Cerakote on a scope???

[bobinpa]

I am desperately looking for a silver Leupold scope with turrets but I can't come up with one.... so I am now considering a Cerakoted scope. Has anyone used one or had it done to a scope? Please give me your feedback, good and bad as well as any concerns that you may think of.
Thanks

 

[STOMP442]

They make air dry options now. I personally wouldn't use the oven cure stuff as I have a hard time feeling okay about putting expensive glass in an oven. But thats just me. Use a Vortex and paint the hell out of it and if melts or fails they will give you a new one.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Can you Cerakote a Rifle Scope? - Everything you need to know!

Keep your scope in great condition for many years by coating it with Cerakote. You can do it yourself and protect your rifle optics for years to come.

riflescopescenter.com

I had a Nightforce 8-32x56 NXS scope cerakoted in FDE about 7 or 8 years ago. The individual that did the work strongly recommended using the non-heat-treated version (Cerakote C). There are some very subtle differences in the appearance of Cerakote C, and I don't think it is quite as tough as the heat-treated Cerakote. Nonetheless, it worked just fine and is still going strong, although in fairness, my scopes never see rough use or get banged around at all. The gradations on the turret rings and a couple other places were taped off so as not to be obscured/covered by the cerakote, so a small amount of the original scope black can still be seen. It's been so long I don't actually recall who did the work, but I suspect you can find someone that does scope cerakoting with a little internet searching.

For obvious reasons, the primary concern is if something happens to the scope that degrades or impairs its performance. For that reason, I don't think heating a scope to 160 degrees for any length of time is a good idea, even if the manufacturer suggests it would survive. A second possible concern is that if you ever want to sell or trade the scope for something else, it may be far more difficult to do so once it has been cerakoted.

FWIW - have you looked on Ebay? They appear to have a number of Silver Leupold scopes for sale, including fixed 36X BR scopes, if that's what you're after. There are also some silver cerakoted scopes at the bottom of the page so you can see what having one done might look like:

Leupold Silver Hunting Rifle Scopes for sale | eBay

Get the best deals on Leupold Silver Hunting Rifle Scopes when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices.

www.ebay.com

 

[Txhillbilly]

Rustoleum makes an Epoxy spray paint for appliances in a Stainless Steel color that would probably work great for painting a scope.
Cerakote is also an Epoxy paint.

https://www.rustoleum.com/en/product-catalog/consumer-brands/specialty/appliance-epoxy-spray

Painting a scope is easy, you just need to take the time to tape the areas that you don't want paint to get on, and prep the surface good for the paint to adhere to the scope.
I've painted several scopes with an airbrush using automotive paints.

 

[boltfluter]

Rustoleum makes an Epoxy spray paint for appliances in a Stainless Steel color that would probably work great for painting a scope.
Cerakote is also an Epoxy paint.

https://www.rustoleum.com/en/product-catalog/consumer-brands/specialty/appliance-epoxy-spray

Painting a scope is easy, you just need to take the time to tape the areas that you don't want paint to get on, and prep the surface good for the paint to adhere to the scope.
I've painted several scopes with an airbrush using automotive paints.

Nicely done! Very cool stuff!
Paul

 

[shoobe01]

I've painted several optics. With paint. Good paint, mostly RAPCO and so on, but "just paint." Prep and cure time are all that paint needs. I have Just Painted uppers that don't have dinks in the shell deflector.

No need to Cerakote or so on, anything. Just paint it carefully and it'll be consistent, and durable.

For shiny however... the biggest issue will be finish texture. Stainless scopes are mostly bead blasted or otherwise achieve this sort of matted finish. Most silvery paints will dry very very smooth instead, and adding deglossing to it won't give the same effect as an actual surface texture. If I wanted shiny and durable I'd suggest automotive paints. I have painted a few not-car things with silver automotive paint and it works great but it does look like an auto finish. I am not sure how I'd replicate the slightly-matted finish of stainless.

One surface is very much like another, so it might be worth grabbing something else reasonably smooth and round (even just a scrap of tubing or pipe) and painting that a few ways to see if you can get the finish you expect.

 

[LarryDScott]

Mr Spradlin on this board use to be in that business, maybe he will jump in. Darrel Jones has a beautiful NF that was silvered. Its in the
guns of the week pictures. LDS

 

[bobinpa]

Thanks for the info guys. I appreciate it!

 

[NV_Dmax]

I am desperately looking for a silver Leupold scope with turrets but I can't come up with one.... so I am now considering a Cerakoted scope. Has anyone used one or had it done to a scope? Please give me your feedback, good and bad as well as any concerns that you may think of.
Thanks

There was a point in time where the scope manufacturers would tell you if their product could handle 150 F. It has been several years since I last coated a scope but I know it's definitely possible with the heat cure Cerakote. My oven is very precise and I let it warm up for a couple hours before coating.

 

[okie]

there was an outfit in cotopaxi co that coated a scope for me once. very good job. it stayed on. i cant remember who they were but it was very professional. maybe someone knows the name??? was maybe 10-15 yrs ago...I am pretty sure it was spradlins

 

[NZ_Fclass]

There is a 2-part product called "Duracoat", which I have used, that air-dries, or will cure at lower temperatures than Cerakote. I have used it on occasion - seems OK, possibly not so hardy as the baked on product. They also make a translucent blue for stainless.

https://www.duracoatfirearmfinishes.com