Metal Finishes

[DumpHollow]

For a hunting rifle, what is the most durable and protective modern finish? Is Cerakote the most effective protection?

I do have a factory rifle that is Cerakoted but has not been abused enough to show wear. I am interested in having a blued rifle refinished with some inert coating.

Feedback from hunters and guides who have been to Alaska or carry rifles in saddle scabbards would be great!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

For a hunting rifle, what is the most durable and protective modern finish? Is Cerakote the most effective protection?

I do have a factory rifle that is Cerakoted but has not been abused enough to show wear. I am interested in having a blued rifle refinished with some inert coating.

Feedback from hunters and guides who have been to Alaska or carry rifles in saddle scabbards would be great!

Does robar still do those finishes? Those are the only finishes ive seen hold up on a shotgun that stays in a saltwater boat. A sprayed on finish will rub off

 

[butchlambert]

Melonite

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I am not a fan of cerakote. Its fine on a rem 700 but on any of the better actions it makes the bolt too tight and causes them to bind. Bat, Borden, Kelbly, Defiance all run better without cerakote. I like a bead blast finish on my hunting rifles. Looks good, durable, easy to fix if scratched, and maintains the function and dimensions of that custom action. But if we are talking a loose 700 then its fine. It does wear off, but for a paint type coating its pretty good.

 

[RWO]

If you want black, Melonite is about it for durability and corrosion proofing. All the others are paint. One other possibility is hard chrome or electroless nickel for corrosion protection of carbon steel with a paint top coat for your desired color. The paint will wear off but the base metal will be protected. Teflon impregnated electroless nickel ( Robar NP3 is one) is very good as it is self lubricating and corrosion resistant, but paint won't stick very well. It is very good on working parts like bolts, triggers, extractors, etc.

None of the above can be applied to the bore except Melonite.

RWO

 

[AckleymanII]

Cerakote = lipstick

Satin Nickel or Black Chrome will be there long after we are dead and gone

 

[geraldgee]

DLC

 

[Hal]

How does Black Ice compare ?

 

[Dans40X]

PVD
Harder than woodpecker lips.
No build up.
No heat applied.

 

[DumpHollow]

Thanks to all for the feedback. I guess stainless is about the only good solution, although it's not completely inert.

 

[Dans40X]

400 series stainless basically has more chrome than chrome moly'd receivers/bbls.
It is NOT impervious to corrosion as is non heat treatable 300 series stainless that has nickel added.
Titanium is impervious to corrosion,but the Ti Bbls shoot worse than carbon wrapped Bbls.

As per,hunting in Alaska or from a horse,preventative maintenance goes a long ways & has served me well for 3+ decades in Alaska.
(I don't ride horses, as they get stuck in the tundra)

 

[Dusty Stevens]

400 series stainless basically has more chrome than chrome moly'd receivers/bbls.
It is NOT impervious to corrosion as is non heat treatable 300 series stainless that has nickel added.
Titanium is impervious to corrosion,but the Ti Bbls shoot worse than carbon wrapped Bbls.

As per,hunting in Alaska or from a horse,preventative maintenance goes a long ways & has served me well for 3+ decades in Alaska.
(I don't ride horses, as they get stuck in the tundra)

This is what you need dan:

 

[Dans40X]

Dusty,
I'll keep the 180 & super cub maintained & current.
(both on tundra tires)

Roll-a-Gon's,Track Machines,boats &/or horses are tooooooooo slow & rough riding.

(I don't/won't babysit tourist/terrorists either on foot or in a bus)

At times the 3 F & L rule doesn't apply!
(If it Floats,Flies,F_cks or Lifts it's cheaper to rent)

 

[LarryDScott]

Mahovsky's Metalife. Best protection for any metal
I have used Ron's service on many firearms.
He does handguns, rifles, shotguns, or any parts
you choose.
LDS

 

[RWO]

Cerakote = lipstick

Satin Nickel or Black Chrome will be there long after we are dead and gone

Black chrome was one of the possibilities that Winchester tried to finish the unblueable Post 64 Mod 94 ductile iron receivers. According to what I have read, it didn't have enough scratch resistance. They ended up electroplating the receivers with iron and then they could be blued on the production line as usual.

RWO

 

[alinwa]

PVD
Harder than woodpecker lips.
No build up.
No heat applied.

from pvdcoatings website

What is the coating thickness?
The coating thickness is usually between 0.25 microns and 5 microns for decorative finishes. Thicker coatings can be applied for functional coatings.


What temperature is the part exposed to?
Depending on the substrate material (Zinc, Brass, Steel or Plastic) the process temperature can be controlled from 50 degree Fahrenheit to 400 degree Fahrenheit


???

I'm askin'...... never used it.

 

[butchlambert]

from pvdcoatings website

What is the coating thickness?
The coating thickness is usually between 0.25 microns and 5 microns for decorative finishes. Thicker coatings can be applied for functional coatings.


What temperature is the part exposed to?
Depending on the substrate material (Zinc, Brass, Steel or Plastic) the process temperature can be controlled from 50 degree Fahrenheit to 400 degree Fahrenheit


???

I'm askin'...... never used it.

I wanted to do this on my Ti hunting rifle. Stu Satterlie, Ti Mauser MFG, suggested it. I tried one of his that the Heym rifle guy owned. Very slick and looked great. Problem was, his supplier quit doing firearms. I sent it out to another company and they said," We didn't know it was a firearm". I was out $100 shipping and insurance.
I love the PVD, but don't know who to use if necessary next time.

 

[dsculley]

Check out Top Gun Enterprises, Inc in Elberta, AL. Their work is top notch. The marine police here in Orange Beach use them and the finishes hold up well.