How durable is the Tikka blue finish?

[A.J.]

Recently found a good deal on a Tikka T3 Lite in .308 (blue), but let my brother talk me out of it. Going for another one in 30-06, and can't decide if the stainless is worth the extra money. Is the blueing on the Tikkas fairly durable, or should I spring for the extra and go stainless?

[Zachary]

I own many Tikkas.  Some wood/blue, but many more stainless synthetic.  My wood/blue guns have yet to be taken in the field, so I can't tell you of how well the "blue" holds up.

However, generally speaking, I think that buying a stainless gun is worth the extra money for the following reasons: 1) stainless obviously resists rust better (but is not rust proof), and 2) stainless finishes do NOT require re-bluing.

My opinion is that if your gun is going to see many days of hunting then, from a maintenance standpoint, I'd spend the extra bucks for a stainless gun.  However, if you are a true wood/blue lover, then maintenance is not an issue.

Zachary

[Old English]

Both my Tikkas are blued and have seen field use. I would go with stainless. Regrettably both of mine have all kinds of stain marks on them. Yes, I do take care of them. They get cleaned regularly, live in a dried gun safe and see the silicon cloth as their friend. Out of the 13 rifles I own, the finish on the Tikkas is unfortumately the worst. I still love them though!!!

[A.J.]

Thank you...That made up my mind.

[379 Peterbilt]

Do know that the Tikkas with stainless barrels are not "rustproof." Oil them just the same as you would with blued. Trust me.

[A.J.]

Sounds like words of experience. Yea, I know that they're not rustproof, but they're a lot more durable than blue. Had a nice Remington 700 barrel turn brown on me while sitting in my gun safe. Kept the safe in my bedroom of an old rent house we used to live in. Temp fluctuated so much in that room that condensation rusted my barrel. With that stainless, I'll feel a lot more comfortable hunting out in the rain and snow, knowing that as long as I wipe it down with a little silicone when I get in, no harm done.

[Rev Buck]

My Tikka has only one season of field use, has seen some rain and snow but I immediately wiped 'er down and oiled 'er as soon as I got back to camp.  No signs of problems yet but as I said that's only one season.  I think my next one will be laminated/stainless just because I like them and suspect I will feel better about it in bad weather.  Rev