Super Grade with fragile bluing
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:25 pm
First time poster here looking for some information. I purchased a Model 70 super grade in .300 win mag in September of 2011. Since then I've used it for two whitetail hunting trips and one trip to Africa, none of which involved particularly harsh weather. Since then, I've noticed that the bluing isn't holding up very well to even normal use. From resting the barrel against a tree branch or on the nylon tree stand arm cover, there are permanent scuff marks and scratches that won't buff out. When cleaning last year I must have dropped some simple cleaning solvent on it, which created a permanent etched mark. Even pushing through brush in the woods has been marking it up.
This I figured might be because of the high gloss finish, but I still wasn't too pleased. The final straw was today, when after taking it out of the case after two months of storage (it was dry when it went in), I saw that the floorplate is all pitted with spots of rust. I have rifles that are 30 years old and have been through hell and back with casual maintenance that have never shown any rust or pitting. I have trouble believing that the bluing on a super grade would be this fragile, any suggestions or experience with this?
Thanks
This I figured might be because of the high gloss finish, but I still wasn't too pleased. The final straw was today, when after taking it out of the case after two months of storage (it was dry when it went in), I saw that the floorplate is all pitted with spots of rust. I have rifles that are 30 years old and have been through hell and back with casual maintenance that have never shown any rust or pitting. I have trouble believing that the bluing on a super grade would be this fragile, any suggestions or experience with this?
Thanks