What would be your choice of rifle metal preparation..?

I am guessing here, based upon a few samples that the Black T coating is such that if there is a scratch, blemish, tool mark, etc that it will Bleed through and show in the finished work.

So, what do you do..?

1) polish out everything..?
2) Bead blast action and barrel..?

SORRY,BUT BEAD BLASTING IS NOT AN ANSWER TO SCRATCHES OR PITTING
Bead blasting is a final finish and should be done after all marks are polished out or the marks/pitting will show thru and like my instructor said.. will look like someone spit on a mirror.

I'm not familiar with Black T , but with Gun-Kote or Teflon-Moly , beadblasting isn't the way to prep the metal . Blasting with Aluminum Oxide will provide the (tooth) needed to hold the finish . Bead blasting only peens the metal , and makes a poor surface for most coatings . Aluminum Oxide will make that pitting disappear too ! Blasting guns is not the easiest thing in the world to do , by a longshot . Degreasing is equally important in surface preperation , once before blasting , and at least once after ! Heating the metal while degreasing helps a lot too .

I've got 3 rigs with black t and I would definitely polish out a scratch if you have one. My one rig has aluminum trigger guard and bolt shroud, bdl polished receiver, unfinished steel williams bdl bottom metal and a stainless hart barrel. The whole rig looks very uniform with black t despited underlying metal type. They were all free of scratches though and I think a scratch would still be evident if it was coated.

Fellas,

I have one (1) small scratch beside the forward action screw, seems someone "slipped" with the screwdriver before I owned the rifle. The barrel is a new chrome moly from Pac Nor and is not exactly "finish polished" and neither does it match in surface texture with the receiver.

I do NOT want a glossy finish, would not mind a little sheen, and definitely do NOT want a "chalky" finish either.

Sooooo......

Would going with the Aluminum Oxide prep be what I am looking for prior to the Black T application..?

Ceracote, Roguard or if you don't mind a silver grey finish, NP3+.

I've tried Black T on several handguns and find it quite durable and rust resistant. never tried it on a rifle.

"I've tried Black T on several handguns and find it quite durable and rust resistant. never tried it on a rifle."

It'll prove to be durable and provide rust resistance on a rifle too... plus, it can be applied to ALL metal parts, springs, pins, screws, etc... Cerakote not so much.

BlackT will do the prep work, The choice of blasting media has nothing to do with you....

Or is Birdsong offering you your choice?

Minor scratches will be taken care of by them...

Ken,

Thanks man for the info... you've been a bunch of help, and I appreciate it.

I'll contact Birdsong Monday and just see what they say about all the details.

+1 on those scratches.. Your rig looks GREAT.