Are the difference just cosmetic between the two barrels or is there something to the SS not obtained with the blued barrel? Does a 28" barrel give more bang for the punch than a 26" barrel? I very rarely ventured away from bowhunting as if you cant tell .

Rick,
Get the SS. You can breathe a little easier about cleaning chores...although you still need to clean as soon as possible. There is some truth to 28' bbls giving slightly more velocity. At the distances I shoot I don' t think it would matter. I like rifles that balance well. Suggest you handle 26 and 28 inch bbls and decide what feels better to you.
HTH,
Steve

The stainless steel will corrode, however not as fast as blued steel. You should see no difference in performance.

SS coupled with Triple 7 powder will prolong the amount of time b/t shooting and cleaning when in the field. However, cleaning is a must. I have an older Knight MK-85 Stalker with a blued barrel and looking back, I wish I had opted for the stainless barrel.

As a MD hunter, you might want to venture out in the Cambridge area as I do in the swamps. I used to take a blued T/C sidelock. It would build up surface rust in that brackish water before the hunting day was done. Those swamps are heck on guns. I used to combat with rem oil or something I could spray one quickly. For the past 6 years I have taken my knight stainless in the swamps, with no rust issues except the screw that holds the barreled action to the stock and the peice that is the little screw safety on the hammer. I would see rust on that if I didn' t oil well. Go with the stainless.

OK, does a nickle barrel differ from a SS. The Optima offers a nickle.

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Stainless steel barrels last longer, are easier to clean, easier see that they are clean, and give you a cushion against corrosion vs. carbon steel barrels.