DLC Coating on Defiance Machine Deviant

[Dracca85]

I am wanting to put a DLC coating on my .300 PRC action and was curious if anyone had any favored companies.

 

[JMGlasgow]

What about sending it back to Defiance and having them put a nitride finish on it?

 

[Dracca85]

Ya I suppose I can do that. I was under the impression that a DLC coating is much more durable though. What are your thoughts ?

 

[Dracca85]

Defiance proper doesn't do nitriding, they contract it out to H&M coatings I believe..

 

[mildot326]

I think?? that Defiance only does nitriding now.

 

[JMGlasgow]

Nitriding isn't a coating, it is a treatment that hardens the surface, turning it black is a side effect.

I knew Defiance didn't do nitriding in house, but figured they could send it out for you.

 

[gamewarden]

My last 2 actions from Defiance were IonBonded DLC.

 

[Dracca85]

ya I knew that .. Its a different process altogether than DLC . DLC is literally diamond like carbon that is applied through a vacuum vapor process. Nitriding is a heated salt bath process that can alter the tolerances is not done correctly.

 

[JMGlasgow]

When were they purchased? I got mine almost a year ago and Nitriding was the only option.

 

[Dracca85]

@gamewarden Do you know what company they used and how smooth did your action turn out ?

 

[Dracca85]

@JMGlasgow I literally got mine the other day from FFL. They initially did offer me only nitriding however, I hesitated as I wanted to think of other coating options

 

[gnochi]

Ya I suppose I can do that. I was under the impression that a DLC coating is much more durable though. What are your thoughts ?

DLC is slightly more resistant to corrosion, unless the nitride is oiled. DLC is more prone to chipping, since it’s an actual coating, while nitride is a conversion and heat treatment process (which is why you categorically never nitride something you bought from someone else, it’s a safety issue).

For all intents and purposes, though, they’re interchangeable. Nitrided through Defiance or DLC’d through insert-company-here, either way you’ll probably need to open up the bolt clearance a bit, and possibly re-headspace.

 

[gamewarden]

I don't, but they were both very smooth/slick. Think they were late 2018 purchase.

 

[Dracca85]

DLC is slightly more resistant to corrosion, unless the nitride is oiled. DLC is more prone to chipping, since it’s an actual coating, while nitride is a conversion and heat treatment process (which is why you categorically never nitride something you bought from someone else, it’s a safety issue).

For all intents and purposes, though, they’re interchangeable. Nitrided through Defiance or DLC’d through insert-company-here, either way you’ll probably need to open up the bolt clearance a bit, and possibly re-headspace.

Already did it gunny.. I asked for clearance in case I wanted to put a cerakote on it. Glad I didn't . it can be quite stiff

 

[gnochi]

Already did it gunny.. I asked for clearance in case I wanted to put a cerakote on it. Glad I didn't . it can be quite stiff

Good call. Candidly, I would recommend getting the nitride through defiance instead of the DLC through a random company, since economies of scale will work out slightly better in your favor.

 

[Dracca85]

Good call. Candidly, I would recommend getting the nitride through defiance instead of the DLC through a random company, since economies of scale will work out slightly better in your favor.

I agree .. I just heard better things on DLC if it was done by a legit company. I have been looking at Club Custom Guns out of Denton, NC

 

[Dracca85]

I guess they both offer the same smoothness and toughness to a degree huh ?

 

[gnochi]

I guess they both offer the same smoothness and toughness to a degree huh ?

I can’t tell the difference in smoothness. Nitride is tougher against impact loads, DLC can be slightly harder, but both are very capable against scraping loads.

Ultimately, with DLC you’re limited by the strength of the base material and how well you can attach to it. Prep work before coating is critical.

With nitriding/melonite/QPQ/FNC/tennifer, you’re case hardening the base material and substantially increasing toughness.

 

[shotdown]

I agree .. I just heard better things on DLC if it was done by a legit company. I have been looking at Club Custom Guns out of Denton, NC

That is who Defiance used for DLC in the past. From what I understand, the wait times got too long and they couldn’t afford to keep the customer waiting. Defiance now offers nitride only through H&M.
I shoot for Defiance btw.