Trey Veston
Member
I bought a Ruger M77 .30-06 in 2000. It was stainless steel and had the black composite "boat paddle" stock. Paid $400 for it back then and it was an OK rifle. But, the trigger was heavy at 6lbs, the rifle wasn't all that light, and the stock design transferred A LOT of energy into my shoulder. Seemed like it always kicked hard for a .30-06. But, it was very accurate with cheap Federal 165gr ammo and worked great as an all-around deer/bear/elk rifle.
However, it was shiny and gaudy. I was fresh out of the military as a Combat Engineer Recon squad member and decided it needed to be camouflaged and blacked out.
Took it all apart and taped the barrel, sprayed the action parts flat black, and did a great camo on job on the stock.
Worked great for the next 20 years.
Recently, I decided to replace it as my primary do-it-all hunting rifle with a lighter Model 70 pre-64 action set in a composite stock and barreled in .30-06 Ackley Improved. Much, much better than the Ruger in every way.
Figured the Ruger was'nt worth selling and forgot about it. Then I find out that those "boat paddle" Rugers are actually collectible. Going for around $1200 on Gunbroker.
So I decided to try and salvage mine. Krylon camo paint on a composite stock for 20 years likely ruined it.
Took the rifle completely apart and used Power Scrubber a little at a time to remove the paint. Was going fine but painstakingly slow. Went to the store and bought some actual paint stripper for the metal parts and sprayed them down. Everything came off quickly and easily. The action and barrel were perfectly preserved in 20 years of hunting.
But the paint was struggling to come off the stock. Tried a small section of the stock on the inside with the paint stripper and it took the paint off immediately. Didn't seem to affect it. Sprayed it on the remaining half of the stock, let it sit for a few minutes, and started scrubbing with the brush.
Oh, crap... It's turning white and going very wrong. Washed it all off immediately and surveyed the damage. Stock was not harmed, but is discolored. I used some auto trim restore stuff and it helped quite a bit. Still, just having paint on the stock pretty much ruined it cosmetically.
I wish I had known that it was going to be a collector's item some day.
It turned out pretty good, but it's not a pristine collectible now, so no way it will bring the stupid amount of money most of them bring.
Maybe somebody knows of a treatment that will restore it to perfection. Not sure if I will even sell it, now. if the collector's value is gone, then it is worth more to me as back-up hunting rifle if I can only get $400 for it.
Before...
After...
However, it was shiny and gaudy. I was fresh out of the military as a Combat Engineer Recon squad member and decided it needed to be camouflaged and blacked out.
Took it all apart and taped the barrel, sprayed the action parts flat black, and did a great camo on job on the stock.
Worked great for the next 20 years.
Recently, I decided to replace it as my primary do-it-all hunting rifle with a lighter Model 70 pre-64 action set in a composite stock and barreled in .30-06 Ackley Improved. Much, much better than the Ruger in every way.
Figured the Ruger was'nt worth selling and forgot about it. Then I find out that those "boat paddle" Rugers are actually collectible. Going for around $1200 on Gunbroker.
So I decided to try and salvage mine. Krylon camo paint on a composite stock for 20 years likely ruined it.
Took the rifle completely apart and used Power Scrubber a little at a time to remove the paint. Was going fine but painstakingly slow. Went to the store and bought some actual paint stripper for the metal parts and sprayed them down. Everything came off quickly and easily. The action and barrel were perfectly preserved in 20 years of hunting.
But the paint was struggling to come off the stock. Tried a small section of the stock on the inside with the paint stripper and it took the paint off immediately. Didn't seem to affect it. Sprayed it on the remaining half of the stock, let it sit for a few minutes, and started scrubbing with the brush.
Oh, crap... It's turning white and going very wrong. Washed it all off immediately and surveyed the damage. Stock was not harmed, but is discolored. I used some auto trim restore stuff and it helped quite a bit. Still, just having paint on the stock pretty much ruined it cosmetically.
I wish I had known that it was going to be a collector's item some day.
It turned out pretty good, but it's not a pristine collectible now, so no way it will bring the stupid amount of money most of them bring.
Maybe somebody knows of a treatment that will restore it to perfection. Not sure if I will even sell it, now. if the collector's value is gone, then it is worth more to me as back-up hunting rifle if I can only get $400 for it.
Before...
After...
