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Offline Stan in SC

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Stainless steel????
« on: October 22, 2004, 12:07:40 AM »
For those of you who have a stainless steel muzzle loader,what are the pro and cons of this material as far as usage,clean up and care?
I have thought for a long time of going from blued steel to stainless mainly for clean up sake.Seems like it would be much easier to clean.
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Offline WD45

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Stainless steel????
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2004, 04:15:35 AM »
The only benefit I have seen is some resistance to corrosion. I have seen no difference in actual ease of clean up.
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Offline crow_feather

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Stainless steel????
« Reply #2 on: October 22, 2004, 01:35:16 PM »
You might try looking on the modern forum.  They might have more info on the topic which is usually used in a more modern firearm than what is discussed here.

Best of luck with your endeaver

C F
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Offline savageT

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Stainless steel????
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2004, 01:36:54 PM »
Stan in SC,
Just a note that I picked up on while reading ads for various muzzle loaders......A lot of these so-called stainless barrels are really just nickel steel.........Not truely stainless alloy.

Jim
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Offline roundball

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Re: Stainless steel????
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2004, 01:44:10 PM »
Quote from: Stan in SC
For those of you who have a stainless steel muzzle loader,what are the pro and cons of this material as far as usage,clean up and care?
I have thought for a long time of going from blued steel to stainless mainly for clean up sake.Seems like it would be much easier to clean.


The only real difference between carbon steel and stainless steel as it relates to rusting & corrosion is a minor difference in the amount of time it might take to occur...but it's insignificant in practical terms...ie: you still have to clean and lube both the same day you shoot them.
In fact, when I used to shoot a stainless MK85, I'd unroll a muzzmitt after a days hunt and see the beginnings of rust freckles where the rubber was stretched over the muzzle...never saw that on regular blued steel barrels on my TC Hawkens.
I think the main benefit of stainless over blued is there's no bluing to scratch or wear off.
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Offline Keith Lewis

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Stainless Steel?
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2004, 12:14:57 AM »
Stainless steel is more difficult to machine than carbon steel due to the nature of the material to tend to break off material during machining causing the surface to be slightly more rough than carbon steel machined the same way. I have a stainless Omega that I am considering doing a JB Bore Paste lap job on as it is difficult to load with some projectiles. This could have an effect on accuracy as well although my Omega shoots pretty good groups now which is why I am reluctant to screw with it very much. Sorry about bring the Omega into this forum but it seemed to help answer the question.
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Offline harryo

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Re: Stainless steel????
« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2004, 04:54:05 AM »
Quote from: roundball

The only real difference between carbon steel and stainless steel as it relates to rusting & corrosion is a minor difference in the amount of time it might take to occur...but it's insignificant in practical terms...ie: you still have to clean and lube both the same day you shoot them.


Roundball is correct and this is very important to remember.  Some have the mistaken idea that stainless will not corrode but it certainly will.  Yes, it is more resistant to corrosion but it is not immune.
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Offline Stan in SC

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Very good information.
« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2004, 01:10:15 PM »
Thank you gentlemen for some very good an informative replies.It kind of reinforces my thoughts on this.I am sticking with blued steel.
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Offline TKO

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Stainless steel????
« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2004, 05:00:54 PM »
I have a TC Firestorm flintlock that is stainless steel.

The only real advantage that I see is that it is very easy to see when it is perfectly clean.  Powder fouling really shows up on stainless because of the contrast between it's dark color and the "bright" stainless steel.  When stainless is clean you know it is clean.
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