SELECTING THE CORRECT AR-15 BARREL! PART 6

Barrel Finishes & Coatings

Now that we’ve talked twist rates, materials, and contours—it’s worth covering barrel finishes and coatings. These don’t just affect how the rifle looks; they directly impact corrosion resistance, cleaning effort, and overall barrel longevity.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common options you’ll find today:

Salt Bath Nitride / Melonite / QPQ

This is the most common modern barrel finish and for good reason. It offers excellent corrosion resistance, hardness, and wear resistance without affecting barrel dimensions the way older chrome lining methods could. It's a chemical treatment, not a surface coating, so it lasts a long time. Also provides a slick surface for easier cleaning.

Phosphate (Parkerized)

An older military standard still in use. Offers decent corrosion resistance, especially when paired with a good oil or CLP film. It's more porous than nitride, so it can hold onto carbon and moisture more easily, but it’s proven tough in field conditions.

Stainless Steel (Raw or Bead Blasted)

Many precision barrels come in raw stainless or bead blasted finishes. Stainless resists rust better than untreated carbon steel but isn’t immune. These barrels are typically more about accuracy than hard duty use. Keep them dry and clean.

Cerakote

A ceramic-based firearm coating often applied over phosphate or raw barrels. It’s highly customizable, durable, and offers both abrasion and corrosion resistance. Great for themed builds or those who want something more visually unique while keeping the metal protected.

Carbon Fiber Wrapped

Used on some premium builds, carbon fiber-wrapped barrels are typically stainless cores with a wrapped outer shell. They’re lighter and dissipate heat faster than full-profile steel, but the finish depends on the resin and carbon used. Still, they offer unique performance benefits in terms of weight-to-rigidity.

Rattle Can That Bitch

Let’s be honest—most of us don’t want a showroom rifle. We want something that works, blends in, and doesn’t flash like a mirror in the sun.

That’s where the rattle can comes in.

Zero-reflection ultra matte spray paints like Rust-Oleum Camo, Rapco, or Krylon work great. They’re cheap, easily reapplied, and help break up the outline of the rifle. Don’t overthink it—just tape off the muzzle and optic glass, hit it with a few coats, and go.

The best part? If it chips or wears off—you just repaint it.

We’ve briefly gone over every aspect that’s probably worth exploring as it pertains to selecting a barrel for your AR-15. Hopefully we were able to give you just enough info to better understand what is what out there in the world of barrels.