I have a Ruger 77 stainless. I taped it up with camo tap to avoid the shine. I loaned it to my brother, went through a divorce about 12 years ago, and just this fall took the old tape off the barrel and receiver. Had to use alcohol to remove some of the sticky from the tape being on there so long. This rifle after 10 years of neglect, had absolutely no rust. Maybe if you put it under sea water it will, but under normal storage inside a home, it should never rust. The only thing that might rust are blue steel parts. Stainless with composite stocks or laminate stocks can take a lot more abuse and neglect. Also, I read one of the gun rags a few years ago, and stainless barrels are harder, and will last about twice as long as blue steel. They said the average blue steel barrel should take 10,000 rounds in a lifetime while a stainless barrel should take 20,000. Stainless is nickel steel while blue is carbon steel. Carbon will oxidize as well as the iron causing the rust. Nickel doesn't.