Cerakote vs hardchrome etc ?

[Old Savage]

What do you fellows think, what experience?

[Mescalero]

No experience............. but 7.62 precision makes a convincing argument for painting.

[Griff]

No experience.... but for a ladies man like yourself... do you really want to be mis-interpreted by carrying a "pimp" gun?

[Mescalero]

darn Griff, you nailed that one

[AJMD429]

If I had a gun I wanted a tough-as-nails finish on, AND to look bee-u-tiful, I'd send it to 7.62 Precision (http://www.7-62precision.com/) or someone who does similar work with DuraCoat - http://www.duracoat-finishes.com/.

If I just want to make my own dull/black/matte/boring finish, I'll use the Wheeler Engineering Cerama-Coat('cuz it's e-z-p-z, and so far I've done a Ruger Bisley frame and a Marlin 1894 tube with it with no issues). http://www.midwayusa.com/product/213078 ... oz-aerosol

I like 'stainless steel' for its durability (not looks so much), but anything 'chrome' sounds too barbeque-ish for me, so I stay away from that.

Maybe the ultimate for boring durability is the 'nitrided' stainless steel, but I assume you can't "add that on later". It's what Big Horn Armory uses on their stainless steel guns to make them a matte-black. Guess Glock or some of the handgun makers do that too.

[Paladin]

My sweat is as corrosive as my attitude so I have tried many different coating, finishes, and paint over the last 42 years that I have been carrying a gun daily. I started with Armaloy in the 70s, Metalife Chrome, Hard Chrome, Nickel, Ceracote, Duracoat, Robar, and Rustoleum.
What I have had the best luck with is Mahovsky's Metalife even some of the ones I have been swimming with. Robar and Ceracote work well but I have not abused them like I have the others. One of the few factory finishes that hold up has been Glocks even the swimming in salt water.
http://www.mahovskysmetalife.com/index.htm

[Old Savage]

Well Griff, misinterpretation can be a fruitful field for adjusted understanding. And Mescalero, glad to see you back.

AJ, did not know that such an option was available.

Below is the one I last used for a ladies first shooting experience, .45 Colt. She did very well.

[Old Savage]

Btw, Mescalero. Heather has moved to Fla. But I understand through a mutual female contact you are now otherwise engaged.

[Old Savage]

Paladin, thanks for your experience. Checked out their site and info. Below is the piece in question. Friend had it in a grab and go kit and somehow that lovely blue became externally rusted and pitted. He had it bead blasted and reblued. The Metalife info warns against using pitted guns. Ceracote is what the local good guy gunsmith does. And Griff, pink is available. I am thinking the ladies would like it. Ms Boots certainly does and I have never found the downside to agreeing with their taste..

I got it for the trade of two Callaway wedges. It even came with a box of ammo, very serviceable and can't hurt the finish. I am told from the Walther forum that it is a rather rare early production Ranger for Interarms. And of course at this point pink could only Enhance the collector value.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

There are some really amazing paint on finishes. I personally think Robars Rogard is the best. But, that said none of them will hold up to abuse as well as hard chrome. This is the same process that is used now days in chrome lined bores. As for the look, it is generally not bright shiny like regular chrome. It is more like stainless in appearance. But, it can also be more matted in appearance.


Here's a good example. These tow SAA's are ASM from the mid 90's. This was a time when Uberti and Pietta were bringing out stainless SAA's. This was ASM's entry to that idea. These were hard chromed. But, this was also about the time ASM went under again. So the numbers were limited.
Anyway, got these to use for CAS in the frontier cartridge category. This category requires either black powder or subs loaded ammo. Just to see how well they would hold up i used these guns at least once or twice a month for about 18 month straight. I never cleaned them just kept the loose with Balistol. They never rusted and keep in mind this was when I was living on the Gulf Coast, too.



During that same period I also shot some frontiersman which required CB revolvers. I have Tu-tone Stainless and Blue Remington 58's and if I didn't clean them, just the same procedure with the Balistol within 2 to 3 days they would begin to rust.

