BigR Thanks for your reply, I made up my mind some time ago that this would be a good durable rifle. I held off because of some unfavorable reports but am in full gear now to get one. It's hard for an old fart to get excited but I am pumped.
I used to hunt the mountians as it appears you do and and have wittnessed some very harsh weather. I have a 1970s Remington 7MM Mag that I put a plastic stock on as I too want service ability.
I built my 1st mountian rifle in the late 70s it was a 700 /7 mag with a 3.5X10 Leo, and a plastic stock. I called it my ugly meat gun, but it never changed point of impact no matter what the conditions were or what it had been through. That rifle had a stainless steel barrel but a standard reciever, plus it was blued or painted not sure which so after a few years it was butt ugly. I used to paint the stock every year rustolem sticks to every thing.