[Snake]

Might be picking up a Remington 700 in .338 win mag wih a stainless barrel at a local shop. Im not a stainless guy. I only ask because I can't find a .338 win mag in a black or blued barrel produced by remington thats not $1200 on up.

My Mossberg 4x4 is black and in .338 win mag. Nice gun but its was dirt cheap.(not a bad thing being only $400.00!) The Remington 700 is long proven and parts are dime a dozen,you can get a extended magazine,change stocks,etc. I'd like to go the Remington route and ditch the Mossberg.

I feel kindof "dumb" asking this but I'd like to custom paint/coat the gun. Stainless is nice,don't get me wrong. I have a SA 1911 government model in stainless. I love the look on that. But i'd like to paint my gun myself. IS THE STAINLESS BARREL GONNA RUIN A GOOD PAINT JOB? What paint do I use? Should a gunsmith just Teflon coat it? Thanks for any advice.

[Juice Boxes]

I would look at Brownells website to find a gun specific coating if you want to do it yourself. I have no clue what coatings of theirs will stick to stainless if any, but shoot them an email. Brownells has great customer service and Treats me right every time.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=45/Products/Metal_Coloring___Coating

[1858]

I painted one of my stainless steel Krieger barrels with GUN-KOTE 2400 from KG Coatings. It's good stuff and it works great on stainless. Brownell's sells KG GUN-KOTE in a spray can which is convenient. You will need to grit blast the barrel for best results and you'll also need an oven large enough for the barrel. USSR (Don) has some instructions on how to make a gas "pipe" oven so that may be your best bet.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1150/Product/GUN_KOTE_trade__OVEN_CURE__GUN_FINISH

Here's a photo showing the finished product. The painted parts in the photo include the barrel/reciever, bolt, bolt handle, bolt knob, bolt shroud, magazine and rear sling plate.

http://128.171.62.162/hawthorn-engineering/thr/rem700_308win/photos/003.jpg

:)

[Maverick223]

The method (and product) that 1858 describes above is your best option...but on the cheap and easy route I have had good luck using Low Gloss Black Engine Paint from NAPA. It gives a nice satin finish and holds up fairly well, but not nearly as good as a bake-on finish. If the rifle in question is used often and likely to see wear (scratches and such) this is your best option IMO, as you can re-coat quickly and easily. For me it would entirely depend upon the rifle being finished...my AK-12 got the NAPA rattle can finish...most everything else has something more durable. :)

[saturno_v]

Snake

There are many excellent proven choices in 338 Win Mag that come with a blued barrel...Savage, Weatherby Vanguard, Ruger, Tikka..all of them around $400 brand new.
Why going on this "convoluted" Remington route??
And what is wrong with the Mossberg??...I heard that the 4X4 model is a very nice and well built rifle and damn accurate....I love the aesthetics of that rifle...I think it looks very cool.

I do not like much stainless steel guns either...

[browningguy]

I've painted a stainless barrel using Krylon Camo matte black and it's held up ok. When it gets dinged or scratched it's a 5 min. job to fix it up. Whichever route you go spend a lot of time degreasing first.

[Snake]

thnaks for the replies guys. Saturno,im not really dead set on it. The Remington just has more "cool" options down the road in parts like a stock or larger magazines,etc. Not really ready to jump on the 700. just getting ideas. I might not do it since its almost double the Mossberg price!

Im still interested in painting my Mossberg a Urban camo/night camo colors. I.E; dark grey/midnight blue/black.

[Maverick223]

I would not get either rifles that you mention. The M700 is overpriced IMO. I would go with a Ruger M77, it may not be the fanciest or the most accurate...but wanting a .338WM I assume that you are going after large (and perhaps dangerous) game, so that Mauser type action will provide excellent reliability. Bank on that "proven" Remington (or Mossberg) to fail miserably when you need it the most. :)

[mljdeckard]

Gunkote or Duracoat, when applied as directed, should both work fine.

[1858]

Bank on that "proven" Remington (or Mossberg) to fail miserably when you need it the most.

Mav, that's a bit harsh! I put 182 rounds through my Remington the weekend before last during a 2-day precision rifle course and 63 rounds through it on Sunday during a match. Lot's of stress drills with 10 rounds in 40 seconds on hostage targets at 200 and 300 yards without a single FTF(eed), FTF(ire) or FTE(ject). Most others had issues ... even a really fancy Kimber Tactical had a number of feeding and ejection issues ... damn it's a nice rifle though, very accurate and boy does it look good!!

:)

[Maverick223]

Mav, that's a bit harsh!I won't argue that they (Remington M700) are boringly reliable under normal circumstances...but for dangerous game I like CRF and that big claw extractor. A CRF rifle will not falter when you are under stress and/or in an unusual position like a push feed can. Push feed rifles are superior in other ways (and for other uses...like a target rifle), but in this instance (still assuming large/dangerous game) I feel CRF is the way to go. :)

[saturno_v]

... even a really fancy Kimber Tactical had a number ....

Kimber...talking about an overpriced brand!!!

Even one of the official dealer in the Seattle area admitted that with Kimber you pay a lot for the name....he told me he would personally buy a Tikka any time of the day over a Kimber....

[saturno_v]

...but for dangerous game I like CRF and that big claw extractor. A CRF rifle will not falter when you are under stress and/or in an unusual position like a push feed can. Push feed rifles are superior in other ways (and for other uses...like a target rifle), but in this instance (still assuming large/dangerous game) I feel CRF is the way to go

Countless of push fed rifles have been used and are being used successfully in hairy situations against dangerous game...I do not think that the CRF vs. PF debate has ever been settled for good....some very experienced people think that if there are any advantages of one vs. the other, are minimal and definitely not decisive.

Personally (Disclaimer: I'm a lefty) in a DG charge situation I would prefer a lever or pump firearm, not a bolt action (even a left handed bolt)....

[Maverick223]

I do not think that the CRF vs. PF debate has ever been settled for good...I doubt it ever will be...just my thoughts on the topic. :)

[saturno_v]

Snake

Put it in this way

With the Remington you have to spend money already to make it look as cool as the Mossberg 4X4 stock!! :D

Keep the Mossy and get another rifle....:neener: