Cerakote versus blued????

[cdherman]

I am planning out a rebarrel of a 700 BDL. Will retain the wood stock, as this gun was a gift from my father and I've had it for 30 years. The stock and blueing is in great condition.

It will likely be 6.5-284, 26" heavy sporter barrel.

I'd like it to retain a pretty traditional appearance -- thus the choice of wood and preference for blueing.

But the local place here with the most appeal is GA Precision. They are clearly first rate, but they only do Cerakote.

They are willing to do the action and barrel and let me find someone else to blue it, but before I go that route, I'd like to get some opinions.

Anyone have a nice deep blue or black cerakoted gun with a tradional walnut stock? How's it look?

You think that 20 years down the road, I'll regret not having the traditional appearance?

I am pretty careful with my guns -- the gun currently looks great, but shoots poorly.

Seems to be having one place do the work makes sense, especially having met them etc.... But I'd like the blue too.......

 

[ZSteinle]

Never seen a cerakoted rifle in a wood stock but can tell you the one a friend of mine has isnt a gloss black like most blued rifles are. almost looks like wall texturing but very fine

 

[shortgrass]

Coating can cover alot of different materials. Steel, aluminum, brass, Stainless steel. Traditional 'hot blue' is for carbon steel. It takes a special chemical solution to blue stainless and aluminum cann't be 'hot blued' at all. With coatings you don't have to have two different set-ups, one coating fits all. Traditional 'hot blue' requires alot of surface prep. A good job depends as much on pit removal and good polishing technique as it does operating the tanks, maybe more. I've been using Cera-Kote for about 3 years now (and GunCoat for 8). The finish reminds me of some of the AR finishes. I recently re-barreled a 700 ADL in a wood stock, opened the barrel channel, worked out a way to do away with the center screw threading into the center of the action, and pillar bedded it. I used Cera-Kote for the finish (barrel is S.S.). It looked very nice and, most of all, my customer is thrilled with it, too.

 

[loaders_loft]

I was kind of wondering the same thing. We see lots of newly coated rifles here on the forum but how does it look 5, 10, 15 or 20 years down the road?

 

[shortgrass]

I was kind of wondering the same thing. We see lots of newly coated rifles here on the forum but does it look 5, 10, 15 or 20 years down the road?

Now I guess that depends on how hard you use your firearms or if they're 'safe queens'.

 

[Chas1]

cdherman, IMHO definitly get it blued. I'd also consider asking GA Precision to do a turn key on it and have them take it to someone they are confident will do a top notch job on the blueing. If they don't want to do that then I look for a smith who will either do it or have it done for you by someone else.

 

[loaders_loft]

Now I guess that depends on how hard you use your firearms or if they're 'safe queens'.

what does that mean, really?

Ive seen rust on blued barrels from sitting in the safe.

I guess I was just hoping that someone would chime in that had a cerakote rifle for some time, and what their experience was over time.

 

[shortgrass]

Well, there ya' go! If they were coated the outside of the barrel wouldn't be rusted, oil or no oil. Definition; "safe queen"; 'a firearm that is stored in a safe and not used and is maintained to look like new'. The coatings wear about the same as a blued firearm. The sharp edges of blued guns get shinny over time from sliding in and out of a soft case, so does coating. I guess I just don't know what you're asking. A couple of mine went to Alaska last year bear hunting and came back looking pretty good compaired to what a blued rifle would have. Also, had one go above the Artic Circle in Canada on a caribou hunt and one that went to South Africa to hunt plains game. They came back in better shape than most blued rifles would have. I've seen some customer rifles that I coated 8 years ago, when I first started using coatings. The finish looked compairable to a blued gun that was used and maintained in a like manner.

 

[cdherman]

Well, the gun I am rebarreling is 30 years old, and I've had it wet and iced along the way.

Its got no rust.

Rust is what happens to people who think guns are Tupperware.

My original question was one of appearances, not protection. I don't intend to abuse this gun, but it will be no safe queen either.

I've decided: When I hand this gun down to my decendants, I hope they realize that I took care of it and expect the same of them. I think a blued finish with some wear says that better than a ceramic coating.

 

[shortgrass]

Well, the gun I am rebarreling is 30 years old, and I've had it wet and iced along the way.

Its got no rust.

Rust is what happens to people who think guns are Tupperware.

My original question was one of appearances, not protection. I don't intend to abuse this gun, but it will be no safe queen either.

I've decided: When I hand this gun down to my decendants, I hope they realize that I took care of it and expect the same of them. I think a blued finish with some wear says that better than a ceramic coating.

By all means, have it blued if that is your preference. There's not a thing in the world wrong with that . I was responding to the question of "what will it look like in 10 years?" You hit the nail on right on the head, it depends on how it is taken care of.

 

[bridgebuilder]

I had Simmons Gun repair in Olathe reblue a rifle i had rebarreled and they did an excellant job but about a 2 month wait.

 

[cdherman]

Thanks, that's good to know. I'd prefer to stay local.