Stainless action (how important)

Underthegun

Underthegun

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
140   0   0
Location
Emo,ON
If I have a standard Rem 700 action (not stainless) and if I ceracote it would it be just as weather resistant as a stainless action? I am wondering because I am going to get Alberta Tactical to put together a rifle for me and I was just wondering if I should sell my current action and get a stainless one? If I am spending a couple thousand dollars is the couple extra hundred to get the stainless worth it?
 
I dont suspect its too big of an issue unless you plan to have it in a boat alot.

If you were on the coast and hunting in high humidity locations that might be a different story. But your probably good in ontarible.

I prefer stainless myself, but steel rifles with a decent blueing and regular oiling and cleaning have worked for centuries so you should be fine.
 
Ontarible. I like that. But I am in Northwest Ontarible. So the weather is a little different. I just wonder about being out in the rain with it for an extended time. I think I am going to pick up the stainless action unless someone can talk me out of it. And If I do I will have a hardly fired Remington 243 up for sale
 
4140 and 4150 steel that they use in actions along with the heat treating is stronger than stainless. There is really no such thing as "stainless" steel.

just ask prairie gunworks and barnard about the benefits of chromoly steel and nobody would call their actions inferior.
 
A disadvantage of stainless as a material for the action and for the bolt, is that it is more susceptible to galling (specfically, the bolt lugs on the bolt, and the lug abutments on the action). One good tradeoff is to use stainless for the barrel, and conventional steels for the action and trigger; there are many other good tradeoffs too of course...
 
rnbra-shooter said:
A disadvantage of stainless as a material for the action and for the bolt, is that it is more susceptible to galling (specfically, the bolt lugs on the bolt, and the lug abutments on the action). One good tradeoff is to use stainless for the barrel, and conventional steels for the action and trigger; there are many other good tradeoffs too of course...
Click to expand...
I already have a non stainless action and I was going to buy a stainless. The rifle will be wearing a stainless barrel. Do you recommend that I use the action I already have or buy the stainless? Like I said it will be ceracoted in the end. Also, would galling be the only down side?
 
Downsides of stainless:
- possibility of galling
- "feel" of the action can be a bit "stickier"
- stainless can be a very different beast to apply coatings and treatments to (sometimes worse or difficult, sometimes just different)

None of these are showstoppers, not by a long stretch; just some of the small distinguishing points between regular steel and stainless. Both are good.

Talk it over with ATR, they might be able to help you decide whether to go with a stainless or blue action.
 
I don't know how serious you are about stainless, but look around. Their is an assortment of stainless steels i.e. 416, 17-4, 15-5 etc. Each is different and stand up to corrosion differently. I personally have some reservations with 416ss, specifically cold weather applications and brittle fracture, but lots of companies make actions and barrels from it.

Google custom action makers and matweb to get some info on the steels used in actions and the tradeoffs with each. The more you look, the more you will find in variance in steel types and applications.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom