I asked this question on the big bore forum but it sort of died out so I thought I would post it here:
Last chrome moly rifle I had plated was done by Armoloy out of Texas. It has held up very well but I have a few new big bore rifles in the stable that need protection from the elements. Whats the newest and best in this area? I heard rumors of ceramic coatings. Anyone know anymore?

I had a rifle ceracoated and was not at all happy. I am sure it was just the company that did it, but it is just another spray and bake coating. It was uneven and uncovered in places, so the rifle started to rust without ven being outside.

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
I asked this question on the big bore forum but it sort of died out so I thought I would post it here:
Last chrome moly rifle I had plated was done by Armoloy out of Texas. It has held up very well but I have a few new big bore rifles in the stable that need protection from the elements. Whats the newest and best in this area? I heard rumors of ceramic coatings. Anyone know anymore?

I use Gun-Kote, Sandblast it spray & bake. Holds up well in wet / Salt spray enviroment.

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
I asked this question on the big bore forum but it sort of died out so I thought I would post it here:
Last chrome moly rifle I had plated was done by Armoloy out of Texas. It has held up very well but I have a few new big bore rifles in the stable that need protection from the elements. Whats the newest and best in this area? I heard rumors of ceramic coatings. Anyone know anymore?

I have tried to get someone to explain to me why cerakote is superior and I have yet to receive what I consider a scientific or empirically verifiable response. Hype does not impress me, I want to see empirical information.

That said, I have used KG Gunkote for years and like it alot. The best way to apply it is to sand blast your firearm with the correct grit, parkerize it and then apply the KG. There is a guy in Arizona---Mac's Restorations---who has the KG application down to an art form. He uses the correct grit silica media, etc. His turn around is excellent and the price is right. Since I found this guy, I don't do my own KG coating anymore. It is just too much of a hassle and if you are using the home oven, be very, very careful with the fumes. I have heard that excessive exposure can cause lasting neurological damage.

Search for Mac's restorations on the internet if you are interested.


Jordan

It is kinda hard to believe that there have been few options added since I had some rifles Armolyed in the early 1980's. Anyone else have anything to report on? And thank you for the information so far. What ever happened to black nickel coatings for stainless? Teflon coatings? etc.

I did find this:
http://www.apwcogan.com/Refinishing.htm
Has anyone here ever had any work done by this company for them?

Accurate Plating and Weaponry is, from my experience, a very reputable firm. When I shot pistols competitively there were a lot of folks that had them finish their pistols and the quality was first rate. Their ceramic coating is the same as Cerakote and I would not hesitate to say they will do a better job than the one I had done. I blame the company, not the coating.

I have been turning screw drivers for a lot of years now and every year there is some new wonder finish coming around. Plating this baking that spraying this dipping another thing and all the while rubbing in some new voodoo concoction that is faster, harder and stronger. They all seem to run their course and in a couple years they are forgotten. The toughest finish I have ever seen has to be old fashioned Smith & Wesson Charbone blueing. You need a gravel blaster to break the crap off. Parkerizing is second. It looks like little kid snotts and is often uneven but it does seem to keep the rust away. The third toughest is the old fashioned slow process blue(Belgium blue). Not many gunsmiths offer it anymore. It’s a hot, messy and time consuming way to blue things and no one wants to pay for it. The last is a high polished hot niter blued finish. The standard finish used by just about all the gun makers. Rod Henrickson

larrys
I am about to have a 375RUM cerakoted. Can you let me know who did your cerakoting as I would like to avoid the same problems.
Mark

Mark, PM sent. I don't like to disparage folks in public.

Check out these guys. http://www.lauerweaponry.com/

I've used Gunkote on a couple ARs and some accessories like carry handles, bi-pods and sling swivels, etc. and have been very happy with it. My wife is pissed when I cook it in the oven, butso.....

In about 1986 I lived in Homer, AK, I sent a Rem Sportsman in .30-06 and an 3" 12 ga 870 off to a company in Homestead, Fl for teflon coating. The company was wiped out by huricane Andrew, but I'm sure others must do the coating (google it). I had a small piece of mild steel done too and I kept it in Cook Inlet saltwater for 12 months and there was no rust at all. I had no rust on the guns at all except for a spot on the Sportsman's firing pin which I think they missed in the coating process. It did rust to the point that it wouldn't fire on a trip to Kodiak and I had to tear it down and scrape the rust off. When I did it worked fine. I dropped the 870 in Kachamack Bay once hunting sand hill cranes and it was 2 days later when I was able to clean it and there was not rust at all. It is still my goose gun and it still doesn't rust. Worth doing I think.