• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • skorpFull-Auto Fun — Shooting the full-Auto vz. 61 Škorpion
        • p320-full-leftSIG Sauer M17/M18/P320 Pistol Just Can’t Seem to Escape Safety Controversies
        • TISAS_10100520_1__98179Tisas 1911A1 U.S. Army Review: Best Budget .45 ACP WW2 1911 Clone?
        • Photoroom_20250531_143432Pyramyd AIR’s Springfield Hellcat Pro CO2 BB Pistol Is the Ultimate Dry-Fire Trainer
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • Hunting in TexasThese 5 ATV Dealers Will Get You Ready For Hunting Season in Texas
        • ac65a540-2ef3-4598-8d11-afdf53f46e94.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
        • Bluetti 2 handsfree power backpackBluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
        • The Gallagator 10 day pack on the shoreline next to a hiking trail.Day Pack – Mystery Ranch Gallagator 10 – The Best Yet?
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • Tom and Blake Sell TeaHow Sasquatch Tea Is Revitalizing a Stagnant Tea Market With Veterans and Outdoorsmen in Mind
        • redcat-blackwidow-articleheaderWar of Words: In the Ultra-Competitive Defense Tech Industry, Storytelling is a Secret Weapon
        • Photoroom_20250525_074933Juggernaut Tactical Frame Review: The Best Upgrade for Your 365
        • craft holstersCraft Holsters Makarov Tuckable IWB Holster Report
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Buying Guides
  • Shop
  • Advertise
Firearms

Cerakote vs Rattlecan : The never-ending debate of Tactical Cool Factor

March 8, 2025 by Ajita Sherer Leave a Comment

It’s the weekend, and let’s face it, if you own a rifle, at some point on a Saturday you’ve stared at it and thought, Man, this thing would look slick in coyote tan. Then you’re hit with a dilemma: do you fork over the cash to get a professional cerakote job, or do you grab a can of Krylon, some string and a clothes hanger, and go full Picasso on it in your backyard?

Both options have their merits, but which one’s right for you? Let’s break it down, tactically, of course.

The Case for Cerakote: The Gentleman’s Choice

Cerakote is the pinnacle of firearms finishing. It’s like a tuxedo with soft armor inserts for your rifle, sleek, durable, and professional. It’s a ceramic-based coating that’s baked onto your gun, offering unmatched protection against corrosion, rust, and the general abuse that comes from hard use.

Pros of Cerakote:

  • Durability: It’s tough as nails. Drag it through the mud, dump it in salt water, and it’ll keep on looking fresh.
  • Professionalism: If you’re planning on reselling your firearm someday, a high-quality cerakote job often increases resale value (side note: that miami tiger stripe pattern wildly varies on this front)
  • Custom Aesthetics: You can get insane custom camo patterns, logos, and colors that look like they came straight out of a Tier 1 armory.

Cons of Cerakote:

  • Cost: Professional cerakote jobs are pricey. Expect to drop a few hundred bucks depending on the complexity.
  • Permanent: Once you cerakote a gun, it’s a pain (and an expense) to change it.
  • High-Use Wear: In certain areas of your firearm, you STILL will have wear and tear on the work, but it will take much longer.

So, when should you cerakote? Easy — if you’ve got a safe queen, a collector’s piece, or a rifle that you want to stay pristine and maintain its resale value, cerakote is king.

But what if your rifle is less about mustache twisting aesthetics and more about SEND IT BROTHER? Enter: the rattlecan.

The author’s only two cerakoted firearms by AnonymousArms

The Case for Rattlecan: The Operator’s Choice

Spray painting your rifle is like giving it war paint. It’s fast, dirty, and practical. Most guys in the field aren’t showing up with pristine, cerakoted rifles. They’re breaking out a can of Rust-Oleum and hitting their gun with a camo job that fits their current environment. Why? Because mission drives the gear.

Pros of Rattlecan:

  • Infinitely Repeatable: If you botch the camo pattern or your operational environment changes, just grab another can and paint it again.
  • Low Cost: A can of spray paint runs you less than $10. You can paint your entire kit to match and still have beer money left.
  • No Tears: Scratching, denting, or dropping your rattlecanned rifle doesn’t induce the same heartache it would with a cerakote job.

