Templar Customs + Digital Desert Cerakote

[LRRPF52]

First step: Meltdown and polish barrel extension/feedramps...

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/DSCF0261.jpg

Then spend every available hour of the day for 1.5 weeks coating & baking layer after layer...

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/DSCF0289.jpg

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/DSCF0291.jpg

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/DSCF0288.jpg

[bwaites]

SO sweet!!!

[LRRPF52]

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/DSCF0287.jpg

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/DSCF0283.jpg

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/DSCF0284.jpg

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/DSCF0286.jpg

[LRRPF52]

Here's a view of the PRI extended latch and an enlarged charge handle...

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j422/LRRPF52/DSCF0292.jpg

Trigger is a JP single stage set-up nice and short for basically no creep, and very little over-travel. I really fell in love with this 20" Templar Set-up with the FAST Rail, and the Bartlein barrel.

It chambers smoother than any other AR I have felt, and that's 23 years of chambering rounds in AR's. I saw a guy at the range who does this meltdown technique on all his barrel extensions, so I thought I'd try it...turned out better than I thought.

There are 792 facets in just the Picattiny rail sections alone, not counting the face of the rails, the QD sockets, the lightening cut holes, and other surfaces of the FAST Rail alone. Needless to say, you're not getting that one done in one coating...it was very, very painful. This project has consumed my focus for the past 10 days at least...I'm ready for some sleep...

[YutYut]

Rest well earned sir. Gorgeous rifle! Can't wait to send some rounds down range

[leopard6.5]

Very nice work! Very professional.

Lee

[badgerlb]

Saw it on Arf... looks sick... now go shoot it.

[Whelenon]

Very impressive, that's a rifle you can be proud of.

[OldCannon]

So, did you bake it in the home oven, or do you have a special setup?

[jwilson1985]

it looks awesome...i do mine in a home oven

[Peck1631]

Bad ass!

[Whelenon]

Once again awesome job on the rifle. I have a question about the "meltdown and polish barrel extension/feedramps", I get the polishing but what do you mean by meltdown?

[txgunner00]

VERY nice! Is that a GRSC scope?

[LRRPF52]

Once again awesome job on the rifle. I have a question about the "meltdown and polish barrel extension/feedramps", I get the polishing but what do you mean by meltdown?

A "meltdown" is where you take the sharp edges off the feedramps and barrel extension where the cartridge rides along, to baby your brass, while the polished ramps assist with smoother feeding. I first heard the term "meltdown" in reference to custom work on 1911 slides, for concealed carry.

Yes, I just threw the GRSC on there for test-firing. It's for one of my 5.56 blasters...more of a practical Minute-of-Mellon scope, than a precision optic.

[LRRPF52]

Yut-yut just to the stick to the range today.

Worst groups are reported at just under an inch while shooting in the rain. Best group...1/4". The barrel Templar used is a Bartlein, progressive twist, CNC cut-rifled tube. I'm thinking about an 18" now from Templar. I really fell in love with this 20" after getting it together, though.

[YutYut]

I only got about 2 hours of range time due to rain and the worst group was my fault (not maintaining sight picture) it was a blast to shoot. the JP trigger is amazing. No creep and no over-travel. The thing breaks and does move not move. I will be going back when the weather is better and taking alot more ammo with me. I used factory Hornady 123's. They are going to be hard to beat with handloads.

[OldCannon]

VERY nice! Is that a GRSC scope?

From my POV, yes, it's a GRSC. I'm sitting here staring at my personal 1-4x GRSC and the shape looks the same. Of course, Ed might have used a manufacturer's premade tube setup. The uniqueness is in the reticle with GRSC. I'm still curious how the graduations on the GRSC will translate to my Grendel upper that I ordered from Loki (arriving soon, I hope :) ).

[txgunner00]

I have one on my 10" .223 SBR. Never put it on my Grendel but I suspect it would work very well on a carbine 6.5.

[LRRPF52]

From my POV, yes, it's a GRSC. I'm sitting here staring at my personal 1-4x GRSC and the shape looks the same. Of course, Ed might have used a manufacturer's premade tube setup. The uniqueness is in the reticle with GRSC. I'm still curious how the graduations on the GRSC will translate to my Grendel upper that I ordered from Loki (arriving soon, I hope :) ).

