Plating MIM Action Parts

[413Maxwedge]

I've read all the opinions about MIM parts. This thread isn't about the virtues or drawbacks of MIM. I just want to know if it can be plated, either Brass or Nickle.

Last weekend I bought A new 640 and a 43C. This weekend I ordered an M&P 340. I have a walnut grip for the SS 640 and for the two black guns I have a light-colored Hogue goncalo and an imitation Ivory grip from Boone Trading (all are 3-finger combat grips).

I'm new to handguns, coming from a Trap background. I like good-looking guns (who doesn't?) and the blotchy MIM triggers on these 3 DOA revolvers is really ugly to me. So does MIM take well to plating? In the past I have sent blued steel shotgun receivers out for engraving and nickle plating, but never MIM or action parts.

Also, would the triggers need to be fitted and tested by a gunsmith? I'm competent with changing parts but not sure if the plating would reduce the tolerances enough to need stoning to work right.

 

[OKFC05]

The "blotchy" triggers are finished to resemble case hardened triggers. If you don't like the looks of the part you can see, suggest you refinish just that part and leave the working part inside alone. Or maybe buy new triggers with flash chrome finish.
IMHO, stoning MIM parts needs special care and a light touch, if done at all.

 

[stansdds]

I cannot think of any reason that MIM parts cannot be plated. They are made of steel, so any plating for steel should work just fine. One caveat is that MIM parts are usually surface hardened, so if you break through the hard surface doing a trigger job or removing the factory finish, the underlying steel will be "soft". Having said that, hard chrome will certainly give the surface a high degree of hardness, but hard chrome is an expensive plating. How much do you want to spend to cover up the factory finish?

 

[413Maxwedge]

Agree on the stoning. I only mentioned it because I didn't know if the extra plating would interfere in the movement. I hadn't thought of the plating company only coating the exposed trigger.

I sent one of my trap guns to be satin chrome plated in 2017, with the trigger group bright chrome. If I remember right, they did all the disassembly and refitting. I don't know if the internal action parts are plated.

 

[413Maxwedge]

My 43c has 250 rounds fired through it (last Sat after purchasing it) and the black trigger finish is wearing off. I like a nice patina, but since the rest of the gun looks new, I'm thinking about a more long-lasting plating.