Why doesn't anyone offer Shotguns in Stainless Steel?

[Echo40]

I'm a big fan of Stainless Steel due to its corrosion-resistance, durability, ease of refinishing, and aesthetic appeal, so whenever the option is available, my first choice is Stainless Steel.
However, I have noticed that one type of firearm in particular is rarely offered in true Stainless Steel. Shotguns, particularly pump-action and semiautomatic shotguns, never seem to be available in Stainless Steel. You can get them in various silver finishes like Nickel, Chrome, Cerakote, or proprietary finishes like Mossberg's Marinecote, but they're always some sort of plating or coating, never actual Stainless Steel. Why is that?

This is a question that has repeatedly found its way into my thoughts while looking at shotguns, but strangely I have never been able to find an answer to, so now for the very first time, I'm asking the question I've never seen asked nor answered; why?
Is there a tangible reason why shotguns aren't commonly available in Stainless Steel? Some sort of reason why it couldn't or shouldn't be done? Because I find it perplexing that something with such obvious marketing appeal isn't commonly available, especially by manufacturers such as Remington which offers other firearms in Stainless Steel.

Honestly, I've only seen one shotgun ever offered in Stainless Steel, a now discontinued over-under shotgun by Ruger known as the Red Label Shotgun.

Does anyone know why Stainless Steel isn't more commonly used in the construction of shotguns?

 

[k22fan]

I can not answer your question. I only wanted to write that I remember handling a pump riot 12 gauge in stores in the later 1980s or during the 1990s. I think it was the common Remington riot pump made from stainless steel but I'm not sure. I am sure that it was not a plated non-stainless steel gun. I did not buy one because it did not have interchangeable choke tubes.

Perhaps manufacturers figure that hunters and police would not want silver shotguns revealing their presence and the limited market can be satisfied with plated non-stainless steel guns. Either that or they view the low sales of the few stainless models that were made as expensive mistakes they do not want to repeat.

 

[Farmer17]

Remington uses stamped steel receivers but almost everyone else uses aluminum alloy for shotgun receivers which won't rust if done properly and I also heard, years ago that stainless was harder to machine. With modern coatings, like on a Glock or S&W M&P, rust is much easier to avoid.

 

[OKFC05]

They have been made as "marine shotguns" for yachts for many decades, and were advertised during the boating boom. They just didn't sell well, and most owners I knew just bought a used pump and stored it in a locker.

As for buying one to use for hunting, forget it. Too flashy and the internals would still be tool steel anyway. Parkerized is plenty good for the ducks.

 

[Echo40]

I can not answer your question. I only wanted to write that I remember handling a pump riot 12 gauge in stores in the later 1980s or during the 1990s. I think it was the common Remington riot pump made from stainless steel but I'm not sure. I am sure that it was not a plated non-stainless steel gun. I did not buy one because it did not have interchangeable choke tubes.

Perhaps manufacturers figure that hunters and police would not want silver shotguns revealing their presence and the limited market can be satisfied with plated non-stainless steel guns. Either that or they view the low sales of the few stainless models that were made as expensive mistakes they do not want to repeat.

I've heard rumors of this Remington, but have been unable to verify it's existence because apparently nobody owns one.

It is possible to make Stainless Steel with a non-reflective matte finish by simply bead-blasting it. I own a Taurus Judge Magnum in Stainless Steel with such a finish, and let me tell you, it looks as if it isn't really Stainless Steel at all, which initially concerned me because I thought I had been ripped off, until I had taken a closer look at the internals which hadn't been bead-blasted.

As you can see from the pic, it's so non-reflective that it almost looks white when photographed with direct sunlight hitting it.

Smith & Wesson also offers some of its more budget-priced revolvers with a similar finish, although theirs is slightly more lustrous due to the finer blasting media they use.

 

[k22fan]

Poking around the internet the closest thing I found to stainless steel pump shotguns was early aluminum framed Winchester 1200s had stainless steel barrels and magazine tubes. Later ones had nickel plated barrels and magazine tubes.

Non-reflective silvery grey solid color shotguns still are not as good camouflage as dark blue/black and wood.

 

[colt_saa]

The old Winchester Model 1300 Stainless Marine has a stainless barrel and magazine tube that is nickel plated as far as I recall. Obviously the rest of the firearm is also nickel plated like the aluminium receiver. I do not recall how much more of it is stainless

Back in the 80s or 90s I first saw these on my buddies Coast Guard cutter in Miami.

I always thought it looked cool and still have one in my spare room. I am not sure if I have even fired it.

Back in the day I also bought one of the 14" Mossberg 590 Marinecote shotguns.

