Best way to turn a barrel and receiver black?

[subdermal]

Tried searching, if this has been done to death I apologize in advance.

I've seen references to gun-kote, tool black, and armacoat, and I'm sure there are more. What's the best way? What are the pros and cons of each?

Thanks in advance.

 

[BCRider]

That depends. Is this a stainless steel setup at the moment or are you trying to re-blue a damaged "black" gun.

One of the blueing compounds would be the way to repair or reblue a damaged blueing job. If it's more than a spot touchup the reading I've done suggests you should polish off all the old blueing with very fine sandpaper and polishing compounds to the sheen of your choice and then blue the raw metal in total. Spot touchups can be done with a Qtip dabbing.

If it's stainless then you can't blue it. For that, or if you really want it black as in tactical, then you're looking at one of the durable paint like coatings. The one I've seen used the most often and that has a great reputation is Duracoat from www.duracoat-firearm-finishes.com/ .

 

[Brentn]

I use matte black engine heat paint for up to 500 degrees.

It works just awesome on the guns, and holds up well if you prep them well before painting. I usually get the part in a sink, scrub it down with dish soap and let it dry, I wear latex gloves after for handeling the part and whipe it down with rubbing alchohol and a clean rag or pads. when I'm satisfied I start spraying, a light coat, then two-three heavy coats with about 30 minutes inbetween. I let it dry for 24 hours and then throw it in the oven for about 20 minutes at 400 degree's to cure the paint.

 

[subdermal]

Guess it would have been smart to post what I'm talking about, oops.
Norinco M14, never been blued. I want it flat black, yes for the full tacti-poser effect

 

[gunpro]

get air cure kg gunkote, nothing else is much easier, that being said if you have access to an airbrush and compressor?

 

[BCRider]

One of the fine smith types here PM'ed me that it is possible to blue stainless. Some of the explanation suggested to me that it's a hot process so not something that comes out of a bottle from the gun store.

But really if you're after the whole Tacticool treatment then a matt or semi matt coating would be the best match to modern service firearms. And for that we're back to one of the coatings.