Q: What do you consider to be the best metal finish for a hunting rifle other than blueing? How do you care for your rifles after they’ve been subjected to bad weather — rain and snow or salty sea air?
What is your opinion of Cerakote? What does it cost? Who does it?
Also, I’d like your opinion of custom barrels. If you have a factory rifle that regularly shoots 1½” groups, would you replace the barrel?
Kenneth Davidson
A: Stainless-steel rifles on the market today stand up to wet weather quite well, but they are rust-resistant, not rust-proof, and do require a modicum of care after being exposed to the elements.
Rifles like the Browning Stainless Stalker have all the metal parts made of stainless steel and the stocks are synthetic. These rifles will see a lot of use in wet conditions.
Like blued guns, they should have their exterior surfaces dried, wiped over with an oily rag and the bore cleaned every day after you return from hunting.
I believe Cerakote is the ultimate metal finish because it not only stands up to the weather but also rough use and abuse.
It is being used for more and more modern firearms and is seen on rifles like the Browning X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon and others.
I had my Model 70 .30-06 Ackley Improved Cerakoted and it looks great. Alan Naumann did a great job.
If your a rifle shoots consistent 1½” groups it is perfectly adequate for any kind of big-game hunting over normal ranges out to, say, a distance of 400m and not much game gets shot that far away.
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