Wilson Combat Barrel Coating….Help!

2391 Views 65 Replies 28 Participants Last post by keyser soze, 1 mo ago

Bubruin3

Discussion Starter · 5 mo ago

So the Wilson combat Professional Dark edition, no longer remains unfired and she shoots like a dream.

However, some very unusual (to me), barrel wear. I would expect some wear but the coating appears to be chipping off. Team, help a brother out….is this normal?

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Dub

· #2 · 5 mo ago

Armor Tuff won't last long on my WC blackout barrel, either.

I knew this going into it.

I'll likely wear off everywhere except the flutes.

At some point I plan on seeing my barrel in for DLC coating.

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Bubruin3

Discussion Starter · #3 · 5 mo ago

Dub said:
Armor Tuff won't last long on my WC blackout barrel, either.

I knew this going into it.

I'll likely wear off everywhere except the flutes.

At some point I plan on seeing my barrel in for DLC coating.

So, this is normal? Any idea on how much DLC would cost for a barrel?

Dub

· #4 · 5 mo ago

Bubruin3 said:
So, this is normal? Any idea on how much DLC would cost for a barrel?

I was advised when I put my oder in that the blackout barrel would be in AT....and it would come off.

I was also advised at that time WC wasn't doing DLC on the barrel (even though my frame and slide was DLC). I found this to be mildly aggravating.....but went ahead with it anyway.

I've seen some folks send theirs into other 3rd party spots and have them done in DLC.

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Bubruin3

Discussion Starter · #5 · 5 mo ago

Appreciate the info.

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Dwvalor

· #6 · 5 mo ago (Edited)

Regarding going with a DLC barrel - it wont chip but it will come off rather quickly . I have a NH GRP blackout and it is coming off the barrel about 2500 rounds or so another couple thousand and the barrel hood will be bare 🤷‍♂️Meh your doing the right thing - shoot the piss out of it 👍 very nice pistol congrats

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MedicGunGuy

· #7 · 5 mo ago

I think each gun is diffrent, I have an atlas that I have 25k rounds through and the DLC barrel looks brand new. Same with a Titan that I has 6k rounds through and again, no visible wear!

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Bubruin3

Discussion Starter · #8 · 5 mo ago

Dwvalor said:
Regarding going with a DLC barrel - it wont chip but it will come off rather quickly . I have a NH GRP blackout and it is coming off the barrel about 2500 rounds or so another couple thousand and the barrel hood will be bare 🤷‍♂️Meh your doing the right thing - shoot the piss out of it 👍 very nice pistol congrats

I don’t mind some good honest wear, but that chipping just looks cheap.

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Bubruin3

Discussion Starter · #9 · 5 mo ago

Cajun gun work‘s website says $85 to DLC a barrel….any experience on here with them and DLC?

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JoeyMac

· #10 · 5 mo ago

Evolution armory offers DLC too

There’s also melonite, too. Unless I wanted gloss, I’d melonite. Its much better corrosion resistance and the finish outlasts dlc, but the black will still eventually wear off where there’s rubbing… but even if the black wears off the nitride case hardening and corrosion resistance remains. Downside is that it’s basically irreversible… it can be touched up or painted over and that’s about it

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Dwvalor

· #11 · 5 mo ago

That is one thing I dont like about AT - the chipping ,my Wilsons all have that problem that are in that finish I just learned to live with it . Good news is you can have them refinished easily

Bubruin3 said:
Cajun gun work‘s website says $85 to DLC a barrel….any experience on here with them and DLC?

that certainly is reasonable enough to try it out I guess
I understand - I am not a fan of armour tuff and its chipping features but I got used to it

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Alequeri07

· #12 · 5 mo ago

Maybe TIN. Had a barrel for a Staccato with the chunk port done. I would use a wire brush and that stuff never chipped or scratched.

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dash

· #13 · 5 mo ago

The AT is chipping because the steel is stainless. AT doesn’t adhere well to stainless steel. This chipping is more aggressive than I’d expect this early but I’m not surprised at all that it’s happening.

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Dub

· #14 · 5 mo ago

Dwvalor said:
That is one thing I dont like about AT - the chipping ,my Wilsons all have that problem that are in that finish I just learned to live with it . Good news is you can have them refinished easily

that certainly is reasonable enough to try it out I guess
I understand - I am not a fan of armour tuff and its chipping features but I got used to it

One thing I really like about AT is it's corrosion resistance.

My EDC X9 has been carried 95%of the time IWB.....with the ambient heat & humidity being crazy.

When I take it down for cleaning there is never any rust concerns like there is on my blued, "stainless" & hard chromed guns.

The lack of visible wear on the slide/frame contact surfaces is almost eery.

I'd figured there would be a need to have an AT refresh on that EDX X9 by now.....but it's looking super....smooth sailing...steady as she goes.

I'm still in the honeymoon phase with a CQB .45 that is also AT. The gun was actually bought with heavy carry in mind and wanted it so I could send off my main carry .45 (blued UTC) for some work & refinishing.
Gotstahave a 5" .45 on hand to shove in a holster on any given day.
When the AT wear is evident on that CQB then a trip to the spa for DLC may very well be in order. I'd also like to add one of the excellent WC rounded butt magwells at the same time.

I'm an oddball when it comes to carry guns......but one commonality....they are either 1911 or 2011. Love the single action trigger, thumb safety and JMB manual of arms.

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Dub

· #15 · 5 mo ago

Bubruin3 said:
Appreciate the info.

It was happening early on with my only AT barrel, too.

Seeing wear on my NightHawk barrels.
I'm not sure what they used for "blackout" on these. Blissfully ignorant, I am. I just shoot the crap outa them and enjoy the otherwise rock solid performance.

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KineticKustom

· #16 · 5 mo ago

I don’t have any fist hand experience yet as I’m waiting to send a barrel off but I have seen Evolution Armory mentioned here as well as Integrity Arms who is on this Board. I’m sure someone will chime in. I do think the DLC would look great.

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Dub

· #17 · 5 mo ago

Bubruin3 said:
Cajun gun work‘s website says $85 to DLC a barrel….any experience on here with them and DLC?

cajungunworks.com

DLC

DLC Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) is the hardest coating we can apply to a firearm. It only comes in a graphite color but appears black with a light

cajungunworks.com

👍

JDWY

· #18 · 5 mo ago

Regarding the DLC finish, I did a search the other day here using the the term, "DLC black" and every one of the dozens and dozens of 1911's shown was DARK GREY, not black at all like the finish on my armour tuff WC CQB Commander. Some pics were against truly black backgrounds so I doubt if it was a reflection off the pistol surface. Anyone know if DLC is truly black?

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JDWY

· #19 · 5 mo ago (Edited)

JDWY said:
Regarding the DLC finish, I did a search the other day here using the the term, "DLC black" and every one of the dozens and dozens of 1911's shown was DARK GREY, not black at all like the finish on my armour tuff WC CQB Commander. Some pics were against truly black backgrounds so I doubt if it was a reflection off the pistol surface. Anyone know if DLC is truly black?

Following his link, looks Dub answered my question above. Thank you.

BlkHillsBagger

· #20 · 5 mo ago

My EDC started showing wear and chipping on the barrel with 30 rounds thru it. I called Wilson and was told that was "to be expected, and it was normal". As @Dub said, I'll send mine out for DLC at some point.

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