What happened to Stainless guns? whats the deal?

[newmenu2]

I just saw a USP 9mm compact with the Stainless slide and just said WoW to myself. Why are these guns not so common anymore. HK doent seem to make them. Sig has sharply shrunk what guns they sell in stainless and so on.

Is there a practical reason why there are fewer and few new stainless guns amongst makers like HK and Sig as far as realiability or durability? Is it a supply/ demand problem?

I know revolvers are a dime a dozen in stainless but it seems like there were a whole lot more then there are now.

[Mike from Texas]

SIGs and M&P are stainless, they are just coated to be black.

[newmenu2]

Is SS a heavier metal then whats commonly used and blued? does anyone know what the weight ratio per lb. is between the metals?

[AEA]

I do not know the answer to your weight question.

But, in my opinion since the "Plastic" guns with Light Rails came into being, it seems that "Real Conceal Carry" style guns in both blue/parked/stainless have appeared to have gone out of fashion in a lot of circles.

I cannot imagine why anyone would carry concealed a pistol with a light rail on it.
"Hold on there a sec, let me get my Streamlight outta my Man Bag and hook it up before I shoot ya!"

[Morgan]

Stainless steel's exact weight per cubic whatever will have just a VERY TINY and completely undetectable weight difference to mild steel in the quantity used in a handgun. Stainless steel gets that way (rust and corrosion resistant) by the inclusion of certain metals, chromium in particular, in the "mix." But if you made 2 guns identically, like in the same mold, one out of stainless and the other out of some non stainless alloy, the weight difference probably wouldn't be a gram.

I have a light rail on my concealed gun. Of course, I don't have a light ON the rail of my concealed gun.

My guess would be that the polymer guns are taking up a lot of what used to be stainless. But that's only a guess.

[Liberty]

Stainless steel's exact weight per cubic whatever will have just a VERY TINY and completely undetectable weight difference to mild steel in the quantity used in a handgun. Stainless steel gets that way (rust and corrosion resistant) by the inclusion of certain metals, chromium in particular, in the "mix." But if you made 2 guns identically, like in the same mold, one out of stainless and the other out of some non stainless alloy, the weight difference probably wouldn't be a gram.

I have a light rail on my concealed gun. Of course, I don't have a light ON the rail of my concealed gun.

My guess would be that the polymer guns are taking up a lot of what used to be stainless. But that's only a guess.

Why would plastic exclude stainless? My P95 is a blend of plastic and Stainless.

[barres]

Is SS a heavier metal then whats commonly used and blued? does anyone know what the weight ratio per lb. is between the metals?

Per pound, all metals weigh the same. Someone else already answered the question that you meant to ask, the weight per unit of volume.

I think we see fewer stainless models these days because most models focus on CCW, and there is a perception, right or wrong, that a CCW needs to be black, because a bright, flashy, stainless/nickle firearm will be seen but a black one will not, regardless of the cover garment over it .

[Keith B]

Is SS a heavier metal then whats commonly used and blued? does anyone know what the weight ratio per lb. is between the metals?

Per pound, all metals weigh the same. Someone else already answered the question that you meant to ask, the weight per unit of volume.

I think we see fewer stainless models these days because most models focus on CCW, and there is a perception, right or wrong, that a CCW needs to be black, because a bright, flashy, stainless/nickle firearm will be seen but a black one will not, regardless of the cover garment over it .

All of my guns are bright and flashy when the bullet comes out of the barrell at a BG.

[shootthesheet]

Most people buy stainless pistols because of how they look, correct? CCW is hard on the finish of a gun. So, worn finish on a pretty gun means the owner isn't satisfied. I don't have one but that is a guess. I could be wrong.

AEA,

There are some IWB and OWB holsters made so the light can be installed on the gun as you probably know. I have a paddle holster for my Glock 21 that I use during the winter and when hunting hogs at night. I would like to get an IWB holster and a mini-light to use at night for CCW. I have just not made it a priority because of the cost to need factor. As well, the fact is I would still have to carry a light because using the one on the gun to scan the area in a non-threat situation.... I think light makers are going to have to do more R&D on the rail lights to get them smaller still. They are good for OWB but fall a little short in IWB because of the size so I do see your point there. I don't have one of the smaller lights so that may be the key. Even one that isn't super bright would be enough for most CCW situations I think. Eventually they will shrink to a size of some of the small rail lasers and that will encourage more people to use them. The whole man bag thing cracked me up. "Murse" I think is what some are called. What a hoot.

[barres]

Is SS a heavier metal then whats commonly used and blued? does anyone know what the weight ratio per lb. is between the metals?

Per pound, all metals weigh the same. Someone else already answered the question that you meant to ask, the weight per unit of volume.

I think we see fewer stainless models these days because most models focus on CCW, and there is a perception, right or wrong, that a CCW needs to be black, because a bright, flashy, stainless/nickle firearm will be seen but a black one will not, regardless of the cover garment over it .

All of my guns are bright and flashy when the bullet comes out of the barrell at a BG.

That's exactly my point! The BG (or anyone else) isn't going to see the firearm at all, until an instant before there is a very bright flash and a very loud bang. And at that point, concealment has been blown, anyway (pun definitely intended )!

[AEA]

Most people buy stainless pistols because of how they look, correct?

I don't think that is correct. I personally buy them because it is easier to determine when they are clean and when they are not. And that they are somewhat impervious to rusting as opposed to standard blued steel.

Glad you enjoyed the "Man Bag" thingy!

[G.C.Montgomery]

Is SS a heavier metal then whats commonly used and blued? does anyone know what the weight ratio per lb. is between the metals?

On the first question, the difference in weight between one cubic centimeter blocks of 4140 CRMO steel, 4130 CRMO steel and 416 stainless steel might be +-0.00001 gram. Basically it's too small a difference to care.

On the second question, I think I know what you meant but please see the answer to the first question. Otherwise, I'm going to ask which you think is heavier...100lbs of feathers or 100lbs of bricks?

[jeeperbryan]

All I know is that I have wayyyyyy too many black guns. My collection is too dull. I need some color or shine. My next three guns will be an XD40 with Dark Earth frame, all stainless 1911, and all stainless snubbie.

[The Annoyed Man]

Most people buy stainless pistols because of how they look, correct? CCW is hard on the finish of a gun.

Resistance to corrosion is the primary reason that my daily carry is a pistol with a stainless slide/barrel on an alloy frame (3" Kimber). It doesn't hurt that it's relatively light too. I also have a full sized 1911 with a parkerized finish that I carry on occasion. I take it as a matter of faith that A) I have to be attentive to protecting both pistols from sweat, etc.; and B) I will someday have to refinish the big pistol anyway because the parkerizing isn't as impervious to wear as other finishes.

[Rex B]

I pocket carry in a pocket holster, and no one is going to see what color it is unless I need to get it out. At that point I probably want to be sure they see it.
My CCW for the last year or so has been a P3AT in navy blue with a hard chrome slide.
I just recently changed to a stainless Colt Mustang, the only thing black is the grip panels and the hole in the end

All-black is just sooo boring.