Black Nitride vs Cerakote

[Elkhuntinfool78]

Hello all,

I'm in the process of having my dream rifle built and would like to hear your thoughts on Black nitride vs Cerakote.

Looking for opinions from those that have had both. I've never seen Black nitride in person so I am going to have to rely on you'll feedback.

I've had lots of Cerakote rifles and overall have been pretty happy. My only complaint would be it seems to wear off a bit easier than I would like. I do like the corrosion resistance.

For this rifle it will be all black whichever finish I go with so availability of colors with Cerakote is not of any concern

Appreciate your feedback

 

[WeiserBucks]

Nitride or nothing.

 

[DapperDan]

Nitride on defiance actions for sure. The tolerances are so tight that any little bit of grime or debris on one that has cerekote and it will stick.

Both of my custom guns have nitride actions. One defiance and one surgeon. And the more you run them the smoother they get!


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[dster3]

Nitride is a chemical process that deposits into the metal, so it is very tough. Light gloss, satin finish. Very pleasing. I only run nitrided actions/bolts and will cerekote steel barrels. Nitride can still wear after use, common on bolts and such, but is much tougher.

 

[Slickhill]

Nitride. Hard pass on the paint.

 

[WeiserBucks]

@BRTreedogs

 

[Elkhuntinfool78]

Nitride is a chemical process that deposits into the metal, so it is very tough. Light gloss, satin finish. Very pleasing. I only run nitrided actions/bolts and will cerekote steel barrels. Nitride can still wear after use, common on bolts and such, but is much tougher.

Curious as to why you Cerakote the barrels as I was told it was ok to nitride the barrel as well? Just for looks or is there a concern for accuracy?

 

[Speedy7722]

Can't speak for a barrel, but the two custom actions I have with nitride finishes I have been very happy with and would prefer it over cerakote.

 

[100percent]

Anecdotal internet info here but, I have had 3 barrels nitrided (1 Bart and 2 Kriegers) that all pressured up at 1-4 grains below book minimum starting loads with multiple powders. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing because they all shot lights out. However, I was never able to achieve velocity I was expecting for each cartridge. They were all cured with a new pipe expeditiously or eventually. I haven’t encountered this phenomenon with dozens of others that were not salt bath nitrided! You and others may have different resluts.
Actions are a different story—I like’ ‘em! Smoothes them up and unless you just scrape the shit out of it, the color (black) holds better than cerakote!

 

[greyghostnw]

Nitride. Just say no to cerekoted bolts.

 

[Jwm76939]

I agree with the other. Nitride ftw. Ceramide comes off too easy

 

[bpitcher]

Anecdotal internet info here but, I have had 3 barrels nitrided (1 Bart and 2 Kriegers) that all pressured up at 1-4 grains below book minimum starting loads with multiple powders. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing because they all shot lights out. However, I was never able to achieve velocity I was expecting for each cartridge. They were all cured with a new pipe expeditiously or eventually. I haven’t encountered this phenomenon with dozens of others that were not salt bath nitrided! You and others may have different resluts.
Actions are a different story—I like’ ‘em! Smoothes them up and unless you just scrape the shit out of it, the color (black) holds better than cerakote!

Thats interesting. I've always heard that nitride possibly increases muzzle velocity.

 

[Nine Banger]

I have posts in Tikka Nitride and The 22 Creedmoor threads you may want to check out.

Sounds like cosmetics is goal here?

Nitride gun:



I have one cerakote rifle and one 1911 thats all jacked up and cerakote covered the tracks. I daydream about bead blasting them. Cerakote might as well be krylon to me. When I look at my cerakote gun I think "its nice to have one rifle that I can watch roll end over end down a mountain and not give a rip."

 

[WSMHNTR]

Nitride no questions asked. I have one custom (Pierce) that's cerakoted and it took a lot of time working the bolt to get it so it wouldn't feel sticky and bind when working it fast. Another custom (Borden) I have the bolt nitrided and its night and day difference. If I could do it again I'd do a full nitride on the action.

 

[dster3]

Curious as to why you Cerakote the barrels as I was told it was ok to nitride the barrel as well? Just for looks or is there a concern for accuracy?

Aesthetic reasons only. Not a huge fan of shiny steel barrels.

I've only ran nitride barrels on AR platforms, cant speak to accuracy or pros/cons when it comes to nitrided barrels, particularly on a precision bolt rifle

 

[Nine Banger]

Aesthetic reasons only. Not a huge fan of shiny steel barrels.

I'd bead blast the shiny barrel for aesthetics and nitride only if you just want to check it out like I did or if you hunt around salt water and transport guns on boats. The only reason my barrel is nitrided is because it was included with the nitride package so I sent it in. I'm not going to nitride another barrel when this one is shot out.

 

[Choupique]

Aesthetic reasons only. Not a huge fan of shiny steel barrels.

Aluma-hyde it!

I did it to my once very shiny model 70. I was honestly expecting it to be butt ass ugly but it actually looks pretty sweet.

 

[ThorM465]

Aesthetic reasons only. Not a huge fan of shiny steel barrels.

I've only ran nitride barrels on AR platforms, cant speak to accuracy or pros/cons when it comes to nitrided barrels, particularly on a precision bolt rifle

Any reputable shop is going to bead blast the barrel before treating it, which takes care of the shine.

All my SS barrels get nitrided, no question about it.

 

[wapitibob]

I have a nitrided defiance bolt and will get the bare action and ends of the carbon barrel cerakoted this fall. Nitride will wear on the bolt but cerakote is too thick and can affect function.

 

[Sundodger]

Not a huge fan of paint, even fancy paint like Cerakote, but it does have it's uses.

If you don't want to mess with the metallurgical properties of the base materials (bolt, action, barrel) there are some low temp PVD (physical vapor deposition) processes available.