[Tycer]

My sweat is as corrosive as my attitude so I have tried many different coating, finishes, and paint over the last 42 years that I have been carrying a gun daily. I started with Armaloy in the 70s, Metalife Chrome, Hard Chrome, Nickel, Ceracote, Duracoat, Robar, and Rustoleum.
What I have had the best luck with is Mahovsky's Metalife even some of the ones I have been swimming with. Robar and Ceracote work well but I have not abused them like I have the others. One of the few factory finishes that hold up has been Glocks even the swimming in salt water.
http://www.mahovskysmetalife.com/index.htm

Now THAT is a testimonial I would put my money on. Thanks.

[Mescalero]

OS,
who would that be?

[Old Savage]

Steve, now I have always wondered about hard chroming a single action, tried to encourage someone to do it. Thanks for your input.

Mescy, not sure I can give up my source here but I think you can figure it out.

[6pt-sika]

In the original question on finishes I am of the opinion they are YUCK and YUCK .

I'm all for straight blue or matte finished stainless .

[fordwannabe]

I have a custom 1911 in hard chrome and my daily carry taurus is in Cera coat. I have a long range savage in green Cera coat and a intermediate range savage with dura coat. The hard chrome has lasted 20 or so years since it was hard chromed, the gun is pitted where it rested against me in an IWB holster before the hard chrome but not a speck since. Everybody thinks it is matt stainless but I paid the bill and it is not. The dura coat I did myself, it has lasted about 5 years or so and I have had no problems with it sticking or wearing but the finish doesn't look as smooth as I would like but again I did it myself. The Taurus rides in my back pocket daily the edges show just a slight thinning at the very sharp edges but other than that really nice, and it looks good too, but it was a professional job. The long range savage in 30-06 AI you can't tell it has been shot even though it has apprx 2000 rounds down range. The bolt lugs are even still green. I like all of them but I will probably have the cera coating done on my next project. But this is just my opinion not a scientific test. Hope that helps some. Tom

[Malamute]

I dont know much about the other finishes, but if some say hard chrome is the toughest, I wouldnt be inclined to argue. The very first SKS I saw was a Viet Nam bring back. Someone had found it in a canal. The stock had rotted off of it, and some crafty person had made a new stock (roughly) from a pine 2x8 board. The outside metal was terribly and deeply pitted all over. The bore looked perfect. Hard chrome is some tough stuff.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I dont know much about the other finishes, but if some say hard chrome is the toughest, I wouldnt be inclined to argue. The very first SKS I saw was a Viet Nam bring back. Someone had found it in a canal. The stock had rotted off of it, and some crafty person had made a new stock (roughly) from a pine 2x8 board. The outside metal was terribly and deeply pitted all over. The bore looked perfect. Hard chrome is some tough stuff.

My first experience with hard chrome was not a gun. Years ago back in my racing days one of the big blocks we built started out with a new steel crank blue printed into a 4 bolt short deck. On the dyno it took an average of about 10 to 15 minutes to get the oil temp up for a full load test. We ran it that year then tore it down for a rebuild. The journals were still within spec but we decided to have them turned then hard chromed back to blue print spec. Once on the dyno, it took almost 45 minutes to get oil temp to run the load test. That motor was torn down the next 3 years but only needed new bearing.
Yes, that stuff is tuff.

[M. M. Wright]

As per the custom in the early 80s, I had a couple of my 1911s two toned by leaving the slides blue and hard chroming the frame groups. I took them to a then local company called Metalloy. I understand their chrome tanks also contained some tin for added lubricity. Whatever, it is tough. The one I have left still looks new. Last I heard, Metalloy was in Berryville Arkansas I think.

[Old Savage]

A buddy who owned a gun shop got a less than primo Savage 99 in, had it hard chromed. Great little gun, took it along as a camp extra for anyone to use.

[CowboyTutt]

I would say anything from Robar or the hard chrome Steve mentions. I have been very impressed with the original Robar NP3 coatings for their lubricity on internals. Oiling the internal parts very much actually SLOWS DOWN the action. Slippery stuff.

But I also was surprised to learn of how durable it is on the outside of a firearm too and they have a thicker NP3 coating available now. I trust Steve's judgment on the hard chrome too.

Chrome piston rings on my 73 CB 750 Honda. Ran forever.

-Tutt

[JOHNNY WACKO]

I am a gun hore i like all them pictures...i would do it anyway