blued barrel vs nickel barrel
 

I want to upgrade to a new percussion smoke stick. What are the advantages of nickle over blued bbl. also stainless.
Thanks Louie

RE: blued barrel vs nickel barrel
 

kinglouie63

Just my personal opinion, but stainless is the best, followed by blued, then Nickel - the only reason I rate nickel down is that it can come off. I have a nickel A&H and I have had it for several years and never had a problem with it but i have read where others have....

RE: blued barrel vs nickel barrel
 

Sabotloader is right. Stainless is best followed by Blued. Nickel plated isn't worth bothering with at all. I had one nickel plated gun that I won and the nickel was on the inside of the barrel. It came off when shooting and swabbing. Basically nickel plating is to look pretty. It's worthless in a muzzleloader.

RE: blued barrel vs nickel barrel
 

I have a CVA that is nickel finish. The stuff wears off. Other then that the rifle shoots good but I am sure it would have shot just as well if the barrel was blue.

RE: blued barrel vs nickel barrel
 

I prefer the blued but that is just personal preference.

RE: blued barrel vs nickel barrel
 

wow great info, thanks. I wonder though, is the stainless any easier to keep clean with black powder or pyrodex?
Thanks, Louie

RE: blued barrel vs nickel barrel
 

It's not any easier to clean IMO. You still have to clean it the same way as a blued gun, but stainless is more forgiving.

RE: blued barrel vs nickel barrel
 

Wolfhound as normal is right on the money... Stanless Steel barrels simply.. stain less. You might be able to see your fowling better on a stainless, but they clean the same as far as I am concerned.They still have to be cleaned or they will rust and pit just like a blued barrel. All they really do IMO is slow the clock down in the original start of the rusting process. Which to me means nothing because I clean my rifles ASAP after a days shoot.

RE: blued barrel vs nickel barrel
 

Thank You all,My choice is made I think. Now it's scope or sights.
Louie

RE: blued barrel vs nickel barrel
 

Lol. That's easy, if it's legal pick a good scope in the 2-7 or 3-9 range. My eyes aren't too good so I prefer scopes. I like a 2-7 for hunting brushy areas although something in the 1.5-6 range would be even better. 3-9 is my choice for open areas and range work. It can be a little narrow field ofview for hunting in the brush though.If I had to pickone scope to do it all a 2-7 would be my pick. With 2X on the low end for brush and 7X for open fields or at the range it's a good versatile scope. I've got a couple 3-9's and a 2-7 soI don't have to choose except for the hunt.

I always hunt on the lowest power and turn it up if needed. A couple years ago I was hunting with my 2-7 on my Extreme and I had a couple does come in. I cranked it up to 7X so I could pick out a hole in the brush to shoot through. An 80 yd. shot and I took my doe. But on the flip side I've turned the power up to shoot and forgotten to turn it back down while hunting later and had it cost me a shot. Now I religiously turn the power back down after the shot.

If you have to choose between a no mag scope and open sights then I can't give you any help here as I've never used a 1X scope.