What's "Better"?

[Aqualung]

I originally had this in the thread on manuals from the factory, but didn't want to sidetrack the OP's thread...

Now, this is going to get me crucified, but how is polished steel and walnut *better*?

I see this come up a great deal.

Compare two rifles that are identical, except for materials and finish. One is blued steel and wood, the other stainless and polymer.

What benefits does the wood/blued steel (let's abbreviate to W/BS) have over the polymer/stainless (P/SS)?

Polymer stocks do not warp, swell, or lose finish in wet weather. Wood can and does.
Polymer stocks resist gouges, scratches, dents etc. with rough handling, nor do their varnishes chip or flake.
Polymer stocks can be much lighter than wood, making carrying easier

Stainless barrels are less prone to damage from wet conditions, where blued steel may start to rust in fewer than 12 hours. If not stainless, new coating advancements are improvements over bluing and even parkerization.

Bury a W/BS rifle and a P/SS rifle in the dirt for a decade and see which one survives...heck, even lean them inside a closet or barn untouched for 20 years and compare conditions.

Aren't those benefits of the P/SS rifles something for which we strive in firearms technology?

It's technology moving forward. Today's Glock 19 is tomorrow's Single Action Army...

Now, the disclaimer...

Do I *prefer* a W/BS rifle? Yes. I prefer it for how it looks, feels in my hands, and the historical heritage of the the individual firearms I have and their "peers". But, I know that while I love my Enfield No4mk2 and my new Remington 1903A3, they may have fewer practical benefits than a Ruger American.

After building my first AR-style MSR, I realize that the technological advancements are worthy of note and celebration. Eugene Stoner is as much of a genius as John Garand, John Browning and Samuel Colt.

Let's not confuse "quality" and "preference". I'm not saying one preference is better than another, as those are personal decisions to make. However to deride one over the other risks the "Zumbo Effect".

Aqualung

 

[street]

Blue steel and walnut is no better then Stainless and polymer. It just looks a lot better. Take two women. One is a real knock-out the other is just so so to look at. Now the one that is so so might be the better person, or the one that is a knock-out may be the better person. It's hard to tell, but looking at the both of them which one would get your attention first. It's the same with a gun, either one may be the better shooter, but your eyes always goes to the beautiful bluing job and the knock-out piece of walnut.

As for the blue steel and walnut being prong to rusting and scratching then if you can't take care of your guns then by all means buy the stainless and polymer as they don't look good when they are brand new, so you can't hurt them by mishandling.

 

[NH Rugerman]

And unlike most women, the BS/W are not affected by age :roll: :lol:

 

[Ale-8(1)]

BS&W . . . because I like it!

:mrgreen: :wink: :mrgreen:

 

[bisleyfan41]

They're plastic, not polymer. Plastic can crack and break, esp. plastic most mfgs use on $300 WalMart rifles nowadays. Ruger's boat paddle stocks, sturdy utility. Today's plastic, junk.

The stainless steel most mfgs. use these days is also junk. I have no idea why they insist on finishing the SS in the rough way they do, maybe cost savings, but that rough finish with it's texture that holds crud along with whatever low-grade stainless they use, makes rusting almost certain. The stainless on the Ruger American, Savage Axis, Mossberg 4x4, etc. is almost certainly among the lowest grades of stainless available

But I think in the end, stainless/plastic guns can give their owners the false sense that maintenance is unnecessary which leads to neglect which can result in a weapon that may fail or fail to perform when the owner needs it most.

 

[steve1701]

Life is too short to have ugly guns! Blue steel and Walnut for me!

 

[powder smoke]

W/BS are handsome guns well worth the few extra bucks, ps

 

[pete44ru]

Compare two rifles that are identical, except for materials and finish. O

ne is blued steel and wood, the other stainless and polymer.

What benefits does the wood/blued steel (let's abbreviate to W/BS) have over the polymer/stainless (P/SS)?

It's all about preferences - I'd no more criticize someone's choice of firearms than I would their choice of women. :roll:

Some folks like plain brunette's, other like redhead's..............................


.

 

[Fox Mike]

This could turn into a 'what's the best bear gun' type of discussion. Personal preferences are what determine 'better or best' for most. :wink: