Ok, i am buying a mini14. now i am trying to decide which model, stainless in wood or blued in tactical. the tactical stock will be bought aftermarket later if i buy it with the wood. what i guess i am really asking is are there any cons to stainless? everything seems positive, weather resistant not having to worry about finish and such. what is your input? also the tactical comes with a shorter barrel by 2 inches what are the pros or cons for that?
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Like I said, the people have spoken
contrary to a myth many people carry stainless steel will rust if it does not receive proper care. It just takes longer for this to happen in most environments.
I live in the Texas Panhandle and, honestly, there is just not enough
humidity to justify stainless steel. A bit of good old 3 in 1 oil has always worked for me. I rather suspect you have similar conditions in Kansas.
A down side to stainless would be visability. If you were concerned about staying hidden (tactically or from game while hunting) stainless can catch the light and give away your possition more than a blued gun. That being said, my duty gun was a two tone Sig for years and it never bothered me and there are lots of stainless hunting guns that take game every year.
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"I don't go shooting without my guns and they don't go shooting without me!"
Depends on how your going to keep it too. If you're plans are to stick it in a gun case and toss in the truck and pull it out for the odd skunk or coyote I'd pick stainless, but if it stays in the house in a gun safe and only gets taken out to shoot/clean/return I'd pick blue. As mentioned earlier stainless will corrode, but most responsible owners take enough care of their stuff that stainless isn't really needed anyway.
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"The only thing more dangerous than ignorance is arrogance" Einstein
Stainless is definitely more durable. It boils down to what you are using the rifle for. Stainless for hunting is not a good idea for stealth unless you are in a remote location from your quarry. Stainless is pretty but if the rifle is exposed to wet conditions the focus should be on the internal parts that are not made of stainless and vulnerable to rust or corrosion. The gun wasn't made to be waterproof. The barrel being shorter by 2" gives you the advantage of maneuverability in tight quarters such as hallways and doorways if used for self defense. With a 2" longer barrel the performance will probably be noticeable at longer distances, something a carbine wasn't really designed for. Hope this helps.
1911's Rock! 
