Duracoating large rifles

[edm714]

Hey everyone,

I have a EDM Windrunner and have considered taking it somewhere to be duracoated. Has anyone ever duracoated anything that large? If so what kind of price should I expect for a digital camo pattern?

Thanks for any help!
Joe

 

[ScarBliss]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

I had one of my AR's duracoated before and I was SORELY disappointed with the amount of wear that started to show up rather quickly, it cost me $250. I just had one of my bolt guns cerakoated by a local guy and so far it has blown duracoat out of the water, $350 for a multicam pattern.

 

[BERTMAN77MK2]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

have both--when Duracoat is properly prepped and applied (ditto for Cerakote) there no issues with premature wear

see ARP, ShortBus, etc

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

I agree. I've been duracoating for a couple of years now. My first attempts resulted in so-so performance from the coating. Now that I've gotten better and take better care with surface prep, I haven't had any problems.

If you are applying it to a phosphate finish, that is supposed to be the best way to go. No prepping except to degrease. Otherwise, sand blasting is best.

I've seen prices from services run between $200 and $300 for camo; but as you found out, some are better than others.

 

[Skum]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

id go with cerakote "my opinion" all my duracoated guns all look scratched all my guns get creakote now and they look a lot better
ymmv

 

[Rob01]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

Joe check out Controlled Chaos Arms for finish work. Does a great job and is a site vendor. www.controlledchaosarms.com

 

[edm714]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Joe check out Controlled Chaos Arms for finish work. Does a great job and is a site vendor. www.controlledchaosarms.com </div></div>

Wow! Looks like excellent work and good prices! They will definitely be on my list once I decide on a pattern. Thanks for the link!

 

[ARP]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

 

[el gordo2]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

Have you considered doing it yourself? It's not rocket science, just takes some time. I am just not hip with the idea of shipping/insurance cost both ways in adition to the cost of the job.

My DIY latest duracoat digital.

 

[bigbang]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

Wow, those look great!

 

[gigler]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

Wow, that green digi camo is the best i have seen there is something about it that is special! I am going to try my own after that inspiration.

 

[Longshot38]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

I have duracoated a couple rifles. My question to you is, why have someone else do that? Duracoat is simple to apply, it just takes a afternoon, or a couple if you are doing a pattern. And it will be something you can take pride in saying that you did it yourself.

 

[ARP]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

If you are only going to do a single rifle in the pattern it is ultimately cheaper and will definitely end up better if done by somebody who has done hundreds of them. If you plan on doing a whole lot of your rifles then the costs of getting started will begin to average down. El Gordo shows you a picture of his rifle and says do it yourself, but you should pay attention to the word LATEST. This isn't his first paint work as it would be yours. Chances are very high that yours will not look anywhere close to his and in fact you are actually likely to mess up during the process and have to start over and perhaps even more than once. Taking the duracoat back off to start over is about 3 times as long of a process as putting it on

 

[gigler]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

For sure those are examples of master craftsmanship and I would never expect to achive such results on the first go. I restore concourse level autos and feel the same way when people watch a youtube vid and think they can do what it took me 20 years to figure out. Every once in awhile one comes out of the garage that blows me away. Aim high and take your time and do it right! I am still going to try some cerakoat seems like a great coating. duracoat has its detractors but i bet with great surface prep it is good too.

 

[edm714]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ARPredatorHunter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you are only going to do a single rifle in the pattern it is ultimately cheaper and will definitely end up better if done by somebody who has done hundreds of them. If you plan on doing a whole lot of your rifles then the costs of getting started will begin to average down. El Gordo shows you a picture of his rifle and says do it yourself, but you should pay attention to the word LATEST. This isn't his first paint work as it would be yours. Chances are very high that yours will not look anywhere close to his and in fact you are actually likely to mess up during the process and have to start over and perhaps even more than once. Taking the duracoat back off to start over is about 3 times as long of a process as putting it on

</div></div>




This is a good point. I have a feeling this would be a one rifle thing. Thanks for the advise!

