Dear Rusty Sig,
I believe the word that you're looking for is "corrosion". Yes, stainless can rust; it just resists corrosion longer than steel does. The alloys that you are talking about also tend to resist corrosion longer. I should know--my dad built the submarines for the Afghanistan Navy.
"I'm not sure what's worse: wood that gets termites, or plastic that melts."
I'm waiting for someone to answer your question about your scope. I think that what you need for home defense is a scope of at least 24 power magnification, and a light on it. MagLight make a cool little compact model that is waterproof, reliable, and lightweight. It's called a Solitaire, and takes a readily available battery: the good 'ol AAA. And get a tube extention that holds at least 10 rounds of 3 and a half inch mags. That should only be approx. 37 inches long, if you think about a spring and follower, too. But if you have the 18 inch barrel option, it should be short enough to clear corners easily. I believe that you can also get a tripod for it. That way you can fire those 3 1/2 in buckshot rounds with great precision, especially when moving targets are involved. See what I mean about forums now?
So much for being practical and actually shooting a lot--LOTS of practice makes all the difference in the world.
Skeet