 

[THEmodelof1989]

As an avid duck hunter that hunts mostly swamp and marsh area, stainless steel COULD be nice for the humidity. HOWEVER, I find that my parkerized Remington 870 is up for the task and doesn't throw a glare into a ducks eyes. No clue if that's a thing. Should I chance it? Maybe they are just dumb birds and don't know squat, but I've got a sneaking suspicion that by the time they get to me down in Texas, they've pretty much seen it all. If my 870 gets a little weather damaged it just adds character, and weather hasn't ruined it yet. At $250, what's even to ruin? I've fed my family WAY more than $250 in duck meat. The gun has paid for itself and is still working.

 

[SAFireman]

I have a Winchester 1200 Stainless Police.

It is pictured here with some other stuff, but you get the idea.

 

[double-dipper]

I also prefer stainless steel. Here is a list of stainless steel shotguns both past and present.
Stoeger Coach, Mossberg 500 Mariner, Remington 870 Marine Magnum, Winchester Model 1200 and 1300 marine stainless steel, Thompson Center, Verney-Carron Snake Charmer, Browning Citori Stainless Steel Lightning Over/Under Shotgun, Browning BT 99.

 

[Echo40]

I also prefer stainless steel. Here is a list of stainless steel shotguns both past and present.
Stoeger Coach, Mossberg 500 Mariner, Remington 870 Marine Magnum, Winchester Model 1200 and 1300 marine stainless steel, Thompson Center, Verney-Carron Snake Charmer, Browning Citori Stainless Steel Lightning Over/Under Shotgun, Browning BT 99.

The Mossberg 500 Mariner isn't Stainless Steel, it uses a proprietary finish known as Marinecote, older models were Nickel-plated. The Remington 870 Marine Magnum uses an electroless Nickel finish.

 

[Laketime]

My guess would be because they wouldn’t look all that good.

 

[diyj98]

Poking around the internet the closest thing I found to stainless steel pump shotguns was early aluminum framed Winchester 1200s had stainless steel barrels and magazine tubes. Later ones had nickel plated barrels and magazine tubes.

Non-reflective silvery grey solid color shotguns still are not as good camouflage as dark blue/black and wood.

Way before the 1200, Winchester made a Model 12 with a stainless steel barrel. They're fairly rare to find.

 

[Stevie]

Ruger made Red Label over/unders in stainless didn't they?

 

[oneounceload]

And you saw how well those sold.
Browning did too; for a minute.......

Mossberg, Remington and Winchester, as mentioned, all offered stainless pumps at one time or another.

What doesn't sell gets discontinued..................

 

[Echo40]

And you saw how well those sold.
Browning did too; for a minute.......

Mossberg, Remington and Winchester, as mentioned, all offered stainless pumps at one time or another.

What doesn't sell gets discontinued..................

You'd think they'd still offer them in limited quantities at least, they'd certainly be a hit with the folks who buy Nickel plated versions, and would most likely be cheaper to produce since they don't need to be plated.

 

[EdinDenver]

The simple answer is "Galvanic Corrosion". It's a hotly debated topic among gun guys. Essentially, when two dissimilar metals are joined, there is a risk of corrosion and metal failure that is much more aggressive than simple rust. Match stainless with carbon in a salty environment and it can be a disaster. Match aluminum with steel and add some graphite lubricant and a salty environment and you're going to get system failure (think AR Platform). Same with stainless shotguns. A purely, all stainless shotgun, with stainless internals, would be tough to machine and too expensive for most folks...what you get is a compromise of safety and affordability which is what's on the market.

Here's a quick explanation => Galvanic corrosion - facts and how to reduce the risk — Sandvik Materials Technology

 

[Joed49]

The Remington 870 came in a nickel finish called "Electroless Nickel" not stainless steel. I came close to buying one in 2003 but the owner of the shop talked me into the Mossberg Mariner which was about $80 cheaper.

The Mossberg is not stainless either but type of coating.

 

[Farmer17]

My hunting shotgun is a Yildiz side by side 20 gauge that’s made in Turkey and has black chrome barrels with white chrome on the inside. They are a little shiny but not enough to scare off game and it makes the gun look really good with the rich checkered walnut stocks and gives me some pride of ownership unlike the plain black guns. Since real blue guns are almost a thing of the past I wish they would make more guns out of black chrome because it looks good, resists rust, is easy to take care of and is tougher than bluing.

 

[Rubone]

I have an 870 "Marine Magnum" in the electroless finish. It serves its role as a house gun but would never go to the field. Personally I think a SS shotgun would be butt ugly. Older blue high polish guns are beautiful. Modern Parkerized/black/Ceracote guns are functional if not that appealing. Can't see where SS would fit in. I even put modern plastic furniture on my old "Wingmaster" to make it more field friendly.