Best gun finish for CCW?

[Panzerschwein]

Hello, in choosing between a Smith and Wesson model 642 and model 442, I've run into a bit of a dilemma. I am wondering which gun will be best as a dedicated CCW piece, I understand the 642 is made with stainless steel and has better corrosion.

But what about the actual color of the guns themselves? I see most new concealed carry guns released, both auto pistols and revolvers, have a sort of "tactical" flare to them and often feature the color black.

I have mixed feelings about this. One would assume the black color would be more "stealthy" especially at night versus say, a silver colored gun made of stainless steel etc. However, I personally think a more visible gun might mean the difference in needing to pull the trigger and not. Stainless steel guns "pop" in low light, and if the gun ever needed to be drawn it would be more obvious to the threat that I am armed and prepared to engage which could make them change there mind.

On the other hand, I can see some arguing a darker gun could be less noticeable to the assailant so it can be used before he even knows you have a gun, etc. etc.

I think I'm going to go with the model 642 S&W, but what do you think is the best color for a concealed carry gun? Would you rather the gun be more visible or less?

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[BYJO4]

My preference is stainless. When concealed, no one can tell what the finish is and stainless is easier to care for.

 

[DBH45]

I want the World know I am carrying, so SS

 

[Hometeached1]

Carry one of each! Joking aside, it amounts to a wash for me. On a side note I carry a 642 and a Glock that the front half just about looks stainless from holster wear.

 

[TestPilot]

Best: Melonite / Tenifer

Next best: Nitron, NP3, etc.

Not as good as the above: Bruniton (chipps off easier)

Barely manges to be adequate: Parkerizing

Pathetic: Bluing.

 

[TestPilot]

In regards to M642 vs M442, I went with M642.

The primary reason for that was M642's sights are more visible. Secondary reaon is that it was unlcear what the black finish on the M442 was. It is not any of the high quality finishes mentioned above, and I consider just paint or bluing sub-standard.

 

[19-3Ben]

The 642 is aluminum framed. The barrel and cylinder are the only visible steel components.

I think you're overthinking this, if you're thinking about the finish of he gun being he difference in a life/death scenario. Carry what you prefer based on your sense if aesthetics, ability to withstand wear, and corrosion resistance.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Ben, I and many other people are interested in every aspect of the concealed carry handgun. This discussion is asking what other people consider the best finish for there CCW. I do not think I'm over thinking this.

 

[buck460XVR]

I have mixed feelings about this. One would assume the black color would be more "stealthy" especially at night versus say, a silver colored gun made of stainless steel etc. However, I personally think a more visible gun might mean the difference in needing to pull the trigger and not. Stainless steel guns "pop" in low light, and if the gun ever needed to be drawn it would be more obvious to the threat that I am armed and prepared to engage which could make them change there mind.

For a SD/HD situation, you do not need to be stealthy. You are not going to be sneaking up on your aggressor to shoot them. You do not need you gun to "pop" when shown because when you draw your weapon for SD it is to shoot, not scare. If you do not know this, you need to rethink the reason you want a EDC.

If it is a EDC, regardless of finish it will show wear. Stainless is less prone to rust when exposed to sweat and humidity everyday and will not need to be wiped down regularly to prevent surface rust like a blued gun. Many guns are black because black coatings are inexpensive and take little prep and polishing compared to blued guns.(i.e. cheaper) The frame on the 642 you are considering in an aluminum alloy and is painted silver, just like the frame on the 442 is painted black. The barrel and cylinder on the 642 are stainless tho. When it comes to the Tupperware guns, black plastic and the new earth tones are visually more appealing to most customers. Only reason they color the plastic that way. Color will not affect the accuracy or the degree of skill you need to acquire to use a EDC proficiently. It will not matter to the bad guy if and when you need to use it, nor will it help to keep it concealed. Color is really not an issue compared to maintenance(i.e. blued vs stainless). To some maintenance itself is not an issue. Get what you like better and shoot it till you are good with it. That's what will save your life if and when you need it.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Any finish will do just fine. Make sure you use an oil dampened rag on them every evening. I carry a blued semi-auto and have had no problems. Biggest thing is to ensure the barrel is properly cared for.

 

[hardluk1]

Uhmmm , Guess I don't care what the finish is. Many applied finished will show some kind of wear over time and that just shows its character marks. Stainless can allways be polished. I will never spend extra for some after market "marvel" finish so it simply does not matter to me. I carry a ss pistols now but am waiting on a blued pistol.

 

[340PD]

I have had a 340pd in my car for five years. Cold, heat, and sweat has caused no visible damage.

 

[tbreed725]

Tennifer is not a finish it's a treatment

 

[sgt127]

Theres a reason nothing has rusted on your 340 PD. The frame is aluminum alloy (scandium)..the cylinder titanium and the barrel sleeve is stainless. Pretty good combo for toughness. The black on the frame is just a finish, but the underlying metal still won't rust. And, apparently a pretty tough black finish. Though, if abused, can corrode. but, you would almost have to work at it.

The 642 with a stainless barrel and cylinder and aluminum frome is very corrosion resistant. The 442 had an aluminum frame, but, blued steel barrel and cylinder, that will rust fairly easily.

I have magic super corrosive nuclear sweat and, I'm a free sweater... If I shove a clean and oiled blue gun in my waistband, on a hot summer day, it will have an orange film inside of three hours.

