I might should have just tried a search, but I have only had a coating done on a rifle 1 time years ago by Birdsong in Black-T. It was gorgeous but short lived as the edges showed through pretty quick. I want to try the newer stuff and already know the Cera Coat is nice as I have had 2 Remington BDL floor plates done. I`d like to hear some goods and bads from either camp. I`d like the color to be satin or matte black to match the Leupold matte finish. All relpies welcome and thanks for contributing.
Also Spradlins offers what they call Tef Coat......any tried this?
The technology for these finishes has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. I�ve had great results with both Robar�s Rogard and also with Wilson Combat�s Armor-Tuff finishes. I would recommend either without hesitation.
Tim, are you looking to DIY or have it done?
J
I`m looking to have it done.
I just had a rifle done in Cera coat. When I say just had it done, I mean just had it done. I got it back about 2 weeks ago. It looks very good but time will tell.
I have had them both, the dura-coat is new to me so I haven't really got to try it out in a hunting situation yet, the Cera-coat held up very well. From now on I will be using the Cera-coat as I like the finished look better than the Dura-coat........Blake
Working on a 5R project and considering something of the same in maybe OD green. Who's the best at applying the Cera-coat and aprox. how much to do a barreled action and bolt?
CAS will Cera Coat. I am gonna send him a barreled action. I got his info too. PMC does Dura Coat if you think that is the way to go.
A perfect match for the Leupold Matte is the black Teflon coating called Illaflon, which is used in cookware, and by Sauer on some of their all-weather synthetic pistols and rifles like the 220 (replaced K-Kote), 202, SHR970 and STR970 (military). I don't know if anyone here in the US puts it on firearms.
Spradlins offers what they call Teffcoat. I guess I need to call around some.
A buddy (PMC) has some Dura Coat that he sent pics of that is pretty close. He called it Dura Coat HK black.
I've had both, Tim, and have found that the Cerakote is a very hard finish, and does not scratch easily. I leaned my unloaded .338/06 against a fencepost/ barbed wire junction that gave way as I crossed the fence. The Cerakote took a ride down the rusty wire along the top of the barrel with absoutely no ill effects. I wiped the residue off the finish after it scraped the surface rust off the wire.It doesn't hold up as well to very hard impacts, due to the surfae hardness.
The DuraCoat, like the Black T, is a softer finish that wears more easily around the edges, but is more flexible and impact resistant. It is more susceptible to surface scratches, though.
The parts gun I am putting together right now will be coated in DuraCoat, as I worked a trade with one of the guys on Snipershide who professionally applies the finishes.
I think Mickey, Doug, and Charley will all agree, that the finished product is only as good as the surface prep done before application.
I`ve had Black-T and didn`t like the edge wear. Loved the look while new. I want something more durable. This narrows it down to Cera Coat.