Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Cerakote

I've always had my match rifles cerakoted. Had one scope cerakoted with air cure to match the rifle. My 'Smith who is a close personal friend is an outstanding applicator. Have done sniper gray, coyote tan, and my last two barreled actions were done in matte black. Looks like a well done factory matte finish. Never had a complaint to give on cerakote. Wouldn't keep doing it if I didn't think I was getting good bang for my buck. Keep a coat of wax on em just for gits and shiggles and they remain looking like the day they were picked up.

Minor edit - this was just an AR barrel, not the entire rifle, and likely a contributing factor in the finish holding up was because the barrel was protected by a handguard.
I've also had suppressors with cerakote finish, and the finish doesn't last long without a can condom. Also remembered that I had campfire knob/flute job on a bolt by Karl K, and the finish wore/chipped in a short period there as well.

I still posit that if a finish takes a special class to apply (which costs $2,150 per person, and requires a trip to Oregon), that the finish is
a:not a very practical finish for a number of smiths and their customers, and b: should only be applied by individuals who have taken the class.

Yes it will scratch/mark just like bluing if it is rubbed/banged against something hard like metal or rock etc.

However, I have also found that many marks that you get while in the field will disappear if you rub them off hard with a soft cloth and some gun oil or wax etc.

I had a rifle that Eddie Fosnaugh Cerakoted for me slid down a rough metal bar in a box blind one day while hunting deer. The barrel had a pretty good scratch on it and I assumed it was through the finish.
Just rubbing it off with my glove didn’t work and I thought the finish was toast. Really kinda upset me as the Cerakote had just been applied.

Over time I wiped that barrel down with a soft, damp cloth many times and the mark eventually disappeared completely. In fact I can no longer even remember where one the barrel it was marked.

Anytime my Cerakoted rifles show marks now from “field use” I’ll rub the marks hard with a soft, oily rag of some sort and then wipe down with a damp cloth. In my experience, the vast majority of the marks will come off with no I’ll effects to the Cerakote finish.


No, Cerakote is not perfect. But, in my experience it is a very good product when applied correctly.
Yes, eventually the sharp edges show wear(like the edges of a barrel muzzle or trigger guard etc.). But those edges wear with any coating or bluing.

I like the stuff.

Leftybolt

I have two Cerakoted rifles that have seen some heavy foul weather use. They still look fresh off the coating process.

That looks nice from here!

Excellent write-up MD.

So, who are the folks that do it right?

Exactly what I was thinking. Or how do vet the local guys to make sure they’re doing it right.

Anyone ... anyone ... Buehler?

Karl Feldcamp @ Kampfeld Customs is one that does it right. I'm sure there are others but Karl's work is always perfect and the rifles he has done for me have held up well - I use my rifles but don't abuse them but they still look fine.

👍

My Cerakote experience has been all positive. My first was my KS Mountain rifle. Neal Bauder did it when he was still in Wasilla. It’s seen some tough use over the last 20 years and is holding up well. Three others were done by whoever PacNor uses and all seem to be doing well. Couple haven’t had a lot of use but the 6x222 has had a lot of travel time in boats and on four wheelers in some often less than favorable weather. Still looks good and no problems with it coming off.

Lucky for me I found out a local gunsmith (https://www.bugholes.com) also does cerakoting. Will pay him a visit soon and pick out some colors. It will be nice not having to pay for shipping both ways.

Karl Kampfeld can't be beat.

Greg Young at Bugholes is awesome as well!

I agree 100% with MD, it is all in the application.

I have had one issue with Cerakote. A Remington 673 in 350 Magnum back in about 2003?

Was a neighbor/ boss's husband/ machinist/ smith/ fellow gun looney. He did not do a good job at all. Splotchy and started flaking immediately. Lesson learned.

I had my gunsmith work on some rifles and told him I would send the metal out for Birdsong finish. I had previously had one rifle treated with Birdsong and was very satisfied. When I told of my previous experience, he told me that the Cerakote was not applied properly.

On his urging, I gave Cerakote another try, and have not had any issues. I now have nine rifles coated by him with no issues. My guns get used. They show marks of use, but show me a rifle that has truly been hunted hard that doesn't.

Unfortunately my gunsmith is swamped and trying to decrease his backlog.

Beretzs,
Off topic I know, but what Trijicon is on that rifle?

Thanks!

Trijicon 3-18 10 Mile.

Thank you. Like it? How does it track? I know it’s probably bright.

It tracks real well. I shoot it a fair amount. Never blipped in RTZ or anywhere else.

I can’t say enough good about it.

Never have needed the illumination so, I’d say the glass is more than good enough for my hunting.

John is precisely correct. ANY surface must be prepped to allow ANY paint to hold. It doesn't matter if it's latex house paint, Krylon, or Cerakote.... It has to be able to "grip" the surface for want of a better term. Plastic factory stocks are a good example. You either have to sand them lightly to break the shiny surface, or spray it with an adhesion promoter, or better, do both.....
No proper prep, no hold. Rembrandt used canvas for a reason.....