I’m going to skip torturing the Daniel Defense marketing team over the name Tornado. It’s gray.
And it is pretty sweet looking.
For $130 more than a stock, anodized rifle you’re getting durable Cerakote finish in addition to a cosmetic upgrade. I’m not particularity hard on my guns, and I actually like gear that bears the scars of use. But, I don’t particularly need to remember that time I drove 20 miles before I realized the scratching noise coming from my pickup bed was the sound of a receiver rubbing itself on the head of the framing hammer it was laying on.
moreThe rifle was scratched a little, but it wasn’t anything I worried about. But, it did get me thinking. Once the finish was compromised, the chipped or worn area will invite more damage and increase the chances that corrosion would take hold thanks to the increased surface area of unfinished metal.
There are a few options for coloring and protecting a rifle. Rattlecan it- $15 will get it done. The paint will last a couple months before it rubs off or chips off in your hands; and it doesn’t offer any really mechanical protection.
Duracoat is another option. It’s not terribly expensive, and you can shoot it yourself for less than $50 if you have the patience to prep and spray your own rifle. It’s known to hold up well if it’s applied properly.
The third option is to let someone custom Cerakote your gun for $150-$300. Cerakoting is a heat-cured, ceramic-based coating that cures to a finish tough enough to laugh off most mechanical attacks and even stand up to paint thinners. It requires some training, skill and professional painting equipment to do the job right. That’s why it isn’t cheap.
So, all of that is to say when Daniel Defense offers a Cerakoted rifle for just $130 more than an anodized rifle, that’s a good deal. If you live by the water and corrosion is your nemesis, a factory Cerakote job is worth considering.
DD is offering only the DDM4 V5 and V9 lightweight in gray, initially, with additional models following this summer.Both rifles are $1819 MSRP with the new finish versus $1689 for the black anodized rifles. DD released their brown Cerakote (Milspec+) rifles at SHOT 2014, so this adds a second color option.
