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Cost
Stainless steel is more expensive than plain steel. Stainless steel is also harder than plain steel, which makes cutting rifling into the barrel blank more difficult and further increases cost.
Durability
Stainless steel is harder than plain steel. This hardness gives stainless-steel barrels a longer life span than plain-steel barrels. Stainless steel is also much more resistant to rust than traditional steel barrels.
Appearance
A rifle's metal parts have traditionally been finished with bluing. Bluing is a process that makes the steel less prone to rusting and provides a dark blue finish to the metal. Stainless steel is difficult to blue, meaning shooters must choose between a traditional appearance and the improved durability of stainless steel.