I've made a big decision this week; I decided to cerakote one of my rifles. Here's me shooting the rifle in question, taken last year during a competition I was shooting in. As you can see it's black, and pretty boring looking. I'd added a few stickers to it for the competition but have since removed them. This shot is pretty cool because the photographer snapped it just as I was reloading. You can see the spent case (the little gold thing) near my right hand. That's just ejected from the chamber and I'm about to close the bolt and fire again. I was shooting at a range of 600m at the time. Anyway, black, boring looking rifle right?
The image above is the same rifle taken a few months ago minus all the stickers. I actually think it looks pretty good and I don't mind the black however I've decided to cerakote it (which is a sort of paint that gets baked on) to protect it though. The problem is that surface rust can attack the firearm and cause issues like screws and fasteners getting rusted on and of course damage to the barrel.
I've decided on a battle-worn paint scheme which means the rifle will end up looking very used, despite being freshly cerakoted. The painter, my mate, asked how battleworn I wanted. He actually said, "how f^cked up do you want it" and I said, "way f^cked!" I told him to make it look like it's been dragged through Afghanistan behind an M1 Abrams tank for a week or two. He is going to oblige.
It's a pretty intensive job to do as it's not just done with the paint alone; He will first sand-blast every part of the rifle, including all of the screws, and fine little bits to be painted, then apply the first colour coat (flat dark earth, FDE) and half bake it. Once half baked he will apply the second coat (metallic bronze) but only in particular areas. He will then tear that second coat up, scar it and wear it in various places working hard to make it authentic meaning that he will wear parts that would naturally do so if used in harsh battle conditions. He will then fully bake it and the two coats will kind of melt into each other and set until they are hard as f^ck. He is going to add a third coat but that's done in a secret way that he does not want me to divulge. That will make the rifle look like it's actually scratched down to the metal in certain places, although it's just paint effects. I'm having the safety lever painted red and all the screws which attach the barrel shroud and various bits cerakoted in silver. It should look pretty cool.
The below images were taken tonight whilst I was taking the rifle apart. It's a shit job really as there are so many bits but I got it done. You can also see some of the tools required.
It took me about 30 minutes to get the rifle to this point. Some of the torx head screws were kind of fused on with a little rust so it was not the easiest thing in the world. Get it wrong and strip out the torx screw and it's a nightmare. The gun would have to go to a gunsmith to get them drilled out as I don't have the right equipment for that job. I got lucky though and they all came out with some coaxing and swearing. :) My gunsmith is a good mate but he charges like a wounded bull so I'm pleased I don't have to help put his bloody kids through college!
So here you can see pretty-much the stripped back rifle. You'll note the muzzle brake is still on at this stage although two minutes after this image was taken that was off too. This is pretty much what a barreled action looks like. The action is the bit on the left of the long black thing you see, and the rest of it is the actual barrel. There was a couple of other little bits that need some further disassembly but essentially this is ready to go to my mate for cerakoting.
So, I plan to do a post on the finished product as long as it looks good. If it looks like crap I'll simply get the job done again. It's not a costly thing to do really. A job like mine would cost around $800AU generally and I am fortunate enough to get mates rates so it's costing me $400. I think that's good value considering how kick-ass it's going to look and that it will protect the rifle from rust. I'm hoping to have the gun back within a couple of weeks and then once it's back together I'll photograph it again. Getting all the parts back where they are supposed to be might be a challenge but we'll see how it goes.
[- Design and create your ideal life, don’t live it by default -]
That is such a beautiful rifle, I can't wait to see the final cerkoted paint scheme. Are you cerkoting the barrel as well? I recently built an AR from the ground up with cerkoted parts and I am extremely happy with the results!
Hi @papacrusher, yes I'll be doing the barrel also. The muzzle brake will be very battle-worn, as will the barrel however it will get less and less battle-worn the closer it gets to the barrel shroud. Under the shroud it will not be worn at all as it wold not typically be worn in this area in the field. I want to make it look as authentic as possible although it'll probably end up looking way more worn than most.
Nice looking AR by the way.
