New Barrel Exterior Coating Options?

[Tim D]

Just installed a new barrel and it’s the bare shiny steel color. If I was going to have this barrel for years I’d cerakote it. However the life is probably going to be a year. I’m toying with one of three options. Paint or cold blue or something else to nock the shine down.
open for suggestions
thanks
tim

 

[Mark M.]

Bead blast

 

[Rsadams]

On the cheap... Spray can... If it gets scratched etc it's soooo easy to touch it back up especially if you're going to get rid of it in a year.... Sometimes the cheaper route is the way to go...

 

[Sniper338]

Anything besides a rattle can will cost money..

 

[Tim D]

It’s a midrange 223 rem build that my daughter is wanting. I was wondering if rattle can paint would cause the barrel to cool slower.

 

[XL105]

Cerakote with their C series paint. No oven or air compressor needed. I have watched videos of guys pouring gas and other chemicals on it and doesn’t wipe off. Holds up very well to scratches. Relatively cheap if you do it the way the guy in video does it. It turned out very well.

 

[Rsadams]

Cerakote with their C series paint. No oven or air compressor needed. I have watched videos of guys pouring gas and other chemicals on it and doesn’t wipe off. Holds up very well to scratches. Relatively cheap if you do it the way the guy in video does it. It turned out very well.

This looks pretty good.... I am going to look into doing this...

 

[wkdickinson]

+1 bead blast. I've had lots of barrels bead blasted - I like the "frosted" look.

 

[Bill Rodolph]

Bead blast. If its stainless it will be grey. Also, if its stainless, you can't cold blue it.

 

[hogpatrol]

Probably a thousand or more colors, designs, camo, etc, hydrodip is another option.

 

[joshb]

My first try with the do it yourself Cerakote failed so I hit it with Krylon flat black. Yeah, it scratches easily but fixing it is easy!

 

[SSL]

If it isn't stainless, Oxpho Blue from Brownells. With a decent polish (800-1000 grot paper will do) it looks good and is pretty tough. Just keep applying and buffing off with steel wool until it looks the way you like.

 

[DangerRanger]

Make it shinier

 

[Sandstorm]

Just shoot it..

 

[hogpatrol]

My first try with the do it yourself Cerakote failed so I hit it with Krylon flat black. Yeah, it scratches easily but fixing it is easy!

Yeah, and I saw it. Had me fooled.

 

[hogpatrol]

Josh, this is a LOT more durable.

Pilot Supplies and Aircraft Parts | Aircraft Spruce

Aircraft Spruce is a worldwide distributor of certified and homebuilt aircraft supplies.

www.aircraftspruce.com

 

[Knotwild]

Rust-Oleum black grill paint. I used on a stainless AR barrel used as a truck gun - multiple (2 or 3) coats. The only thing that put a scratch in it was metal that would have scratched any coating. Easy to find / easy to use.

Rust-Oleum black grill paint

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Rust-Oleum black grill paint. I used on a stainless AR barrel used as a truck gun - multiple (2 or 3) coats. The only thing that put a scratch in it was metal that would have scratched any coating. Easy to find / easy to use.

Rust-Oleum black grill paint

That stuff is tuff

 

[divingin]

Josh, this is a LOT more durable.

Pilot Supplies and Aircraft Parts | Aircraft Spruce

Aircraft Spruce is a worldwide distributor of certified and homebuilt aircraft supplies.

www.aircraftspruce.com

I think that's the cheapest thing I've ever seen that was intended for an airplane...

 

[eklhunter77]

Oven bake cerakote is my personal favorite. 1 mil thick, more durable than anything mentioned above, and can be done over and over because you do no remove any metal. Yes, it can be tough for a do-it-yourselfer, but it is not that bad to have someone do it for you. Heck, if an idiot like me can do it, I am sure you guys can figure it out. I have done 20 of my guns with it.