Nitride v Cerakote (or both) for Tikka custom

[DLOsoft]

I'm getting a Tikka build started with UM and will be providing a stainless donor Tikka option. The barrel will be the fluted Ace Barrel. The standard built appears to include nitriding the action and then also cerakoting both the barrel and the action. I was wondering if it might make more sense to have the action and barrel nitrided and forego any cerakoting as I know that cerakote is just a surface paint and have heard that it will wear and the action with a cerakote finish might not be as smooth as a nitride finish?

Is there any downside to just nitriding everything and skipping the cerakote?

Another option would be to just cerakote everything with no nitride since my parts will already all be stainless.

Finally, I can both nitride and cerakote the action and just cerakote the barrel, but I'm not sure there is any real advantage to this.

I don't really know much about any of this stuff so was hoping for some guidance. Thank you!

 

[hereinaz]

Cerakote will give you added protection to the surface underneath. It will wear, but it is more durable than paint. No reason not to add it if it is part of the cost.

As long as the cerakote stays out of the inside of the action and off the bolt, it won’t affect performance.

 

[glock24]

I think you answered your own question. Nitriding is a penetrating surface treatment, and far, far superior to any chemical formula of paint (Cerakote).

Reasons to Cerakote are limited to additional color choice, and higher likelhood of color-matching different components. And of course the downside of Cerakote is that it will eventually scratch and wear.

I like the idea of nitride only, but to your point, probably less necessary due to the metal being stainless. I think you'd lean this way mainly if you prefer black instead of silver. There is also some evidence that nitrided barrels last longer due to the increased surface hardness. At least that's what the AR-15 crowd believes.

You can't make a bad decision, mainly because you're using stainless components. Personally, I like the idea of overengineering all things gun-related, so I'd opt for nitriding everything.