Black vs. FDE vs OD Green vs Battlefield Green etc...

[Sheepdogged]

If you could see more colors in the M&P line, what would they be?

 

[gonerydin]

Black works for me.


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[MrMoose]

I say keep ‘em all black - appropriate for the tool-like purpose they serve.
But, f a PC Shield 45 came out in a camo cerakote, then I would get my wallet out

 

[sandog]

I spend a lot of time outdoors here in Arizona. I don't want my guns to stand out like a sore thumb. FDE works well to blend in many types of terrain. If things go south and SHTF, I REALLY don't want my guns to stand out.

99% of guns made are black, kind of boring. Black would be great if our planet was dark 24 hours a day.
If I can't buy a gun that is some color other than black (OTB) I'll change it myself, as I do Cerakote.

Stainless steel guns are nice, but way too shiny. Even a basic sandblast helps by giving the metal a matte finish.
This Mini-30 is a stainless one that I did in FDE and Desert Sand Cerakote. The only downside I could think of to such a finish, is if you had to set it down and come back for it, it would be hard to find on the ground.

This MP .40 was done in the same two colors, including the controls:

I like the FDE that S&W uses, so much that I called them yesterday to see if they would tell me. It was too close to closing time because of the time difference, so I'll call back today.
There are several different shades of FDE, and the factory one is a bit darker and has a pleasing amber/olive shade compared to the Magpul FDE I use. The FDE I did my .45 Shield in is more of a pale chalky FDE compared to the nice darker S&W FDE.
Here is my 5 inch MP9 with factory Cerakote:

And the .45 Shield that I did last month in Magpul FDE:

I just got a FS 2.0 .45 that I will be Cerakoting soon, and I'd like to have it turn out more like the FDE that S&W uses.

I did the slide only on my PC .40 Shield, and here you can see the difference between it and the factory FDE at top:

O.D. green might be better for someone that lived back east or in the Pacific Northwest with all the green forest (until it snows).
I'm not sure what Battlefield Green is, I'll have to look it up.

 

[Dude Jones]

Black does get a bit boring...



The blue 9mm is my daughters range toy. I built it for her for Christmas a few years back. Its Duracoat Royal Blue. (Its darker than the camera makes it appear.) It has a Apex FSS kit and a Apex failure resistant extractor and the rest stock.



The 45 I stippled the front of the grip before I applied the Duracoat Magpul OD Green and it also has a Apex FSS kit and a set of fiber optic sights.



Then the FDE 9mm 2.0 is stock S&W.


All are great shooters but that 45 is probably my favorite gun I own. Its right up there with my 686-4.



Sometimes ya gota have variety.

 

[Echo40]

While I'm not against the idea of colorful finishes on firearms, (I was interested in the Taurus Spectrum before reports of light primer strikes scared me away.) and Stainless Steel is my favorite in general, I honestly like the M&P all Black. If I wanted an M&P with a bare Stainless Steel slide, then I'd just get an SDVE, which is more or less just a budget M&P as far as I'm concerned. (Yes, I'm aware that the SD Series is actually a 4th Gen Sigma, not an M&P, but then again, the M&P is basically just a cross between a Sigma and a SW99 with a few improvements anyway.)

To me, guns like the M&P are more utilitarian in nature, ergo rugged flat black FNC finishes make the most sense with them. An M&P with a more colorful yet more delicate finish just doesn't make any sense because the M&P will never be a BBQ Gun, and any attempts at dressing it up start to make it look like something a Pimp or a Gangster would carry. Granted that the options in the poll aren't all that flashy, but when I picture them, it still looks off to me.

 

[sandog]

Nothing delicate at all about Cerakote, and a flat green or brown finish fits the utilitarian nature just fine. We aren't all city dwellers.
When I go to the city, my pistol is concealed anyway.

To me, pimp or gangster means a shiny or gaudy nickel or gold plated gun, probably with Pearl grips, and none of the ones shown so far look like that, so I don't know why a discussion of "other than black" guns brings pimp, gangster or gaudy to mind.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

LSU purple frame and slide-LSU yellow barrel. Black grip inserts-got to keep it tasteful

 

[Rule3]

LSU purple frame and slide-LSU yellow barrel. Black grip inserts-got to keep it tasteful

It must match your shoes you are wearing at the time!


