BEST FIREARM FINISH

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Posted: 3/29/2006 3:25:01 PM EDT

I have spent two days trying to figure out what is the best finish for my rebuilt sniper rifle. Any ideas, after all the reviews Walter Birdsongs black t (green t) seems to one of the best choices. Anyone have any experience with this coating, what about John Norrell's Moly resin. Any input would help, it has to be an OD green finish. I really wasnt impressed with dura cote.

Thanks

Scott

Posted: 3/29/2006 5:56:53 PM EDT

[#1]

I've had Robert at John Norrell Arms re-finish some mags, an AR lower, and an AK for me in Moly Resin. It's some pretty tough stuff, and I highly recommend it.

Posted: 3/29/2006 6:29:25 PM EDT

[#2]

The Birdsong finish is pretty soft. Go with Duracoat or something similar.

Posted: 3/29/2006 7:49:11 PM EDT

[#3]

From what I've learned out so far, Cerakote is probably the hardest firearm finish going. I once heard of a Russian-developed finish called "Keronite" that was (is?) supposed to be pretty hard also, but haven't seen anything recent on it in the firearms arena.

Posted: 3/29/2006 7:59:21 PM EDT

[#4]

I've been using Norrell's moly resin for a few months now and I'm very pleased with it. It's pretty easy to apply and pretty hard to screw up, cures in an hour and seems to be as durable as anything else out there. I highly recommend it.

Posted: 4/1/2006 7:15:28 AM EDT

[#5]

BTT

Posted: 4/1/2006 7:33:00 AM EDT

[#6]

Robar is good at corosion but i don't know about scratching.

Bearcoat sounds llike a good consideration, I'm going to check them out when the time comes.

Google it for more info

Posted: 4/1/2006 7:41:00 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Robar is good at corosion but i don't know about scratching.

crowbar screws up more guns than special weapons, dont send anything to those jokers.

I say gunkote over parkerizing.

Posted: 4/1/2006 7:45:25 AM EDT

[#8]

norrells
+1 for my experiences doing it myself. My rifles came out beautiful with minimal work and have held up to a bit of abuse. they are not safe queens. Only downside is color selection. It is not a problem for me as there are numerous blacks and greys, parks, tans, just no pinks and purples??????????

Posted: 4/1/2006 9:59:41 AM EDT

[#9]

I recommend DuraCoat. Here's a link to an 870 I just refinished:

www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=2&t=196933&page=1

Posted: 4/1/2006 10:30:42 AM EDT

[#10]

dont listen to Glock FU robar is GREAT stuff.....ild NP3 that bad boy

Posted: 4/1/2006 10:58:25 AM EDT

[#11]

I recently got into refinishing firearms using GunKote. It's not something you can do at the kitchen table but isn't difficult to apply. The prep work is where the actual work is. The manufacturer recommends blasting the metal with 120 grit aluminum oxide. The coating won't adhere as well if you use silica sand or glass beads.
It does a great job and according to their website and info they sent me..it is very rugged. The South African Navy did a salt spray test on it that was the equivalent of 7 years exposer to salt and it held up.

Outstanding corrosion protection. Gun Kote will withstand a minimum of 500-hour salt spray tests at 5% salt, however, tests performed for Armscor by the South African Navel Logistics Dept. showed Gun Kote withstanding an equivalent of a 7-year exposure. (Tests were performed on Aluminum in a salt spray chamber with 50/50 on/off time at 35 degrees C.)

Posted: 4/1/2006 5:22:46 PM EDT

[#12]

I don't see how anybody could "screw up a gun" by coating it....but I do like the NP3 job Robar did to my MP5/40 (cocking tube, receiver, bolt carrier, ) I thought about leaving it as is, that grey looks kinda neat. Went for the extra protection though

Posted: 4/2/2006 2:48:26 PM EDT

[#13]

I got a FAL Metalcol'd by Arizona Response Systems. Awesome finish, as tough as I've seen.

Posted: 4/2/2006 3:24:05 PM EDT

[#14]

LTM refinishing offers several different finishes. Ask him about the different attributes of these. After picking his brain, Cerakote (ceramic-based) seems to offer the best durability, & hardness, w/ good lubricity + anti-corosion properties also.

Posted: 4/6/2006 3:36:48 AM EDT

[#15]

BTT

Posted: 4/6/2006 4:36:20 AM EDT

[#16]

I just did my M4gery in Brownells teflon/moly coat. I soaked all parts in acetone to degrease, pre-heated in the oven and sprayed it on with a cheap airbrush. Let air cure for 30 min then bake on to cure.

I used the od green and it looks great.

Posted: 4/6/2006 4:51:13 AM EDT

[#17]

Tenifer!

Posted: 4/6/2006 5:43:51 AM EDT

[#18]

I have used Birdsong for more than 15 years and have many firearms coated completely or in part with Birdsong Black-T and Green-T finish. It is particularly good for internals because of it's high degree of lubricity.

Birdsong does an incredible number of firearms and parts for the .gov and various agencies. They even do a large number of helicopter parts for the .gov.

Posted: 4/6/2006 5:52:23 AM EDT

[#19]

Some people have good results with Melonite.

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:23:59 PM EDT

[#20]

the best firearm finish in the world is that on a glock, the tenifer finish is second to none! NONE!

Posted: 4/7/2006 9:27:00 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
dont listen to Glock FU robar is GREAT stuff.....ild NP3 that bad boy

NO...don't listen to survivorman....ROBAR SUCKS ASS!!! Those guys can fuck ANYTHING UP.....probably one of the worst, well known custom smiths out there.

NP3 is a GREAT finish....but is it worth having your gun totally fucked up by a bunch of minimum wage "help" to get that finish????

Posted: 4/7/2006 9:44:51 AM EDT

[#22]

I had a Beretta 92fs done in NP3 by Robar. But I sent it to them competely disassembled. And asked that it be returned that way.

Posted: 4/7/2006 12:36:19 PM EDT

[#23]

Always had great results with Mac's Shootin' Irons

Posted: 4/13/2006 4:42:30 AM EDT

[#24]

BTT

Posted: 4/13/2006 6:56:46 AM EDT

[#25]

This is going to sound warped, but the best finish I've yet found for any gun that is actually going to get used is Paint over park. That is, high temp engine paint over a parkerized finish. If you scratch, ding or otherwise mess it up, a quick spray and its like new again. The paint fills the pores in the park leaving a pretty rust resistant finish overall. The brits actually discovered this bit of genius over 80 years ago. Other than that, the black hard chrome finish on my Khan O/U seems pretty indestructable and looks good too.

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