 

[ARP]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

I don't have any issues with Duracoat to be honest. When I get tired of one of my own patterns done in that coating on a coyote rifle with a few years of use on it then it will still take me all day just to get the coating back off right to replace it.

Like most things it is attention to detail and patience and a measure of skill to get a job done that will last good. Anybody can grab a spray gun and shoot color, but folks who do this quite often are just better at it and know more of the tips and tricks and generally will have all the right tools. They can just simply do a better job at it consistently.

Yes, cerakote is tougher than DuraCoat, heat cured far more so than air cured, but it is also a lot harder to get it done right and it is so easy to screw it up and it wreaks havoc upon your equipment.

 

[Longshot38]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ARPredatorHunter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't have any issues with Duracoat to be honest. When I get tired of one of my own patterns done in that coating on a coyote rifle with a few years of use on it then it will still take me all day just to get the coating back off right to replace it.

Like most things it is attention to detail and patience and a measure of skill to get a job done that will last good. Anybody can grab a spray gun and shoot color, but folks who do this quite often are just better at it and know more of the tips and tricks and generally will have all the right tools. They can just simply do a better job at it consistently.

Yes, cerakote is tougher than DuraCoat, heat cured far more so than air cured, but it is also a lot harder to get it done right and it is so easy to screw it up and it wreaks havoc upon your equipment. </div></div>

I'm not arguing that experience is an excellent teacher. But painting is not rocket science. And the key to Duracoat is prep. If you take the time to prep right, and take the time to read the instruction and understand the product then there is no reason someone can't produce an excellent end result on their own.

As for the investment. I agree that financially the OP is no better off with a DIY job. But I take pride in things that I do myself. And many others do as well. Hints my suggestion. But that is just a me thing, if I can do it myself then I will.

 

[gigler]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

That is interesting in what way is cerakoat tough on the spray gear? Is that something I should consider? Custom is king and I would rather do it myself for the fun and satisfaction.

 

[ARP]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

I am all for folks who want to do their own thing to do their own thing. Heck, I have even written articles and tutorials on doing such to help folks do exactly that when it comes to painting their own gear. Many people don't have the proper equipment to do DuraCoat and Cerakote right and don't foresee all the expense and time it takes to do it right. It is fun if you like painting and "artsy" stuff. That is why I do it because I simply enjoy it and have been camo painting stuff since I was a kid and I am an old fart now. I offer services out to others because it doesn't take long to run out of your own stuff to paint

As to cerakote being rough on gear, it is very thin and extremely tough, has a tendency to get into every little spray orifice imaginable and one less than perfect cleaning job or a bit too much delay and you now have a dried in place cerakote within the equipment that you just ain't gonna get back out with anything you try. Time for replacement.

 

[mewillis]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

nice digicammo job......
I am pretty good with Duracoat DIY but just tried KG guncoat
with less than stellar results. I do agree prep is the key but mine came out too shiny so will have to experiment.

 

[theserxtremedays]

Re: Duracoating large rifles

Doing it yourself is always a possibility I've been doing gun coating for a while now, the biggest thing is TAKE YOUR TIME. If you get in a hurry you will mess up and mistakes are bad when your doing stuff with this type of paint. Let it dry in between coatings, also don't use the stick on stencils get normal stencils and use those if you want, you have to be slower and more methodical but your results are much better.

 

[jrivera1]

tag

 

[Painless300]

Ive got both Cerakote and Duracoat on my guns. The Duracoat is easier to paint patterns but is not as abrasive resistant, the Cerakote is must tougher but you can only blend the colors. I only Cerakote now.

 

[jrivera1]

Thanks for the info.. I have a Windrunner coming and was thinking of Cerakoting. Heard good things about it..

