Got my M&P back from Robar

[ryan]

After about 10k rounds and some holster wear, the coating on my 9c was starting to wear. So after some research I found robar to be one of the best so i send it off to get NP3 Plus on it. After purchasing another 9c to hold me off for the 6-8 weeks I was quoted, I sent if off Feb 15th and got it back today, March 1.

Overall I think they did a very good job. They engraved the last 3 digits of the sn into the slide, very small on the inside. I assume this was so they would put the right slide back on the right gun. They coated every metal part in the gun. The only complaint I have is that it diffiently is a little more slippery when you grab the slide. It is nothing that will get in the way if you practice a good solid grip when you rack the slide. They even oiled up the gun for me before they sent it back.

Edit:For any inquiring minds, it cost $219 plus my shipping costs to them ($40).

 

[jmcrawf1]

Me likey......

 

[penguin]

The two-tone looks pretty good!

 

[CZowner07]

Very nice.

One question. Why do M&Ps' and XDs' barrels look point up when you lock the slide back?

 

[charliepapa]

Very nice.

One question. Why do M&Ps' and XDs' barrels look point up when you lock the slide back?

Because they are. The other end of the barrel unlocks and dips down to allow better feeding of the next round into it.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBB-GGzVBM0&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBB-GGzVBM0&feature=related[/ame]

 

[ryan]

Very nice.

One question. Why do M&Ps' and XDs' barrels look point up when you lock the slide back?

dont know, all my m&p's do that and my xd did now that you mention it.

 

[CZowner07]

dont know, all my m&p's do that and my xd did now that you mention it.

I noticed my P-01 doesn't do that, but all the XDs I've seen do.


BTW that two tone looks really nice.

 

[tactical723]

Since the M&P series have stainless slides and you elected for a robar finish which is a stainless-like color, why did you just not have a local gunsmith bead blast the slide, just wondering, not trying to hijak the thread, I have a M&P myself, and my finish is wearing off as well, did not know if there is a reason for not bringing it down to bare stainless

 

[ryan]

Since the M&P series have stainless slides and you elected for a robar finish which is a stainless-like color, why did you just not have a local gunsmith bead blast the slide, just wondering, not trying to hijak the thread, I have a M&P myself, and my finish is wearing off as well, did not know if there is a reason for not bringing it down to bare stainless

you make a good point and I thought about it but heres how I looked at it. I wanted to get the best finish I could buy. I like the fact that the NP3 Plus is self healing, self lubrication and warrantied for life.

 

[tactical723]

Good point, just wondering if there was a negative or reason why you chose not to consider the naked stainless ? BTW, this is my 2nd one, I have the M&P Pro, have about 2500 rounds through, all handloaded 9mm 124 gr round nose, not one problem, I have a small hand, thats why I switched from the Glocks to M&P's, all ergo, fits the hand like no other

 

[Hardballing]

Nice job. Thanks for the gun porn.

Curious if you could update your post awhile out on how it wears? Considering this finish for one of mine and only reservation I have had has been a bad experience I had once with Armaloy.

Any chance of additional pics after the next 10k rounds? Or even after the next 1-1.5K?

Again, thanks for sharing the pics.

Tim

 

[SpeedRacer]

Looks good! NP3 is a hell of a finish. It does tend to be slick though as you mentioned. What makes it great on the internals is sort of a "downside" on external parts.

 

[ram03reg]

Looks good.

S&W dosent have a warranty on the finish? I thought that they had a lifetime warranty.

 

[ryan]

Nice job. Thanks for the gun porn.

Curious if you could update your post awhile out on how it wears? Considering this finish for one of mine and only reservation I have had has been a bad experience I had once with Armaloy.

Any chance of additional pics after the next 10k rounds? Or even after the next 1-1.5K?

Again, thanks for sharing the pics.

Tim

I will definitely update after I get some rounds through it.

 

[ryan]

I have had several NP3'ed pistols; currently two P7 heelers.

NP3 is one of the two after-market finishes I recommend without reservation- the other being Black T. As mentioned, both have a certain degree of self-lubricity. The "self-healing" claim regarding NP3 is a bit... misleading. What DOES occur is that, as the finish wears, fresh particles of the e-nickle are exposed to maintain the surface integrity.

IOW, like Black T, the corners and edges of an NP3 finish will wear to bright metal eventually; but the corrosion protection will still be there.

Armalloy was the original matte hard chrome, developed for the space industry for missile nose cones. I too had a bad experience with this stuff in the early 80s.

There a a LOT of after-market finishes out there; some good, some not so good. IMO, NP3 is one of the best; well worth the expense.

.

have you had to have any of your finishes warrantied for wear or chipping? Do you know how well they handle the warranty work?

 

[ryan]

Not sure I understand this question. Are you asking have I ever had to go back to Robar or Birdsong's for warranty claims?

If so, yes. I had a J frame done in Black T, and it had a major scratch across the sideplate when it arrived. I sent it back, they fixed it, no drama.

I've had four guns done by Robar; two Sigs and two P7s. They were good to go from jump street; as were all the other Black T guns I've had done.

.

i meant chipping, not shipping. But yes, I was asking if you have sent any of your guns back to robar for warranty work and if all went smoothly.

 

[SirIsaacNewton]

Not sure I understand this question. Are you asking have I ever had to go back to Robar or Birdsong's for warranty claims?

If so, yes. I had a J frame done in Black T, and it had a major scratch across the sideplate when it arrived. I sent it back, they fixed it, no drama.

I've had four guns done by Robar; two Sigs and two P7s. They were good to go from jump street; as were all the other Black T guns I've had done.

.

Which finish would recommend on a revolver NP3 vs. Black T?

 

[Mjolnir]

They coated every metal part in the gun. The only complaint I have is that it diffiently is a little more slippery when you grab the slide. It is nothing that will get in the way if you practice a good solid grip when you rack the slide. They even oiled up the gun for me before they sent it back.

Edit:For any inquiring minds, it cost $219 plus my shipping costs to them ($40).

All the more reason I don't recommend NP3 for exterior components. One is not able to determine if one will be able to get a secure grip in a very stressful situation.

 

[ryan]

The way the groves are cut on the m&p helps a lot also.