Duracoat and Cerakote are two of the most popular gun coatings. They are an excellent option to protect your firearm from environmental damage or corrosion, as well as just if you feel like a color change or a custom pattern to make your firearm your own. Duracoat is essentially a two-part chemical coating. Meanwhile, Cerakote is best defined as a ceramic-based finish. When it comes to Duracoat vs Cerakote, let’s see which one wins?
Both coatings can protect and adhere to the surface of your firearm for a long time. However, most users agree that Cerakote can do the job better than Duracoat. But, applying Cerakote can be comparatively more complicated. In comparison, Duracoat is easier and cheaper to apply and, therefore, more manageable.
You really have to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of both to determine which is best for you. And to help you out, I’ve discussed them both in explicit detail. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
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When it comes to protecting your firearms from the elements, you have two main choices: Duracoat and Cerakote. Both are excellent finishes that will extend the life of your gun and protect it from corrosion and wear. But which one is better?
To answer that question, we need to take a closer look at each finish and how they perform.
An Overview Of The Three Best Gun Coatings
To find out which is the best coating for your gun, you first have to learn about the three gun coatings. These are –
- Duracoat
- Cerakote
- Gunkote
Undoubtedly, when it comes down to Duracoat vs Cerakote vs Gunkote, they all serve their purposes honestly. However, due to the advantages and disadvantages, one might be preferable to you than the other.
Cerakote
What is cerakote? Cerakote is a composite coating. It contains polymer and ceramic. It applies to a wide range of materials on which it forms a thin but tough and long-lasting layer. Cerakote can provide protection against rust, ultraviolet damage, impact, chemical, and heat.
Application methods include spraying and brushing. You can dry it up in the air or oven. There are hundreds of colors and finishes to choose from, such as gloss, metallic, or custom.
Gun enthusiasts widely agree that Cerakote provides the best and most long-lasting protection against environmental factors. I have personally had a few pistol slides coated in Cerakote for corrosion protection, and also have had a few rifle actions and barrels also coated in Cerakote for protection and to hide the reflective shine from barrels on hunting rifles.
Normally, Cerakote can protect against temperatures rising to 260 degrees C. Cerakote C-series can withstand heat over 1000 degrees Celsius. This superior heat resistance is essential since firearms can get very hot during shooting.
Also, the coating doesn’t break even with 3000 hours of salt spray test. This attests to Cerakote’s superior corrosion.
Cerakote can resist acid, alkali, or oil damage. And it also reduces the jamming of the various moving parts of your firearm. However, the application of Cerakote is not a job for the amateur. You must find a professional service to perform it for you. Which means you have to pay service charges on top of an already expensive coating.
It’s durability is similar to that of anodizing, but with added corrosion resistance.
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Duracoat
Duracoat is a chemical coating. It is compatible with a wide range of materials. It creates a thick, strong, and flexible layer over the firearm, protecting against various stress factors. In addition, it also significantly improves the appearance of the gun.
Duracoat is a type of coating that is applied via an airbrush. It uses a base-coat and clear-coat system, similar to automotive paint finishes. The base coat is where the color is applied, while the clear coat protects it from UV rays and other environmental factors.
You can find many creative colors and finishing options with Duracoat. For instance, fluorescent, glow-in-the-dark, zombie, and metallic.
The application of Duracoat is comparatively easier. You don’t need high expertise or equipment to do the job. However, it takes too long to cure completely. You may have to wait 2-3 weeks for Duracoat to settle properly.
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Gun Kote
Gun Kote is an epoxy resin-based coating. It has remarkable adhesion to metal, rubber, and wood surfaces. You will apply Gunkote as a thin layer on your firearm. Despite the thinness, the coat is very durable.
It provides excellent protection against rust, impact, and abrasion. Apart from protection, Gunkote also lubricates the different parts of the firearm.
You can apply Gunkote by spray or brush and cure it in the air or in an oven. This coating has many color options: matte, camouflage, satin, metallic, etc.
The biggest advantage of Gunkote is the easy application process. Most users prefer it because you can apply it with minimal equipment and experience.
Also, Gunkote is compatible with a wide range of materials and surfaces. And the lubricating properties of the coating provide additional protection against the wear and tear of moving parts. However, this coating takes a long time to settle. If you are air drying, it might take up to 7 days to properly cure. You can choose oven drying to complete the process in 24 hours.
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Cerakote Vs. Duracoat: Which One To Choose?
A Duracoat vs Cerakote debate can be a difficult one. On the one hand, you have quick drying time and long-lastingness. Meanwhile, you also have to consider the ease of application and affordability. Let’s go into some more details.
Durability
When it comes to Duracoat vs Cerakote durability, the latter wins.The better the heat resistance and salt test value of a gun coat, the longer it will last. Duracoat has a heat resistance of 150 degrees C. In comparison, Cerakote can withstand 260 degrees. So, in the long run, Duracoat will decay sooner than Cerakote from heat damage.
Another important parameter for the durability of a gun coat is the Salt test value. A coated firearm is exposed to a salt spray at high temperatures. This tells you how well the coating can protect against corrosion.
Cerakote H series was good for up to 2000 hours, and Cerakote Elite for up to 3000 hours. In comparison, Duracoat started showing signs of damage after 500 hours only. In other words, Cerakote could protect the gun from corrosion far longer.
Ease of Application
Applying a coat on your firearm requires some basic skill and care. If you are too clumsy, you will have a bad result no matter how good of a coating you use. From this perspective, Duracoat is the best choice for coating.
Duracoat is easier to apply since it doesn’t require any special equipment to apply. It is similar to painting with a spray can or brush. Anyone with some basic skills can do it at home. Which means you don’t have to pay any service charge.
In comparison, Cerakote is harder to apply. It requires special equipment like an air compressor and paint sprayer. And once done, you will need an oven to cure the coating. Whereas, Duracoat dries in the air.
You must also remember, Cerakote demands superior precision during the application process. If it gets in places it’s not supposed to, the internals of your gun might suffer.
Color Options
Most gun owners don’t require a wide range of colors. However, if you have creative goals, they might be of some importance. Duracoat wins in this department too. It offers around 300 color options compared to the 148 colors available at Cerakote.
Duracoat offers interesting options like WWII O.D. Green, Rosewood, Gun Blue, and many more. Meanwhile, Cerakote’s offers include Graphite Black, Coyote Tan, Midnight Bronze, etc.
Affordability
Price is an important consideration when deciding on a gun coat. However, that should not come at the cost of quality. If you ask which one is cheaper, it’s Duracoat. Twelve ounces of Duracoat costs around 35 dollars. That amount of product is enough to cover 2-4 average-sized firearms.
On the other hand, covering only one handgun with Cerakote can cost around $200-250. This includes both the price of the product and labor costs. However, it might be a worthy investment since the coating lasts long.
Removal
If you find a mistake with the gun coating after it dries up, you must remove it. Otherwise, the gun might fail to give the expected performance during an emergency. You would have an easier time removing the coating if you used Duracoat.
The chemical coating Duracoat simply bonds with the surface of the gun. Therefore, it is easily removable with solvents and abrasives.
Meanwhile, Cerakote doesn’t merely bond with the surface. Instead, it forms an entirely new hard layer over the gun. So, it is extremely difficult to remove once dried. You will need to sandblast the firearm to get rid of the coating.
Conclusion
The Duracoat vs Cerakote debate will probably never end, but in my mind it can end with a peaceful solution. Cerakote is far tougher and more long-lasting than Duracoat. So, it is the best option for those who wouldn’t compromise durability for anything. However, if you want a cheaper, easy-to-apply, and a removable option, Duracoat is preferable.