 

[hognuts]

DIY Duracoat digital desert pattern on a Barrett model 99 50 BMG, it turned out decent and has put up to some pretty rough treatment on some back country hunts, in a pack saddle, etc... plus just shooting these things is rough on stuff, it shows a little wear, but all in all I have been happy with the coating, none of my stuff is what I would call a "safe queen". That being said, there are flaws and blemmishes that I know about BECAUSE I was the one to do it and I am considering sending this one out to have professionally "re-done" in a digital green pattern once I get my 375 CT up and running. I wouldn't be afraid to tackle it yourself, but like others have said, you will likely get a better finished product from someone who has "been there done that"

 

[jimmykm21]

DIY Duracoat digital desert pattern on a Barrett model 99 50 BMG, it turned out decent and has put up to some pretty rough treatment on some back country hunts, in a pack saddle, etc... plus just shooting these things is rough on stuff, it shows a little wear, but all in all I have been happy with the coating, none of my stuff is what I would call a "safe queen". That being said, there are flaws and blemmishes that I know about BECAUSE I was the one to do it and I am considering sending this one out to have professionally "re-done" in a digital green pattern once I get my 375 CT up and running. I wouldn't be afraid to tackle it yourself, but like others have said, you will likely get a better finished product from someone who has "been there done that"

Hijack

Can you talk about your hunts with the Barrett , location , animal , range you are shooting at .

Beautiful country you are hunting in.

 

[Goatman007]

Duracoat is pretty durable, Oven cure is a must, Air dry is a 3 week cure time, and don't even look at it or a scratch will appear. Just did 2 rifles in German flecktarn grey, and they look great!! Both rifles have already sustained a couple of knocks, and you can't even tell.

 

[hognuts]

Hijack

Can you talk about your hunts with the Barrett , location , animal , range you are shooting at .

Beautiful country you are hunting in.

I have only taken one mule deer with the Barrett, I have taken it many times however, "hoping for the opportunity" to use it. The year in that pic 2010 early season rifle hunt in the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness area. It is in Montana just North of Yellowstone, they have a mid September rifle hunt, the unit is only accessible by horseback (for practical purposes). We did a drop camp with Absaroka Beartooth Outfitters out of Big Timber Montana, I brought the Barrett to set up in a burn area (where the picture was taken) We could see about 1200 yard perimeter around our position, we sat on that for the first half of opening day. We did not see anything moving in our "kill zone" We hiked in up on top and (I brought a 30/06 for hiking through terrain) We spotted a bull about 1200 yards out (this spot was about 1 mile from where we had hiked the Barrett into and about 1000' higher elevation) My buddy bugled the elk in to 300 yards and I took him with the 30/06.

I took it to Dillon Montana one year along with the 30/06, the 30/06 would get carried when we went on walks and when I wanted to "sit on an area" I would hump the Barrett in where I could see a good distance. We were walking with the "light rifles" and we kicked some small mulie bucks out of some thick timber. I couldn't get a shot and they ran out into some rolling hills in sage-brush country, they stopped 650 yards out, I hiked back to the truck and set up the fifty and took him out. Damn near decapitated him. Got him in the throat with a 750 grain AMAX. I was getting ready to go home the next day and had not filled either of my tags so I wanted to get "something" other wise we probably would have let that one walk....(plus to be honest we wanted to put the Barrett to work on game! ) I will post up pics when I get my photobucket figured out. Funniest part of that whole scenario was that when I broke the shot, I lost my sight picture, didn't know if I hit or not, I turned around and my cousins had been spotting for me, my cousin Chris (who is very animated we'll say ) had jumped about 3 feet in the air and yelled You got that sombitch! That cracked us all up and made it a memorable moment!

I have packed this heavy pig all over hell's half acre and had very few occasions when I could use it, that being said, I don't like leaving home without it because you just never know! Gotta have the golf bag of rifles depending on the scenario that arises. This one would be Big Bertha!

Bambi Vs. Barrett




Other hunts where it made and appearance but not a kill....

 

[jimmykm21]

Nice photos and thanks for the write up. I have one also but never took it hunting . Just target shooting.
I have one place I hunt I could use it but the range at the most is never over 600 yards so I stick with the .30 calibers.