Firearm Coatings

Protecting your firearms from wear and tear is essential. A firearm is a long term investment that you want to protect for the duration of ownership. Choosing an inferior coating could result in shortened life of the firearm.

There are so many options for firearms coatings it is hard to find them all, much less distinguish between them. When selecting a firearms coating you want something to prevent rust, protect the metal, and reduce overall wear.

Bluing

Bluing is a process where metals are partially protected from rusting. Bluing is applied to the metal and leaves a bluish-black coating on the steel. Most firearms are factory blued using a heat bluing process. You can also buy cold bluing yourself and touch up your firearms or re blue them in yourself. You can get do it yourself bluing kits from Amazon.

Parkerizing

Parkerizing is a process where metals are protected against corrosion and partially against wear. Parkerizing is a better process than bluing. Parkerizing sticks to the bare metal of the firearm and provides a protective coating. Parkerizing is the result of a chemical reaction. Parkerizing can also be done yourself. You can get kits from Amazon.

DuraCoat

DuraCoat is a firearms finish designed for firearms. Other coatings are not specifically made for firearms. DuraCoat was designed for the average gun owner to apply themselves. Preheating, baking and blasting are not required. The only thing you need to apply DuraCoat is an airbrush. DuraCoat claims their product will last many lifetimes. DuraCoat is available in many colors that can be mixed and in several patterns. Application is as easy as spray painting a chair.

My Thoughts

I have yet to decide which coating I like the best. I do not think bluing is the best, it seams to rust too easily for my preferences. Parkerizing looks like a good alternative, but a extensive and complicated process. I think parkerizing will wear much better than bluing. DuraCoat is new and I wonder about the true lifespan. All the information says that it does great over a parkerized surface. I wonder if this means I need to parkerize the firearm first or if it will be effective on bare metal.

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