Cons of Rattlecan:

  • Resale Value: Good luck getting top-dollar resale value when your rifle looks like it spent three deployments in Helmand Province.
  • Less Durability: Paint will wear off over time, especially in high-friction areas like handguards and grips.
  • High Heat: It is still paint after all, and let me tell you, the first time you rattlecan your suppressor, it’s going to burn off a bit and smell.

That all being said, rattlecanning isn’t about looking pretty. It’s about function. I worked with a great Force Recon Sniper once who told me: Cerakote your safe queen, rattlecan your duty rifle. And it’s true. If you’re actually taking your rifle out into the elements, you’ll find most hard-use shooters have some form of spray-painted camo on their gun, gear, or both.

It’s practical, fast, and field-expedient.

So, Which One Is Right for You?

Here’s the easy breakdown:

  • Cerakote if you’re keeping it pristine, showing it off, or planning to resell it later.
  • Rattlecan if you’re running it hard, treating it like a tool, and prioritizing function over form.

There’s something liberating about pulling the trigger on a can of Krylon and camouflaging your rifle in your garage. It says, I don’t care if this thing looks pretty. I care if it works. On the other hand, cerakoting says, I want my rifle to be protected, and look as badass as it shoots.

Whichever route you choose, just remember: the gun doesn’t care how it looks. It only cares if you can run it. Hard.

Cerakote for the mantle piece. Rattlecan for the battlefield.

Share This

About the Author

Ajita Sherer Ajita Sherer spent eight years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force and currently serves as an employee of the DoD, dedicating his career to Combat Rescue. As an engine troop and later a Flying Crew Chief on CSAR C-130Js, he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of SOF missions, often serving as the sole mechanic on aircraft deep in contested environments. Working closely with Air Force Pararescue (PJs), JTACs, and Combat Controllers, as well as Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and our sister country's Tier 1 units, he provided direct support to some of the military’s most demanding rescue and combat operations. He is most proud of his role in real-world rescue missions in Operation Inherent Resolve, saving lives and delivering trauma care to SOF teams and Marine Task Force Lion. Now an Aerospace Propulsion curriculum developer, Sherer is solely responsible for developing curriculum and training the next generation of engine system maintainers on more than 70% of all Air Force aircraft, to include his former CSAR platforms.

See All Ajita Sherer Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Read

  • Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
    Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
  • SIG Sauer M17/M18/P320 Pistol Just Can't Seem to Escape Safety Controversies
    SIG Sauer M17/M18/P320 Pistol Just Can't Seem to Escape Safety Controversies
  • The Biggest Little Roundgun: The 3-Inch Kimber K6s
    The Biggest Little Roundgun: The 3-Inch Kimber K6s
  • Breek Arms Sledgehammer: The AR-15 Charging Handle That Gas Can’t Touch
    Breek Arms Sledgehammer: The AR-15 Charging Handle That Gas Can’t Touch
  • West Coast Armor IIIA Plates Review: Lightweight, American-Made Protection
    West Coast Armor IIIA Plates Review: Lightweight, American-Made Protection

Find Us on Facebook

Recent Comments

  • Winston Smiths on Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
  • Jared Mize on The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife: A Commando Blade That Changed Special Forces Forever
  • GomeznSA on MAC-10: The Wild History of America’s Most Iconic (and Overrated) Submachine Gun

Latest From SOFREP

SOF

Special Operations Forces: People Are The Number One Asset

Editorial

The FBI Says Epstein Had No Client List and Definitely Killed Himself—And If You Believe That, I’ve Got a Bridge to Sell You

Featured

Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer On First Mission Saves 165 Lives in Texas

News

Morning Brief: Iran’s Foreign Minister Meets Saudi Crown Prince, Canadian Police Arrest Four in Alleged Extremist Militia Plot Involving Active Military Members

Military Content Group

© Copyright 2025 Military Content Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers
 

Loading Comments...