Stainless Steel Care

[thirty-30]

Okay, this is a really retarded question.

I, *cough*, Thirty-Thirty am a recovering milsurpaholic.

Randomly decided one day that I wasn't using most of them and didn't like them and got rid of them. I'd used a Savage Model 340 and my SVT-40 for hunting purposes before, but decided I wanted to do better, so I got rid of all my milsurp stuff and got two new rifles.

One of them is a second hand (pre 2008 when the morons at remington ruined them) Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. This is for bear and hopefully, moose.

Now.

I've never had a stainless gun before.

Any tips or gotchas on looking after it? Anything special I need to do with it? Hell, this is my first lever too. Gonna require some practice. I dunno how I'm slower at operating a lever than a bolt, but . . .

Sigh. =)

[catnthehat]

Nothing too weird , just care for it as you would any other blued rifle.
They WILL rust however if neglected, contrary to what some people think!
The amount of rust resistance is directly related to how much nickle and other stuff they put into the metal, and too much of a good thing has its negative characteristics as well, so things have to be added in balance.

Cat

In most cases, what makes matters worse is the combination of regular steel parts and stainless. The buyer assumes the entire rifle is stainless (and won't corrode) but there are other parts which are not stainless and those corrode even faster when exposed to the right conditions.



Cat's recommendation is a good one.

[thirty-30]

Very cool.

Thank you, Gentlemen.

[Boberama]

What do you mean before the morons at Remington ruined them?

[thirty-30]

Remington took over Marlin and moved the factory.

Ever since, Marlins have been having horrible QC issues.

It's basically to the point that you have to check and inspect every Marlin product at a store before taking it home. Forget ordering online or from most people, unless it's an older Marlin.

Do a google search on it. Some nasty things have been happening. Actions that won't work, jammed rounds constantly, even levers sticking and locking..

-30

[ACKLEY ABE]

K .....for what it's worth...

410 and 416 are considered Ordenance grade stainless alloys. These grades of stainless are not considered high-grade stainless. They do not have enough nickel in them. However, the higher grade stainless alloys (ie. 304, 316, etc) do not have the physical properties required for firearms. 410 and 416 both have higher yields and tensiles.

They will rust. Not only that, but as mentioned any stainless will rust if it comes into contact with carbon steel. Carbon steel contamination of stainless is so common that even contact with gravel may contain enough carbon that the contamination to the stainless may cause rusting at that point.

Consider a stainless firearm. Rust resistant, at best. Care and cleaning is required as Cat has stated.

[Boberama]

Originally Posted by thirty-30

Remington took over Marlin and moved the factory.

Ever since, Marlins have been having horrible QC issues.

It's basically to the point that you have to check and inspect every Marlin product at a store before taking it home. Forget ordering online or from most people, unless it's an older Marlin.

Do a google search on it. Some nasty things have been happening. Actions that won't work, jammed rounds constantly, even levers sticking and locking..

-30

I recall now, had to look it up. I remember fearing Marlin would close forever.

But I haven't had any experience with new Remington stuff. While looking it up I see quality is an issue, many Marlins sent back to the factory.

[thirty-30]

Yep... whilst I may 'do okay' financially, I don't have enough money to fritter that I can afford to not research my 'big' purchases thoroughly and a guide gun + limbsaver + leupold is a big purchase for me.

The QC issues are -horrible-