I am new to this forum. In considering hunting rifles (to be used in Wisconsin, Kansas, Texas, and Colorado) any specific advantages to carbon steel over stainless for actions & barrels. It seems with proper care both will last.

Understanding the Context

From various posts and treads this question usually comes down... I keep an eye out for Remington 7400:s and 750:s, mostly because of yet another want instead of need, and stumbled across something I've never seen before. A 7400, .308, advertised as stainless steel, by a shop that also carries two other second hand 7400:s in their inventory. Priced at €390...

Key Insights

Melonite info From my research within the last 2 weeks: Bought a S&W Sigma SW9VE, that apparently was a special order of 4000 from S&W that fell through, and were sold for $279 (new)! Apparently the original purchaser specified a carbon steel slide with Melonite instead of the OEM stainless slide. Traded an older SW9C for a SW40VE that came with a dull finish/stainless slide (didn’t ... Stainless steel was originally chosen for rifle barrels because it resists erosion better than carbon steel. (Erosion due to hot propellant gases is what wears out a barrel.) The stainless is more heat tolerant in this application.

Final Thoughts

Nowadays, stainless steel is also used due to it's lower maintenance requirements than carbon steel. I am thinking about purchasing a Stainless Steel - Remington .44 Caliber (Pietta) from the http://www.possibleshop.com/pietta.htm for 385.00..Has anyone...