All my stainless guns will have rust under the grips in a week. No matter what I coat them with. Rig, Ballsitol even Boeshield. So for me, carrying a blued gun is out.

TestPilot summed it up pretty well:

Best: Melonite / Tenifer

Next best: Nitron, NP3, etc.

Not as good as the above: Bruniton (chipps off easier)

Barely manges to be adequate: Parkerizing

Pathetic: Bluing.

I'll add hard chrome is pretty close NP3 (E Nickel) Though I can rust through Hard Chrome and E Nickel too. Just takes awhile.

if you want the best corrosion resistance, get a stainless or alloy gun and have it black coated. I've carried a 642 for many almost 25 years with little or no problem.

An old Floriday Highway Patrolman told me that he always liked the nickel N frame Smiths they were issued. When you pulled it out and pointed it at somebody, they couldn't miss the fact that a huge gun was pointed at them.

 

[19-3Ben]

Ben, I and many other people are interested in every aspect of the concealed carry handgun. This discussion is asking what other people consider the best finish for there CCW. I do not think I'm over thinking this.

it depends. If you're asking simply from a matter of the functional aspects of a finish in terms of wear resistance, corrosion resistance, then fine.

I'm just trying to make the point that worrying about how much of a gun an assailant might see, and thinking that a more visible finish might act as a deterrent is a bit of a stretch, and probably over thinking things. Imagine yourself in the heat of that moment. You're life is in such grave danger that you're drawing a gun to shoot an attacker. Are you going to pull it out, and then wait to see if he recognizes the object as a gun and stops? Do you think perhaps, the motions you make, and your body language might be a much bigger clue that you just drew a gun? I think those will matter more than a gun finish, especially since most encounters happen in dark or dimly lit where even the shiniest of finishes will likely not be visible. I'll add that I haven't heard any particular school of thought regarding the visibility of gun finishes come out of any of the top tactical training/shooting schools in the country. I'd think that if there were a tactical advantage to be had here, these guys would be recommending a particular finish. It's their business to know, and they know more about these things that most of us ever will.

If you like a finish for its looks, or if you like its function then great. Of course, it's going to be your gun, and purchased with your money, so think about it as much as you want. I'm not knocking your question. Just trying to keep us grounded in the most likely scenarios here.

Were it me, I'm a fan of hard chrome, NP3, Melonite/Tennifer, and a few others. Then again, not a single one of my guns has any of those finishes/treatments so it's obvious I don't put to ouch importance on that either. My most often carried guns are blued, and parkerized.

 

[herrwalther]

Best would probably be a good stainless steel, but I have yet to own a SS firearm.

Out of finishes I own, Tennifer is the current favorite with very little wear over carry years. I will probably not buy any (more) blued firearms. They require too much touch up work with constant carry for me. I am all for a firearm having "character" but when there are some eye sore shiny spots, no thanks.

 

[Valkman]

I like stainless but just got Melonite on a custom 1911 and it's pretty nice. I like it.

 

[allin]

I tend to agree on the "over thinking".
I rotate between a 3" stainless j frame 38, a 2" Poly Protector 38+p, and a 380 S&W Bodyguard. Depends on what works for that day. Not trying to start a debate here, that's just what works for me. I'm fairly certain that an N Frame 44 mag in highly polished stainless, 6 " barrel would probably be a little "off putting" to a mugger! Just not my 1st choice for CCW.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Better corrosion resistance is always a plus, but the color of the gun is irrelevant, other than your personal taste or preference, for CCW. A LEO searching a darkened building or a soldier sneaking up on a sentry or something needs a non-reflective finish. You, on the other hand, don't get to pull your gun until the very last moment, and then you want your attacker to see it.

 

[JohnBT]

My experience has been that hard chrome is the best.

I also own a 442 I purchased used 10 years ago and it's holding up very well.

As pointed out earlier, Tennifer (Melonite, salt bath ferritic nitrocarbourizing, etc.) is not a finish, it's a metal treatment that's done before the finish is applied. Fwiw, most of the companies that use this metal treatment also appear to use a good finish over it.

 

[Combat Engineer]

Recall an incident in Houston where a carjacker shot a driver to death.

Cops caught the perp, asked him why he shot the driver. Perp said he saw something shiny, so he immediately fired. Driver was carrying a SS pistol.

All my carry guns are black/blue, don't want a perp to know I'm carrying till he sees my muzzle flash.

 

[mgkdrgn]

black/Blue might be more "stealthy", but "stealth" doesn't really enter into self defense shootings at 99.9% of them take place a 10 feet, or in most cases considerably less. "Bad Breath" range is how it was described to me.

 

[RandyC]

Doesn't really make me much difference. None of mine sit unattended very long, they don't see a lot of rough conditions, and I keep them maintained. Plus, I don't mind some honest wear.

 

[wow6599]

I like stainless with Melonite "treatment". Those S&W M&Ps hold hold as well as anything I've seen, and that includes HC.

 

[Torian]

My experience has been that hard chrome is the best.

I also own a 442 I purchased used 10 years ago and it's holding up very well.

As pointed out earlier, Tennifer (Melonite, salt bath ferritic nitrocarbourizing, etc.) is not a finish, it's a metal treatment that's done before the finish is applied. Fwiw, most of the companies that use this metal treatment also appear to use a good finish over it.

Yep. A good hard chrome finish is virtually indestructible.