Heads Up for Stainless Gun Owners, Blue Too

[kynardsj]

While we all know that a stainless gun is really rust resistant and not rust proof I got a rude awakening a few days ago. I oil my stainless guns just like I oil my blue ones. I've seen some stainless pistols that weren't ever oiled and they had rust spots all over them. My rude awakening was when I removed the grips from my bright stainless Vaquero and my SBH Hunter to see how similar the grips were. What was under eash set of grips was rust spots. Although it should have, this potential problem never occured to me. I shoot a stainless Encore rifle and dismantle and oil it at the end of each hunting season to prevent any rust under the forearm and where the stock bolts up. From now on I'll remove the grips from my stainless pistols and my blue ones to avoid this problem in the future.

[DANNY-L]

If it's metal it will rust no matter what makers claim.

[hillbill]

i think the particular steel that stainless guns are made of is a type that will rust eventually. however i have some stainless pipe and other peices of stainless laying in my iron pile for years that show no rust at all.im sure there are hundreds of alloys.

[Sourdough]

I don't oil or do anything to my stainless unless I get them wet.  We are classified as arid, we are dry like the desert, so moisture does not gather behind the grips or in hidden areas.  Now when I am out in the rain, or I drop one in a river, then I dismantle it and dry it out then oil it.   

[boomerralph]

Quick rule of thumb...if the stainless is capable of heat treatment, it most likely will rust.

[mechanic]

If a magnet will stick, it will rust.
 
Ben

[LONGTOM]

I have stainless on the bottom of my mudflaps on my big truck and they show no rust at all even after being on there since 1987 and driven well over 100,000 miles a year in all kinds of weather. Same goes for my wheel liners.
I once owned a 1970 Buick that had stainless wire wheel covers that showed no rust when I sold it in 1992.
I also have a 1956 Chevy Bel Air that I am restoreing that has lots of stainless trim on it and none of it shows any rust.
That's 56 + years out in the weather!
Must have been better stainless back then. 
 
 
LONGTOM

[gypsyman]

I think the stainless used in wheels and car/truck parts, use more nickel/alloys in them. Machining gun parts require a softer material, therefore possibility of rust is greater. gypsyman

[facetious]

Ruger used to recommend past wax for there SS guns

[Victor3]

I have stainless on the bottom of my mudflaps on my big truck and they show no rust at all even after being on there since 1987 and driven well over 100,000 miles a year in all kinds of weather. Same goes for my wheel liners.
I once owned a 1970 Buick that had stainless wire wheel covers that showed no rust when I sold it in 1992.
I also have a 1956 Chevy Bel Air that I am restoreing that has lots of stainless trim on it and none of it shows any rust.
That's 56 + years out in the weather!
Must have been better stainless back then. 
 
 
LONGTOM

 Not "better," just more resistant to corrosion. Your car trim parts were made from 300 series stainless which isn't too good for parts requiring high strength/wear resistance but excellent as far as corrosion goes.


 Gun manufacturers have to use various types of stainless (some not great for corrosion resistance) in order to have the required mechanical properties.