I had a business Cerakote a JP .308 barrel and loose muzzle device for me and got it back last week. I had specifically instructed them to tape off the bore, interior of the receiver extension and gas port opening.  I picked it up and the finish look great… until I unscrewed the comp and saw this…

I started bitching to the Receptionist and he paged the “applicator” into the front office to talk to me. He looked like an 18 Y.O. kid. The kid told me the tape on the muzzle “blew off” when he shot it with the Cerakote.  They told me “it’ll shot right out”. The barrel has about 120 rounds down the tube.  I cleaned the bore and muzzle with Wipe Out and it didn’t touch the Cerakote. I didn’t think to ask at the time why he didn’t clean it out before baking the finish.  I guess if it doesn’t shoot I’ll chop it into an SBR

Yep... it's fucked.


Send it to me I'll dispose of it for you.

I doubt that will cause any problems.

Tape? It should have been plugged and taped. And the proper tape wouldn't have blown off.

If you plan on shooting it don't worry about it, it'll come out. If you only plan on dressing it up and doing photo shoots, then sell it.

Maybe I'm missing something, how could that little of paint in the barrel affect anything?

I understand being pissed about the paint, but as far as actually using it..I don't get it?

I'm not worried about the paint causing a problem. I was frustrated that I specifically asked them to not get any paint in the bore any they didn't do it. Trust me I'm going to shoot it, again and again and again.

you wont know til you shoot it. nothing wrong with calling them out on it.its the last thing the bullet sees and of course it can affect the way it shoots.poor prep job.

At 120rds down the tube, your barrel is not even fully broke in yet.



Cerakote is great for chemical and thermal wear, as well as some friction wear. It is not good for high pressure friction as it bonds to, not with, the metal surface (it is a coating, not a surface treatment).



Unless you have a safe queen, a good trip to the range should have this cleared out. The speckles on the muzzle might take longer to wear off, since they are only exposed to flame, high temp gas and micro particles.

Quick update... I put 28 rounds downrange over the weekend. Both accuracy and functioning were good. Now I'm waiting on some warmer weather to cerakote the hand guard and the finishing will be done.

are you in the Portland area? who did your work?

I am in Eugene, but just curious as to what shops are doing Cera Kote

Springer Precision in Bend is the shop that coated my barrel.