Performance Center Stealth Hunter question?

[Les K.]

Hi all,

A question for you experts....I was fortunate enough to find a gunshop that had in stock a Stealth Hunter from the Performance Center that I purchased. I was looking for something a little different from the many stainless bright and shiny models out there and this is one that that caught my eye and one that I haven't been able to find anywhere else here in Southern California.

My question has to do with the finish. I know from looking on line that it's a blackened stainless finish but beyond that I don't know much about it. The gunshop salesman didn't seem to know much about it either just saying that it's "very durable" I just wanted to know what it is, if there is any special care that it needs, and if it's really that durable? I love the satin kind of dull look that it has but I'm concerned about scratches and such.

Also if I may, another question: These .44 mag Stealth Hunters seem to be pretty uncommon around here so I was wondering if anyone knew how many of these have been built? Limited production or no?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Les K.]

No one knows?

 

[kennyb]

hi les and welcome to the forum...i'll take a crack at it...i have a 500 mag from the PC with the same finish...i also have the M629 stealth hunter with the same finish...i am not certain as to what the stainless is coated with but i can say it's quite durable...hmmm...maybe a call to the performance center is in order...anyway...i am very impressed with the stealth hunter...mine shoots like a lazer as i'm sure your's will as well...if you don't reload..consider it...i can reload 50 rounds of 44 mag.or special for about six dollars....i dont know what the production numbers are on the stealth hunter...i do know that my dealer had never seen one and he sells a LOT of handguns!he ordered two (one for me and one for my brother)the distributor mentioned to my dealer that it's the only ones he had ever gotten in...i love mine...kinda pricey but dang...it shoots great!

 

[Les K.]

Hi Kenny, and thanks for your response!

I think I've found out a little bit about it from the Internet. Here it is: It's called Melonite and is supposed to be a heat and chemical process that they say case hardens the surface of the base metal to about C70. The process is supposed to be much thicker than the traditional bluing and is extremely corrosion resistant. They say it also deposits a very smooth layer on the base metal, and it seemed so when I was checking out the revolver. Very interesting coating indeed! That's just the layman's version; the explanation gets way too technical for me.

I'm planning on getting into handloading as soon as my finances recoup (as you mentioned-kind of pricey gun) not only for economy, but since I'm only familiar with the .357 and have never fired a .44 magnum before, I want to work up to a comfortable load that doesn't have too much recoil for me.

Thanks for the info on how it shoots, I'm sure it's very accurate. As for how many there are, I don't know either, but I've been to every gun shop that I could find here in So Cal (and the Las Vegas area) and have never come across one except at that one place. There are plenty of the 629 Classic, but the Stealth Hunter is very unusual. I grabbed it as soon as I could afford it!

 

[kennyb]

thanks for the information on the coating les...getting set up to reload is not bad and you quickly recoup your money....be sure to check out the reloading area of this forum...much knowledge there!