Thank you! I have been kicking myself for not cerkoting my barrel and I may eventually go back and have it done. I chambered this in .223 Wylde, so finding barrels already cerkoted was a bit of an issue. That is very forward thinking about the levels of battle worn look as it progresses up the barrel to the shroud.
I originally wanted the barrel black under the cerakoted shroud but decided against it as I thought it might look unfinished. The whole rifle will be done except the hinge that operates the folding stock and that’s only because we can’t take it apart. I’m even doing the bolt and bolt shroud and grip. Should look sweet!
Oh its definitely going to be a sick paint job! If you dont mind me asking, what is it chambered in?
It's chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. I run Sierra 142gr pills and get 2850fps at the muzzle. It's a laser out to 1000 meters with a 9.2mil elevation dial and I've stretched it to 1551m repetitively. Kahles 624i optics. I used to run a Nighftorce ATACR as in the first image but went Kahles last year and have been very happy with it. I compete with this rifle in practical rifle matches like the PRSaus (same as the PRS run in the States).
He actually said, "how f^cked up do you want it" and I said, "way f^cked!😄😄😄😄😄 Thanks for making me laughing out loud again. You really have a great sense of humor.
And btw your photo is super cool, I envy you! I would like to have the same 😄 You look pretty dangerous!
Wish you good looking cerakoted riffle!
Haha, thanks D, my mate is a man of few words and most of them start with F! :)
The rifle should look good, not everyone’s taste I suppose but it’ll stand out in a crowd I think.
That's going to look so cool! I liked your quote:
Looking forward to seeing the finished product. Man, I need to start doing what you do for work. You've got some cool toys. I don't know if I would get a gun coated, but I would buy a lot more silver. ;)
Yeah, my gunsmith mate has two kids and I’m not inclined to pay their school fees! :)
Thanks for your comment. I’m fortunate to have a great job and to be good at it but I’m not drowning in money either. My wife and I make good decisions (mostly) and we don’t tend to put value on some of the things others do leaving us more resources for what we need. We focus on what we feel is important to us.
Yes, I should be buying $400 of silver shouldn’t I? Fair point. I buy some here and there though and have a modest stack. I tend to buy 1 kilogram blocks rather than coins. Not sure if that’s right or not but that’s what I do. I have some coins in a little pirate chest though which makes me feel like Captain Jack Sparrow! :)
I hope you’re well mate, and have a great weekend.
My wife and I are the same way. We don't have a lot of extra, but we prioritize the things that we put the most value on, and do that. Everything else, we pass on. No big shopping trips to the mall or that stuff.
Kilo bars? Man, sounds like you could literally drown in money. Ha ha. Nah, they're about $550-$600 for a kilo bar in the States. More for special ones. So they're not crazy expensive, but I have to save a long time for one of those. Getting a chest and filling it with coins is a great idea! I'll have to find a safe that looks like a chest. :)
Thanks! Enjoy your weekend as well!
It’s about $750 for a kilo bar last time I checked. I simply save the money over time and then buy one when I can. It’s not like I have a room full of them. Here’s one of my favorites...
Yes! That's awesome! That would come at a premium because of the name brand. It's gorgeous though!
Yep, I paid a little more for it but it was cool.
For a moment there, I was afraid that barrel might stand up on its own and shoot you both to death in a pit of rage ...
Ha! Back to reality..
I love the way the barrel case, whatever it is called, is so intricately crafted.. the holes obviously serve a purpose, to keep the barrel cool, but it gives it that "high tech weaponry" look.. like a "transformer robot" or something..
Looking forward to seeing the end result. Should be way f^cked up!
Following and Looking forward to the new pics!
That's a really interesting reciever! I haven't seen one like this before. Is this a bolt action rifle?
Yep, a bolt action rifle.
Nice work mate. I actually was considering Cerakoting out pumps as it would make them almost bullet proof. A tad cost prohibitive though. But it'd be really interesting to test the durability of it.
It’s pretty durable by all accounts. I have a hand gun cerakoted which I use in a fairly active sort of way and it hasn’t scratched yet. We’ll see I guess.
Can't wait to see what that looks like when its finished!
I’m hoping it comes out ok. I’m a bit concerned but am pretending not to be. :)
Best wishes for it to turn out great!