 each day.
That said i put a damp mossberg 535ats in a case for an 8 hour shift and it pitted right into the barrel and was nearly brown by the time i got home
I have other guns like my ithaca 37 that the bluing is completely gone and it never rusts
My skin or sweat is very acidic. On a hot day in the sun with a stainless rifle ill leave lasting marks on the finish if i dont keep them well oiled. So to me its a personal thing. I prefer blued metal. I admit a glossy blue finish in the bush is like a permanent lightning bolt in my hands but i cant take of a time ive lost a chance at a game animal because of it
 
gorby said:
This would be a contender for me if offered in .270, .308, 6.5 Creed or some other general game getter low recoil cartridge suitable for a rookie.
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Both .270 and .308 are on the list as well as a bunch of other great calibers.

http://www.browning.com/products/fi...on/blr-lightweight-81-stainless-takedown.html
 
I wouldn't feel it necessary to get a new rifle just because you're backpack hunting. People carried blued guns around the bush for a long time before stainless ever came out. A little bit of oil goes a long way. I think I even used a beeswax polish once. Never had a problem on canoe hunts. Just run what you have.

Unless of course, you need an excuse.
 
I have had two rifles that rusted with use in Ontario: a "stainless" Ruger 10/22 and a "blued" Tikka T3 Battue. All my other rifles in stainless or quality blued finishes are rust free. I much prefer the look and feel of a quality blued finish and they will stay in my collection. Get stainless if you hate basic maintenance.

The most resistant finish in my collection is the matte nickel plated finish on my Remington 870 Marine Magnum. I can leave that thing submerged in a river for a week without worry. It runs like a dream, but it won't win any beauty contests.
 
257Roberts said:
I have a couple stainless rifles and they are not true stainless.
Check them with a magnet.
Yes they will stain and rust if not maintained.

David
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Stainless should read stain less when it comes to the steel used in what's advertised as stainless in firearms. The only exception I have found is my old pre-64 264 when an unfortunate tent blow down resulted in minor rust film on the receiver and ZERO on the stain less barrel.
 
Greetings all,

Just saw my old thread got picked up again.

The CZ I ordered fell through and I ended up going with a Weatherby Vanguard, blued, in 6.5 CM.

Stainless may still be in the cards down the line, but the savings will allow me to pick up a scope in the $600 rather than $300 range. I am pretty good at maintaining my gear, so I think the blued will be fine for my overnighters based on the feedback from this thread.

Thank you all again!

Matt
 
Good job!

PS - Don't over-scope yourself. I switched from a 3-9 to a 1.5-5x a couple of years ago and I don't regret it at all. A light, compact scope is the way to go.
 
Since you went with a Blued Rifle pick up a can of G96 gun spray and don't look back, best gun spray on the market, good to -50, doesn't collect dirt and gum up like oil.
Congrats on your rifle choice, you'll be happy with it, very accurate out of the box rifles.


 
Stainless in a hunting rifle is the way to go. ..a little less to worry about is always a good idea!
 
hawk-i said:
Stainless in a hunting rifle is the way to go. ..a little less to worry about is always a good idea!
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I took this a step farther for my elk rifle, and installed a Benchmark stainless barrel and had it ceracoted an olive green with black webbing.
The overly bright stainless just did nothing for me by itself for a hunting rifle.
 
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