I would like to see guns made out of metal Stainless Steel and alloy. Not a fan of SW semi autos.

 

[sandog]

Not a fan of SW semi autos.

Yet you are here reading threads about S&W semi autos.

 

[ContinentalOp]

In general, I prefer black guns. I'm a city guy who carries concealed. I typically wear dark color clothing. If by some chance my gun gets exposed momentarily, like a gust of wind, a dark gun won't be as noticeable as a more brightly colored gun against my clothing. While a 642 was my EDC, carried IWB, for several years, I chose that gun for being relatively low maintenance but would've preferred a dark finish. One of the reasons I now carry a black gun as my primary EDC.

But I can see how different colors can be useful in different circumstances. Or even just because someone wants something different. I like two-tone 1911s (blue/black slide, chrome/stainless frame). I still want to get a Beretta PX4 Compact Carry, with the black frame and grey slide, but I still consider that pretty muted and acceptable for concealed carry. I've even thought about getting a pocket .380 with some weird color frame simply because they tend to be more available and less expensive than black ones, and it'd be for pocket carry so blending in with my clothing doesn't really matter. I'd still prefer black, though.

 

[Linejudgemick]

Most of mine are blued or nitrated, but I do like FDE. I prefer combinations such black and FDE, polished stainless and wood, stainless and black, etc.

 

[rubiranch]

Black works for me.

 

[garddogg56]

I don't want to see the M&P line go by the way of Carhartt work clothes with designer colors...Black is just fine for me

 

[CH4]

Black, preferably melonite, black nitride, etc. No paint for me.

 

[Saudade]

I prefer bacon.

 

[sandog]

FDE, O.D. green or Battlefield Green are hardly designer colors.
The military uses drab earth tones for a reason. For the same reason I want those colors, to blend in out of doors.

Even if I never left the city, I'd prefer grey guns to all black ones.
Sniper Grey Cerakote makes a great urban color, looks like a Parkerized
finish but much better corrosion protection and lubricity.

 

[Sheepdogged]

FDE, O.D. green or Battlefield Green are hardly designer colors.
The military uses drab earth tones for a reason. For the same reason I want those colors, to blend in out of doors.

Even if I never left the city, I'd prefer grey guns to all black ones.
Sniper Grey Cerakote makes a great urban color, looks like a Parkerized
finish but much better corrosion protection and lubricity.

Well said and nice rifle!

 

[Sheepdogged]

I spend a lot of time outdoors here in Arizona. I don't want my guns to stand out like a sore thumb. FDE works well to blend in many types of terrain. If things go south and SHTF, I REALLY don't want my guns to stand out.

99% of guns made are black, kind of boring. Black would be great if our planet was dark 24 hours a day.
If I can't buy a gun that is some color other than black (OTB) I'll change it myself, as I do Cerakote.

Stainless steel guns are nice, but way too shiny. Even a basic sandblast helps by giving the metal a matte finish.
This Mini-30 is a stainless one that I did in FDE and Desert Sand Cerakote. The only downside I could think of to such a finish, is if you had to set it down and come back for it, it would be hard to find on the ground.

This MP .40 was done in the same two colors, including the controls:

I like the FDE that S&W uses, so much that I called them yesterday to see if they would tell me. It was too close to closing time because of the time difference, so I'll call back today.
There are several different shades of FDE, and the factory one is a bit darker and has a pleasing amber/olive shade compared to the Magpul FDE I use. The FDE I did my .45 Shield in is more of a pale chalky FDE compared to the nice darker S&W FDE.
Here is my 5 inch MP9 with factory Cerakote:

And the .45 Shield that I did last month in Magpul FDE:

I just got a FS 2.0 .45 that I will be Cerakoting soon, and I'd like to have it turn out more like the FDE that S&W uses.

I did the slide only on my PC .40 Shield, and here you can see the difference between it and the factory FDE at top:

O.D. green might be better for someone that lived back east or in the Pacific Northwest with all the green forest (until it snows).
I'm not sure what Battlefield Green is, I'll have to look it up.

Well stated and nice guns!

 

[Sheepdogged]

Black also absorbs too much heat at the range.