StrangerDanger Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 The Cerakote model has phosphate beneath the paint job. The naming of the finish leads a lot of people to believe it is some special finish. Titanium refers to the color of the Cerakote, not some kind of special blend of herbs and spices suspending titanium for some benefit. The shop doing the paint work for Benelli likely roughed up the phosphate on the steel parts with blast media before painting it and oven curing the parts. On the aluminum receiver, I have not seen signs of the anodizing being removed prior to painting. I’ve polished off areas of the Cerakote around the loading port when doing port jobs and haven’t seen signs of the blasting beneath it. If they are, it’s really soft soda blast to remove oils and that’s about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRCOWBOY Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 10 hours ago, StrangerDanger said: The Cerakote model has phosphate beneath the paint job. The naming of the finish leads a lot of people to believe it is some special finish. Titanium refers to the color of the Cerakote, not some kind of special blend of herbs and spices suspending titanium for some benefit. The shop doing the paint work for Benelli likely roughed up the phosphate on the steel parts with blast media before painting it and oven curing the parts. On the aluminum receiver, I have not seen signs of the anodizing being removed prior to painting. I’ve polished off areas of the Cerakote around the loading port when doing port jobs and haven’t seen signs of the blasting beneath it. If they are, it’s really soft soda blast to remove oils and that’s about it. With what is currently avaiable which is a better product? Shouldmi save the money and use it to buy extras. On another note my plan is to keep upgrading and improving over time, which finish would give me that ability. 2 or 3 years from now do I run the chance of not finding parts that match the H2O? Buying the gun and adding the extras cannot happen for me right now $$$$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 You won’t like the price on a NP3 plated M4. I’d buy a black model and upgrade as you can. You can send it to Wright at some point and have it plated in NP3 if you want. It’ll be far cheaper than the premium they’re going for right now. The Cerakote H2O is a bit disingenuous in my opinion. Benelli bait and switched this one with a lot of customers. I’ve met countless buyers who assumed it was Np3 plated since it had the H2O moniker. With the Cerakote model, you’re buying the look, not the performance of the NP3 original model. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktaba85 Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 23 hours ago, StrangerDanger said: You won’t like the price on a NP3 plated M4. I’d buy a black model and upgrade as you can. You can send it to Wright at some point and have it plated in NP3 if you want. It’ll be far cheaper than the premium they’re going for right now. The Cerakote H2O is a bit disingenuous in my opinion. Benelli bait and switched this one with a lot of customers. I’ve met countless buyers who assumed it was Np3 plated since it had the H2O moniker. With the Cerakote model, you’re buying the look, not the performance of the NP3 original model. Is there a way to confirm if it is cerakote or NP3? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 3 hours ago, marktaba85 said: Is there a way to confirm if it is cerakote or NP3? Yes, the Cerakote models will have the regular black bolt carrier and receiver extension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktaba85 Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 7 hours ago, StrangerDanger said: Yes, the Cerakote models will have the regular black bolt carrier and receiver extension. Ah, sweet! Now I know what you are talking about the cerakote, similar to the burnt bronze cerakote. I got the H2O last year and good to know it is Np3 coated. Going to keep this unicorn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigofirearms Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Ugh..... if that is your picture, you definitely don't have a NP3 plated M4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktaba85 Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 22 minutes ago, Vertigofirearms said: Ugh..... if that is your picture, you definitely don't have a NP3 plated M4. which is the giveaway? I Just went off black bolt carrier, but obviously wrong When did they stop the NP3 coat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Vertigofirearms is right. Cerakote model. Where the bolt handle inserts is the bolt carrier. On the real NP3 models, this is all NP3 plated along with the receiver extension. The part where your collapsible stock attaches. Example: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 I think around 2016 they stopped doing the NP3 models. About the time they introduce the Cerakote models of various colors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktaba85 Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 9 hours ago, StrangerDanger said: Yes, the Cerakote models will have the regular black bolt carrier and receiver extension. Doh. I jumped the gun and didn't read your comment properly. However, I think I did good compared to what others are paying. Plus it came with a RMR, case, surefirelight, full tube, extra 3-position tube, and other stuff . