Client loaner rifles

The Marine Magnums are not as tough as the 590s IMHO. The 590 has duel extractors, where I've had to repair the MM's single extractor when it's spring loaded plunger rusted solid in it's recess, freezing it in the depressed position, after exposure to salt water for an extended period of time, without being hosed down in freshwater at the end of each day. The MM's ejector is riveted in place, and in the commercial guns I've worked on here, breakage is a common failing when some no mind jams the barrel into the receiver without taking care to align things properly. The 590's ejector is held by a screw, and can be easily replaced by the owner, but I've yet to see one break. The MM's shell stops are stab locked rather than free floating like the 590's, and they will tie up the gun if/when they break loose. Parkerizing is a proven tough finish, that readily absorbs oil, but does not prevent surface rust from appearing in the bore. The 590 is also available in a nickel plated marine version, that is arguably more resistant to rust in sal####er environments, but for some reason they made this version with just a single barrel ring.

From the viewpoint of handling, I prefer the 590's tang mounted safety to the MM's cross bolt, and the fact that you don't have to break your firing grip to depress the slide stop located behind the trigger guard, where the MM's is forward of the trigger guard. The 590's barrel can be removed without releasing the magazine spring, but the MM doesn't have a magazine spring retainer like the standard 870 magazines do, and this can be an issue if you want to take the gun down for transport in a light aircraft, or so it can be conveniently/discreetly carried in a pack. IMHO, a Magpul SGA improves the handling qualities of both guns.

Benelli Supernova's have their internals and bore chrome plated, seems like a viable alternative. Any experience anyone??

Also, there's a rust prevention thread under Ammosupply.ca where a member did a long term test that's really really interesting. Worth a gander.
 
After finding out that Ardent already knew what he was going for.... I'm going to change my suggestion to the new Ruger American "Zipper" bolt action!! :p

Oh and sulfuric acid will stop it from rusting! :cool:
 
Well,this thread sure went all over.:)

Like I said, I would pick the M70EW but the Ruger isn't far behind. The EW is a nice package already put together, but they aren't as easy to find as the Ruger. The only real up the EW has over the Ruger is a better stock, and maybe a bit of weight reduction, but in this application, that may be theoretical. They are both similar in operation, both more than accurate for hunting purposes, and both rugged enough for anything your clients can throw at them.

Having used stock and customized Winchesters and Rugers, including the EW, if I got off a plane any was handed any of them, I wouldn't be discouraged by any of them. I would be more than happy to hunt with them, assuming I could take a couple of shots to verify the zero.
 
Benelli Supernova's have their internals and bore chrome plated, seems like a viable alternative. Any experience anyone??

Also, there's a rust prevention thread under Ammosupply.ca where a member did a long term test that's really really interesting. Worth a gander.

I've never even had a Supernova in my hands, but a chrome lined bore is a definite advantage, especially if you intend to use less lethal rounds that tend to be on the corrosive side. I might have chosen the nickle plated marinekote version of the 590 for this reason, but the absence of the rear barrel ring meant that the front swivel had to be put in the magazine cap, or requires the purchase an aftermarket barrel/magazine clamp to locate the swivel rearward. Aesthetically the Super doesn't appeal to me, but that is of no consequence to anyone if it has characteristics that make it a better choice than American made guns. I'll see if I can find the rust prevention thread.
 
As for a rifle based solely on corrosion resistance, it's tough to beat electroless nickel plating. Remington's XCR series were pretty rust resistant. The downside is that it's a finish, so it can scratch off exposing whatever less rust resistant material is underneath, though for the most part it's stainless steel anyhow.

Interesting read here (scroll midway down for Rem700):
http://www.pfonline.com/articles/electroless-nickel-plated-steel-versus-stainless-steel-case-studies

I read the Remington part of that article.

The nickel plated gun showed little corrosion, except in the bore, which was not plated.

The stainless gun showed extensive corrosion on the barrel. The receiver, bolt and magazine corroded similarly to the nickel plated rifle.

The authors conclude nickel plate is better than stainless. This is not sensible.

The conclusion I draw is that Remington made that stainless barrel, and like many of their recent products, it was crap and therefore no conclusions can be drawn.

