Has your stainless steel barrel ever spooked game?

Nightvisionary

Nightvisionary

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Im wondering mainly about matte or even satin finish stainless steel barrels. What's the consensus, will big game or predators alert to it and beat feet or is it not a major factor to worry about?
 
I brlieve the flash off my barrel has spooked a coyote before,of course I cant be 100% positive of what spooked it,but my brother shot a similar rifle and when I watched him crossing a field the gun was shining and standing out really bad I also think with the right angle the glass on your scope can be seen from a distance as well.now I havea painted rifle and use a 6" sun shade as well. i will be interested to see what everyone else thinks
 
to answer the question, no. And if the lense of your scope is flashing sun light, then you're breaking one of the basic rules of calling coyotes, "Sun at YOUR back, sun in the coyotes eyes".
 
Originally Posted By: songdogto answer the question, no. And if the lense of your scope is flashing sun light, then you're breaking one of the basic rules of calling coyotes, "Sun at YOUR back, sun in the coyotes eyes".

Sometimes you have to break the rules.
 
Originally Posted By: shankbone
Sometimes you have to break the rules.

exactly, you can't always call with the sun at your back all the while having the wind in your face, you've got to adapt to each scenario and condition... If your concerned about your barrel spooking game, and want to keep it SS, just bead blast it, the matte finish will eliminate sun glare all together... I personally like to cerakote our equipment.
 
mine does when they see the flash out of the muzzle,oh its to late then.mine are all matt finish they don't shine
 
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Matte or satin stainless is good. In fact I have taken pictures of them in many settings and find them much less obvious than blued.
 
Probably- a stainless or bright blue smooth barrel flashes like a strobe when it is rotated in sunlight. Vet wrap or similar is our friend here imo.
 
the rules of coyote calling aren't set in stone, even the coyotes know that. BUT just how low in the sky does the sun have to be to hit a scope lense? And then think about looking into that low sun. I'll take a cross wind before I look into a rising or setting sun, because if you can't see'em, you can't kill'em.
 
Originally Posted By: songdogthe rules of coyote calling aren't set in stone, even the coyotes know that. BUT just how low in the sky does the sun have to be to hit a scope lense? And then think about looking into that low sun. I'll take a cross wind before I look into a rising or setting sun, because if you can't see'em, you can't kill'em.
During the winter months, the sun don't get real high... True our entire team uses sunshades on all our rifle scopes, but the 82mm XF305 filter diameter is much more prone to reflection... many places we call, a x wind is out of the question as well, simply because the coyotes natural instinct to circle renders him invisible, due to the cut banks @ 3 and 9... once again, "try" to play by the rules, but be able to adapt when they change!
 
matte finish doesn't always work as I have seen. ive seen the strap on a guys bino harness glowing in the sun on a bow hunt spooking the deer. I take as many procautions as I can but if I have to ill sit with the wrong light or with the wrong wind. I got confidence in my scent eliminators and soaps as in my camo and wraps. hasn't done me wrong yet. we keep killing more and more each year
 

I can't say for sure that I've had anything spook over my stainless rifles, but I know for sure that a glossy-blued rifle spooked the heck out of a 5-point buck.

Back in the old days, we all thought we had to have the prettiest rifle out there, which meant one with a beautiful piece of wood, glossy and a polished blued barrel.

When the first matte-finished rifles began showing up with composite stocks, a lot of guys (myself included) just couldn't stomach it. It took some getting used to. Now I wouldn't go back for anything, though I admit I'm still a sucker for a pretty piece of wood.
 
^^6mm....I thought in those days if you ever missed you turned your high gloss rifle sideways and flash blinded the deer for another shot when it tried to see again.
MY own SS guns are painted w/flats
 
The whole cammo thing is a bit overboard. As long as it's not polished you'll be fine.

Never had deer or coyote spook from sight of stainless... Maybee my movement, but that's not stainless problem.
 
If you have ever hunted geese in a field, you'll understand the importance of concealment and stillness. There's nothing more frustrating than flaring birds on slow, bone-chilling day.
 
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