DuraCoat

[bubba.50]

on a "gag-me-with-a-spoon" side note. in the description of the new Mountain Rifle on Traditions website it says "while originals had a rust brown finish on their barrels, Traditions has selected a Brown Cerakote finish which 'replicates' this finish while providing increased corrosion protection."

 

[Cowboy]

Is that Cerakote and Duracoat one of the same thing?

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[bubba.50]

same? similar? completely different? I don't know cowboy. but I DO know I don't want either one on my guns.

 

[rowdyjoe]

Hmmmmmm ... Interesting. I have a pistol with a Cerakote finish and it's doing a great job so far. Doesn't look painted at all but, then again, it's factory applied ...which is probably better than I could do.
I'll have to find a store that carries them and take a look at that finish.

 

[rowdyjoe]

They are both "painted on" finishes. The application processes vary a little but, both are sprayed on.
I don't know about the chemical composition of either but, there are plenty of videos of both processes on-line.

 

[Tinker2]

This may be a blasphemous topic to the purists among us but,

Guns have been painted for a very long time




William

 

[Black Hand]

This may be a blasphemous topic to the purists among us but,

Guns have been painted for a very long time
William

The stocks perhaps, but not the metal furniture...

 

[coloradoclyde]

If one is going to paint a muzzleloader then one should use a period correct paint and paint it in a period correct fashion.....

Using Duracote or Cerakote on a traditional muzzleloader turns it into a non-traditional muzzleloader....same as if you put a plastic stock on it or a Tasco 3x9 scope.

 

[rowdyjoe]

Is a Duracoat or Cerakote finish really that noticeable? At a distance of a foot or two, can one really tell the difference between those and a traditional blued or browned finish (providing they are correctly applied)?
Looking closely at my Cerakoted modern pistol, I can't tell the difference from a regular "blacked" finish. I would not have known it was "coated" if the literature that came with it hadn't noted it was Cerakote.

 

[Black Hand]

Hand a gun with a painted barrel to someone who knows muzzleloaders - that would be a test...

 

[BrownBear]

I have a number of modern arms with Duracoat and Cerakote. They're really different from bluing- as someone already said, more black. Bluing with Laurel Mountain Forge results in a black too, but from those I've seen more of a "polish" like hot-dip bluing, even if it's black. The two paint-ons are lots more dull.

Haven't seen a brown version of either brush-on. But there's such a wide range of "browning" results out there using other methods, it might fall somewhere in the realm. I know I strongly dislike plum browning for example, while the unique browning solution/process used by GRRW produces the nicest brown I've seen. Quite tough in addition to buttery texture almost, if I can use that word.

Speculation here, but I'd really have to see the brown version of Duracoat before I could react to it. Guys point out that it's "just a spray." There's an up side to that, even if it's not as tough as conventional browning: If you scrape it up, just touch it up with more spray.

Anyone has photos of the Duracoat brown, I'd sure love to see them.

 

[rowdyjoe]

"use a period correct paint and paint it in a period correct fashion...." That's funny

 

[Black Hand]

"use a period correct paint and paint it in a period correct fashion...." That's funny

But true...
There are a few period examples of painted guns.

 

[coloradoclyde]

"use a period correct paint and paint it in a period correct fashion...." That's funny

I was dead serious.....

 

[coloradoclyde]

Guns were not routinely painted but it was done on occasion...Items like chairs were routinely painted...People today that don't know this find an old 18th century chair painted black and they remove the paint destroying it's original finish.

yes there are period correct paints, Milk paint is one example...

Here are some study materials.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rc...hp.pdf&usg=AFQjCNFdUEjOnnxe8G_aFYvF8mHeLAPAfw
http://www.milkpaint.com/about_history.html

 

[rowdyjoe]

Hmmmmm, interesting.

 

[rowdyjoe]

Ok thanks for the references. I'll definitely take a look.

 

[rowdyjoe]

Interesting info but, I haven't found any reference to paints used on the metal parts of firearms.

I'll probably end up applying DIY blueing.

 

[brassell31]

I have a TC Renegade that I have used as a test and practice gunsmithing vehicle over the last 35 years. When I bought it I was a high power hunter and wanted to get away from the crowds, but still wanted the most effective hunting rifle I could get. If modern inlines had been around then, I might have considered one for it's weather resistance. But I digress from the subject. I Duracoated that Renegade in a color that sounded like it was supposed to be a traditional browning color, but it wasn't even close. However I learned to live with it. Duracoat is a 2 part mix (hardener & paint) that I sprayed on with a small cup gun. This was before Duracoat was available in spray cans. I bead blasted the barrel and all the small metal parts before degreasing and painting. It proved to be a very durable and weather proof finish. Properly applied it looks like an automotive finish. The only thing I didn't do was to dull the edges on the barrel flats and the muzzle crown. Those sharp edges are more prone to chipping, especially the muzzle. The first ML season I hunted with it after Duracoating was a very wet year. Of the 4 muzzleloaders that my group hunted with that year, mine was the only one that did not rust, at all. Well, except for inside the lock, everybody's did.
Cerakote is a completely different product. It is a bake on paint that is ceramic based and is probably 2-3 times as hard as Duracoat.
Less you think I went completely over to the dark side, my favorite elk rifle the last 8 years is a fullstock reproduction of an early model .54 Hawken flintlock. I am currently building a .45 flintlock for my ML deer tag I drew this year.

 

[rowdyjoe]

Thanks very much for your reply.
By "automotive finish", do you mean it's shiny?
Would you use it again on another firearm?

I haven't found any pictures of Duracoat "browned" finish and your description of your experience helps a lot. I've read that the "browned" finish has been improved but, can only take their word due to lack of pictures and reports. I don't want to be a guinea pig.
The blue finishes I've seen appear to be very glossy and I'd rather have a satin black or blue finish to hold down the glare but, still look nice.

I have plenty of time before I need to put a finish on a barrel so, I'll keep researching.