Hey guys im going deer hunting this fall for the first time , so i need a rifle . Ive decided on a Tikka T3 lite in 6.5x55 Swedish because i reload that cartridge for my Swedish mausers as milsurps are my main hobby and i really think the 6.5x55 would be a good deer round .. Well my question is should i get the stainless or chrome moly rifle ?? what has a longer life ? I know the advantage with stainless is it wont rust but i dont think my rifle would stay wet long enough to be a issue , is there any advantages to chrome moly over stainless?
Stainless VS chrome moly ?
- Thread starter Bcviking
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unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
I have that exact rifle/cartridge in the blued steel version and I don't have any issues with rusting. I've taken the stock off to look too. In fact, it's been a while. I will do it right now.
unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
Little bit of a mark near the edge of where the action sits in the stock, but the kind I can rub off with my thumb.
how does your rifle perform accuracy wise? has it seen some wet hunting trips before ?
unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
yeah, I have hunted in the rain with it. Usually carry it on the last week of whitetail season hunting camp in the snow too.
It shoots quite well. best I have found is H4350 with 129 SST's. I was shooting .6 to 1.5' groups when my dad and buddies were shooting 2-3' groups last year when we all shot together. I shoot more than they do and it helps, but I still feel that I'm the weak link shooting this rifle.
It shoots quite well. best I have found is H4350 with 129 SST's. I was shooting .6 to 1.5' groups when my dad and buddies were shooting 2-3' groups last year when we all shot together. I shoot more than they do and it helps, but I still feel that I'm the weak link shooting this rifle.
I had a good chat with a gunsmith who visited many gun factories in Europe and his recommendation was always buy stainless steel if possible (sometime a model is not or can't be made in stainless steel).
His reasoning was simple: with stainless steel it's almost guaranteed that the steel and its components are high quality while anything can be used (and is often used) to make carbon steel.
Again, for some applications, the highest quality carbon steel is better than stainless steel but for most usage stainless denotes higher quality material and improved useful life.
Alex
His reasoning was simple: with stainless steel it's almost guaranteed that the steel and its components are high quality while anything can be used (and is often used) to make carbon steel.
Again, for some applications, the highest quality carbon steel is better than stainless steel but for most usage stainless denotes higher quality material and improved useful life.
Alex
If you care for your guns, I don't think it matters. I've never had a blued gun rust out on me, but I always wipe down with an oily rag after a hard day. I have had wood stocked guns experience POI changes though as a result of humid/wet conditions.
Go stainless/synthetic for your hunting rifle, especially considering where you're from.
Just the fact that you are asking the question tells me you're concerned about corrosion. It will gnaw at you all day hunting in the rain with a blued rifle.
Just the fact that you are asking the question tells me you're concerned about corrosion. It will gnaw at you all day hunting in the rain with a blued rifle.
Go stainless for your hunting rifle, especially considering where you're from. Just the fact that you are asking the question tells me you probably wouldn't be content with a blued rifle, when it rains it will gnaw at you.
Good advice. Great choice of caliber too!
+1 for stainless.
While blued rifles have been around for a long time and done just fine in the rain (if you look after them), the T3 isn't that much more in stainless. For a range gun I don't think it matters, but for a hunting rifle why not get the extra protection?
While blued rifles have been around for a long time and done just fine in the rain (if you look after them), the T3 isn't that much more in stainless. For a range gun I don't think it matters, but for a hunting rifle why not get the extra protection?
