RE: blued or stainless
Not a diehard, Savage, but do like stainless. It cleans up easier and is more forgiving if you don't jump right on a thorough clean-up after shooting. You also don't have to worry about wearing through the blueing; scrapes, etc. can be cleaned up with a little scotch brite. Short term moisture isn't a problem and I think stainless trigger mechanisms break-in/smooth-out quicker and become nicer overall than chrome moly.
That said, most of my rifles, CF and BP, are blued. I think they look a little better, shoot a little better (but not always), and are stronger. I think it's easier for the barrel makers to make a good Chrome-Moly barrel than make a good stainless one.
But three of my favorites; a Redhawk, a Security Six and a Greyhawk are stainless.
Bob