Also, the most important place to prevent corrosion is the bore, which plating can't help with, isn't it?
 
Also, the most important place to prevent corrosion is the bore, which plating can't help with, isn't it?

You're right about Remington being crap lately. But the bore issue is why I think the chrome lining on the Supernova seems like a good shotgun for the job. It's gonna be the next SG I buy. It seems like it's basically rust proof (obviously not 100% rust proof)
 
I read the Remington part of that article.

The nickel plated gun showed little corrosion, except in the bore, which was not plated.

The stainless gun showed extensive corrosion on the barrel. The receiver, bolt and magazine corroded similarly to the nickel plated rifle.

The authors conclude nickel plate is better than stainless. This is not sensible.

The conclusion I draw is that Remington made that stainless barrel, and like many of their recent products, it was crap and therefore no conclusions can be drawn.

Also, the most important place to prevent corrosion is the bore, which plating can't help with, isn't it?

Electroless nickel plating is more corrosion resistant than the stainless used in most guns (416), that's a fact. Some stainless guns do rust easier than others, probably due to to slight chromium or nickel content variances. The only stainless rifle I ever had that exhibited rust specks is an early model Browning A bolt, but I also don't hunt in a salt water environment.

Keeping tape over the muzzle goes a long way to protecting the bore. It's tough to cover the entire rifle.
 
I read the Remington part of that article.

The nickel plated gun showed little corrosion, except in the bore, which was not plated.

The stainless gun showed extensive corrosion on the barrel. The receiver, bolt and magazine corroded similarly to the nickel plated rifle.

The authors conclude nickel plate is better than stainless. This is not sensible.

The conclusion I draw is that Remington made that stainless barrel, and like many of their recent products, it was crap and therefore no conclusions can be drawn.

Also, the most important place to prevent corrosion is the bore, which plating can't help with, isn't it?

can the nickel plated done afterward by a smith like gunkoting?
 
can the nickel plated done afterward by a smith like gunkoting?

I had a Rem 870 shotgun barrel e-nickel plated by an aerospace company. It wasn't cheap ($140), but they did a great job. There aren't many that will do complete guns though as they need a firearms license to do anything with a serial number; receivers,etc. They didn't do the bore, though I think it would've probably worked with a smoothbore. Probably not a good idea on a rifled barrel though, which is what I had, a rifled slug barrel for my 870 Marine Mag.
 
Electroless nickel plating is more corrosion resistant than the stainless used in most guns (416), that's a fact. Some stainless guns do rust easier than others, probably due to to slight chromium or nickel content variances. The only stainless rifle I ever had that exhibited rust specks is an early model Browning A bolt, but I also don't hunt in a salt water environment.

Keeping tape over the muzzle goes a long way to protecting the bore. It's tough to cover the entire rifle.

Sure, but what about after you scratch it? Scratch stainless steel, you find more stainless steel. Nickel doesn't provide anodic protection like zinc would, so you're going to get rust like mad at locations of scratches and wear.

I use hard chrome to plate parts made from heat treated or exotic steels. So far it's been the cat's pajamas.
 
I need to develop stainless double rifles.

You betcha, I'd be all over that. And we need to do them in NA cartridges.........45-120, 45-110, 50-110, 405 Win then maybe a couple proprietary ones like 375-110, 9.3-405, 416-110, a 470 on the 50-110 case...........I like that 2 7/8" case, it has all the capacity one needs with modern powders. The 45-110 will equal the 458 Lott in modern steel rifles, I know this for a fact. You could call it the North Coast Rifle Company.........Has a nice ring to it, kinda rolls of the tongue smooth like..........
Now all one has to do is be able to make them for less than 5K...........;);)
 
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I need to develop stainless double rifles.

Do a Red - Green Double!

One RH Bolt Action SS Rifle, One LH Bolt Action SS Rifle and One Roll Of "Stainless Steel" (AKA Duct Tape)

I am sure you can figure out how to assemble that using the above list of ingredients.

Heck, you could use separate chamberings and separate optics too.

TGIF ...
 
A stainless double with carbon fibre stock in .338 win mag or 35 whelen would be the cats a$$..... see, just when cgn starts to get dull and you are anxiously awaiting traffic in the hunting forum, along comes a dreamer :)
 
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