Is cerakote worth it? If so any recommendations

Gks206

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I have a sako black bear I am thinking of cerakoting it. There is a place that will do the whole thing scope, barrel, stock everything, for 500 or just the barrel of 200. Is this worth it? And if so any recommendations on what to do for the colors? I was thinking something simple two tone.
 
I have one gun that has cerakote on it, a Browning X bolt hells canyon speed. The cerakote will chip where metal on metal contact occurs with force, like where the bolt handle hits the receiver when you lift the bolt. It hasn’t spread at all. I like it, it adds a layer of protection, plus customization of colour if one chooses. I will say that it does not instill the same level of weather imperviousness confidence that stainless does. Not that stainless won’t rust, it’s just the cerakote is only on the outside of the parts. Inside the barrel, receiver, etc is still just blued steel.

Also, I have never had a blued rifle rust on me. I always wipe them down with rem oil after ever outing, never an issue.
 
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I had this experience with the factory coating on a Browning X-Bolt Hells Canyon as well. It didn't hold up nearly as well as the Cerakote a local applicator did on my Tikka 7mm-08.



I have one gun that has cerakote on it, a Browning X bolt hells canyon speed. The cerakote will chip where metal on metal contact occurs with force, like where the bolt handle hits the receiver when you lift the bolt. It hasn’t spread at all. I like it, it adds a layer of protection, plus customization of colour if one chooses. I will say that it does not instill the same level of weather imperviousness confidence that stainless does. Not that stainless won’t rust, it’s just thy Vera kite is only on the outside of the parts. Inside the barrel, receiver, etc is still just blues steel.

Also, I have never had a blued rifle rust on me. I always wipe them down with rem oil after ever outing, never an issue.
 
I have a sako black bear I am thinking of cerakoting it. There is a place that will do the whole thing scope, barrel, stock everything, for 500 or just the barrel of 200. Is this worth it? And if so any recommendations on what to do for the colors? I was thinking something simple two tone.

Shop around. That seems a little steep. I know taping up a scope takes time and that's probably where the cost comes from, but black box customs in Calgary normally would do a typical shotgun for $300. Mag tub, receiver, barrel...I would say painting a barrel and an action is probably easier, but what do i know?

They have sales from time to time. Got them to do 2 shotguns for $150 each back in April. Very easy to work with, good guys.
 
Shop around. That seems a little steep. I know taping up a scope takes time and that's probably where the cost comes from, but black box customs in Calgary normally would do a typical shotgun for $300. Mag tub, receiver, barrel...I would say painting a barrel and an action is probably easier, but what do i know?

They have sales from time to time. Got them to do 2 shotguns for $150 each back in April. Very easy to work with, good guys.

Is cerakoting the stock worth it
 
I have a sako black bear I am thinking of cerakoting it. There is a place that will do the whole thing scope, barrel, stock everything, for 500 or just the barrel of 200. Is this worth it? And if so any recommendations on what to do for the colors? I was thinking something simple two tone.

Of course it is, if it's applied right. It's a great product and I have just about all my guns Cerakoted. Scopes can be a little tricky depending on the manufacture? but the everything else is doable. Good Luck.
 
Its pretty much all cosmetic. Guns have functioned fine for hundred years plus without it. I think its cost vs benefit is minimal. I take the time to wipe down , clean and oil my metal after use, if you wanna skip some of that process I guess that helps. I do think it looks pretty cool though. Personally I dont think its worth it, Id rather stock up on $500 worth of powder or primers but that's just me.
 
Check out Black Box Customs. We've had a couple of project coated by this shop with fantastic results. Hard use will not damage a proper Cerakote paint job.

KGL.
 
Its pretty much all cosmetic. Guns have functioned fine for hundred years plus without it. I think its cost vs benefit is minimal. I take the time to wipe down , clean and oil my metal after use, if you wanna skip some of that process I guess that helps. I do think it looks pretty cool though. Personally I dont think its worth it, Id rather stock up on $500 worth of powder or primers but that's just me.

I agree to an extent. I was carrying my 870 Express the other day walking into camp because we have a bear break in and beat the camp all to hell. Figured if he might still be there it would be better to have it with me. It was hot as ol' hell and I was sweating profusely. Got there, cleared the camp, walked back to the bike, tossed the gun in the backpack and drove into camp and spent the next 4 hours repairing the door. Rode out and when I got home the gun was covered with fresh rust. Now, it all cleared up with a good wiping with G96, but I don't think that the rust should have been that bad that quickly. Given that the gun is an Express with the ####ty parkerizing I'm thinking that a nice cerakote, same as the Dlask barrel has, would make a lot of sense to help keep maintenance manageable.
 
Nothing better for bake on. Heavily applicator quality driven. Stick with gun builder for best results. They can fixture and know what surfaces are critical. Lots of butchers out there.
 
I personally don’t think it’s worth much on a blued gun, as it leaves the bore vulnerable anyways and I tend to like well worn blued guns. It’s nice on stainless to make them look less pimpy.
 
Have several rifles tefloned and cerakoted, and I believe that it has been a good investment over the years. But my firearms can see many long days afield, and be exposed to many conditions during the course of the day before I get back to camp and can wipe it down.
As mentioned above, rust can and will show up on a firearm in just a few hours given the right conditions such as rainy weather, high humidity, etc. or when a rifle is thrust into a soft case or pack for several hours before being cared for and wiped down/oiled once you get home, or back to camp for the evening. And stainless will rust too! There are many grades of stainless, and some are more prone to rust than others. Some manufacturers put a coating on their stainless barrels that helps e.g. Rem 700 XCR rifles had such a coating that works pretty good. Smoothest factory Rem 700 rifle action I have ever come across out of the box!
It can also dress up an older firearm.
Some internal components on firearms do get the treatment too, while as mentioned above, the inside of the bore does not. The cerakote has a lubricity component to it that can add to the "slickness" of the action, and tighten up loose actions (as long as it is applied properly and not too thick).
In the end, it is a personal preference, and only you can decide if it is worth it to you.
 
I personally don’t think it’s worth much on a blued gun, as it leaves the bore vulnerable anyways and I tend to like well worn blued guns. It’s nice on stainless to make them look less pimpy.

Or more business lookin' depending on yer tastes. ;)
REM 870 Tactical.jpg

I used Arma-Coat on my 870 and it's held up very well over the 10+ yrs since I applied it. This gun has seen thousands of rounds though 'er and many
wet shooting days as I use the bugger mainly for trap shooting & bush pushin' when needed. I've not tried the Cerakote coatings, but they seem to be
durable as well.
 

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