Yeah, that is one of my GRSC 1-4x Scopes. I baked it at 175 F, no problems. I was a little worried, but everything turned out fine. It's only for my 5.56 blasters, and I'm trying to decide on whether to Snake Skin it to match one or two of the guns, or do another digital desert. I really liked the way Yut's turned out, which has got me thinking about a digital pattern more now.

It is difficult for me to shoot tight groups with the GRSC, and Ed will be the first to tell you it isn't a precision scope. For shooting tight groups, I have a hard time getting the resolution I need, but it's great for blasting away quickly for Close Quarters, then jumping to 200-500yds and making hits on silhouettes with my 5.56 carbines.

His 1-6x that is made in Japan has high-end glass, and prices at around $1000, which is about 3x the price of the Korean 1-4x.

[Snipe315]

That is one beautiful looking setup.

How does it balance and handle with that Magpul ACS?

[YutYut]

Balances very nice. It could be a bit heavier for bench rest shooting but for hunting,plinking,walking around i love it.

[Airhog]

That is one sweet job LRRPF52. Very professional.

[Bronz]

The problem with these type of rifles are, they are a piece of art and almost to good to shoot.

[jwilson1985]

The problem with these type of rifles are, they are a piece of art and almost to good to shoot.

that's what is good about cerakote ,you could drop that thing off a cliff and just just it off.

[dpw4x4]

just sick MAN DO I NEED ONE THAT COLOR NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[smoke13]

LRRPF52, Nice work. I've got a couple questions for you on the cerakote process you used.
1) When preping for the paint, is it really necessary to oxide blast the barrel, receivers, and mic. parts or is a scotch pad and degrease sufficiency to get a good application? Can you apply paint over an anodized surface?
2) When degreasing did you soak everything for 10 min like NIC suggested, or can you just spray and wipe down the parts with acetone?
3) Lastly, When doing a multicolor paint job with cerakote what process do you use. NIC says to not pain over paint that has been oven baked (does not adhere to itself), so do you paint then allow for air dry then apply stencil/patterns/fishnet repaint and then oven bake?

trying to get the process figured out for my own grendel cerakote paint job...

[LRRPF52]

LRRPF52, Nice work. I've got a couple questions for you on the cerakote process you used.
1) When preping for the paint, is it really necessary to oxide blast the barrel, receivers, and mic. parts or is a scotch pad and degrease sufficiency to get a good application? Can you apply paint over an anodized surface?
2) When degreasing did you soak everything for 10 min like NIC suggested, or can you just spray and wipe down the parts with acetone?
3) Lastly, When doing a multicolor paint job with cerakote what process do you use. NIC says to not pain over paint that has been oven baked (does not adhere to itself), so do you paint then allow for air dry then apply stencil/patterns/fishnet repaint and then oven bake?

trying to get the process figured out for my own grendel cerakote paint job...

You will get a better adhering of the Cerakote to a blasted or rough-textured finish. It adheres really well to a completely dry anodized or parkerized finish, and even sticks well to stainless and Melonite-treated barrels, which I didn't think it would do. Cerakote isn't a paint, since the color solution it basically a microscopic mud that you add hardener to.

I saw a Brownell's video that claimed that Cerakote can't be applied to itself, but I didn't see that anywhere in the instructions or their site, and I have done it a lot, without issue. There are scores of camo patterns on NIC's website, and applying stencils to an unbaked finish would be disastrous. You can flash bake each layer at lower temp and lower duration, which is what I did, but you will want a cured, hard surface to work with using stencils. Unbaked Cerakote has the consistency of a thick mud, and smudges horribly. If you smudge it, you have to bake the smudge, then grind it off.

I also used a heated cleanse process for my first degrease, then acetone bath, making sure to only handle the parts with gloved hands. Surgical gloves work the best for me, since I still have dexterity. Transferring the parts from the spray cabinet to oven is one of the most critical processes, and requires someone with exceptional patience and the ability to manipulate the parts carefully. This digital pattern was a painful job, to say the least, but it really was worth it in the end I think. I might do one for myself even, if I find the time.