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Agreed. It’s no worse than a black regular M4. What it comes down to is NP3 is a very expensive process that takes three months to have done. Where as Cerakote is probably 25% the cost and can be done by many different shops with minimal equipment. You could sell that extra receiver extension for a pretty penny right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bambihunter Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 You can also look at the model numbers. The 11711 is the real NP3 model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evolution Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 So is the 11718 which is the one I have. Solid PG stock with three position receiver extension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bambihunter Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Good point Evolution. I was just thinking of collapsible / extended model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evolution Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Yeah, I have no idea why my model with the solid PG stock came with the 3 position receiver extension, as well as why the pistons, and gas plugs, and almost all of the trigger group components were plated at Robar. I guess that I got lucky for once in my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milspec Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, StrangerDanger said: What it comes down to is NP3 is a very expensive process that takes three months to have done. I don't know when I'm going to see mine again. Given the current prices I sometimes wonder if they put it back together and sold it for a premium on GB. Then ordered another one for me in it's place. LOL 4 months and counting with no end in sight. It's like buying 2 suppressors and waiting for the stamps. Edited June 25, 2020 by Milspec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 5 minutes ago, Milspec said: I don't know when I'm going to see mine again. Given the current prices I sometimes wonder if they put it back together and sold it for a premium on GB. Then ordered another one for me in it's place. LOL 4 months and counting with no end in sight. It's like buying 2 suppressors and waiting for the stamps. Hope they’re not just waiting on reassembly. The M4 takes a solid 5-6 hours to put back together from its stripped condition. And that’s if you know what you’re doing. I have another one ready to go to Wright. Just waiting on a few small parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milspec Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 I sent them a few more gizmos last week for NP3. I'm hoping this will help pump up their part count needed to get a batch done. Or however it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigofirearms Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 Does a genuine H2O feel smoother than a regular black M4 (both brand new)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 1 hour ago, Vertigofirearms said: Does a genuine H2O feel smoother than a regular black M4 (both brand new)? Definitely. The whole action feels like it’s riding on ball bearings. Smoother recoil impulse. Less distinctive mechanical clunking as the bolt rotates, bolt carrier cocks the hammer, bolt carrier slams against the back of the receiver extension. Shell elevator articulates smoother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steel-plate Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 NP3 is teflon metallic cousin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigofirearms Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 If you were to get the internals NP3 plated, what parts would it be (on a M3 and M4)? I am not too keen on the two tone finish so I wouldn't do an entire gun. Bolt carrier is pretty evident that would benefit the most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangerDanger Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 19 hours ago, Vertigofirearms said: If you were to get the internals NP3 plated, what parts would it be (on a M3 and M4)? I am not too keen on the two tone finish so I wouldn't do an entire gun. Bolt carrier is pretty evident that would benefit the most. There are options where you can have the visible portions of the carrier Cerakoted black for cosmetics. The only areas on the bolt carrier that benefit from the NP3 are the rails, bottom surface that the hammer rides against, and inside the channel for the bolt. The Benelli is mostly a steel gun except for the receiver. Having the inside of the receiver done is a huge benefit since that’s where the bolt carrier rides. The more NP3 to NP3 surfaces that move you have together the smoother the action will be. A secondary benefit is the parts are nearly impervious to corrosion, so doing small steel parts throughout the gun would be a smart choice. Like the three piece handguard retainers are the front of the forearm hanger on the barrel assembly. You’ll never see them unless disassembled. For performance, I’ll roughly list parts from most important to least important from a performance perspective. Receiver Extension, receiver extension plunger, bolt carrier, receiver, hammer, magazine cap, breech latch, bolt cam, bolt carrier link, bolt carrier link pin, trigger group bushing, hammer spring cap, trigger frame, Shell stop, bolt head, trigger, Firing pin, disconnector, disconnector pin, barrel assembly (the channels the pistons ride in benefit), pistons, Argo gas cups, extractor claw, shell drop lever, carrier, trigger pins, Safety button detent, safety button, Argo plug bodies, Argo plug stand off and pins, Trigger group pin, trigger group spacer, trigger group snap ring, firing pin retainer, trigger bushing snap ring. While you’re sending small parts, I’d send the internals of the collapsible stock, knock out and send the screws to your buttpad, the stock retaining screw and snap ring to the receiver extension, small pins in the trigger pack except the disconnector pin (It’s too small), front handguard retainers clips as mentioned, magazine spring retainer, extractor claw pin. I like to send the internal parts of pistol and field stocks as well. Getting them apart isn’t the easiest, but there are benefits to having the sling stay bolt and associated internal parts all plated. Mark and bag your small springs. Telling the difference between a pile of small springs can be a nightmare if you don’t have one to compare against. Some of them are really hard to determine 3-4 months after you took it apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milspec Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 (edited) Woohoo! my M4 ticket now reads: "NP3 / Metal Finish In Process..." Ummm but what about the the stuff I sent in a week after that and in April? ? Edited June 27, 2020 by Milspec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.