Hunting finish

[dougk]

What finish is better for hunting, Blue or Stainless?

Thanks
Doug

[corbanzo]

Chrome stainless can reflect light.  Flat or brushed stainless isn't quite so bad.  Really, the gun isn't a large enough outline to make a major difference, and easily concealed in branches.  But blued would be harder to spot in any light, because stainless, even flat will still reflect more light, blued absorbs all colors(mostly) of the spectrum.

Stainless won't rub off and it won't rust.

I'd say if you take care of your gun, and watch yourself it's up to you, and I would say there really isn't much difference.  I know people who have only blued, and I know people who have only stainless, they are just as successful as eachother.  With a handgun you can shoot 50+ yards away pretty easy if you want to.  No animal is going to spot anything as small as a handgun at that distance unless you are waving it around all crazy. 

[S.B.]

Undeniably, stainless is more durable in any kind of inclement weather.

[Graybeard]

That a blued gun reflects less light than a SS one is a common MISCONCEPTION and is false. The apparent color of the finish has ZERO to do with it's reflectivity. If no sun light hits it I'm not sure I'd say blue is less easy to pick out either at least where I hunt as gray is a very common color for limbs and trunks of trees here. But almost all blued guns are highly polished and reflect the maximum about of light. Most of my SS guns have a duller matte finish and will reflect far less than than any of my blued guns.

Many times sitting high in a tree stand I've seen the bright glare of light from a hunter's blued gun as he walked thru the woods within sight of me. Who started the story that blued guns reflect less than SS is beyond me but it's another of those myths that seems to never die.

[kennisondan]

a scope is the biggest shine out there.. I agree it is the shiny finish that is the biggest problem, and that any dull finish is better... one of my clements guns has a dull black finish, and it does not shine at all... looks dull in any light but still attractive... I just stay in the shadows as much as possible and pay attention to the light reflecting off the surfaces of the gun, a watch, and MY GLASSES...
all that is important to me...
dk

[obxmike]

I've always leaned to stainless just because it's easier to keep. I hate being out with a blued gun and getting it wet......You can just about hear it start to rust before you can get home and dry it off properly.  I am in agreement with GB on the reflectivity thing....matte stainless is much less reflective than blued. As a side note, you can wrap either finish with that non-reflective camo tape and pick any color you want to go underneath!

[HHI-7420]

I use both bright blue and stainless(ruger finish) and I average 4 deer a year. I've shot them as close as 4-5 yds.(maybe closer). What matters most is your movement. Bring your gun up very slowly close to your body , then slowly extend it and pow! Dead deer.  Pat

[kennisondan]

yep ... Pow....
not pow pow either.   
dk

[Redhawk1]

I really don't think it matters which one you choose, a handgun is not like a mirror. Next time your out hunting, look for hunters, the last thing you will see is there guns, no matter if it is a handgun or rifle. I go with what I like and mostly it is stainless.

[banen]

I don't think it matters other than stainless is more weather resistant.  Other than that I agree with what Graybeard said.