Custom Paint Job AR-15

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K_Dubbya

K_Dubbya

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I apologize if this is in the wrong spot. I am currently overseas and I have not been on here in a while.

That being said, I have finally decided to paint my Remington 700 SPS, AR-15 and Glock 23 when I get home and I had a few questions.

1. What in your opinion, is the best choice of spray-paint to apply to weapons. Please name both brand and type (and why you feel this way).

2. Does anyone have or know where I can find good step by step instructions of the process (with photos) to follow at home?

3. Please post pictures of your completed weapons if you would like. I would love to see your work! :)

Additional Details...

I would like to do this project myself, and I would also be interested in ideas and methods for actual camouflaging after the primer and base coat is applied.

One final note, I do have a copy of the PDF file released by the Army titled Rifle painting 101 (or something like that).

Thanks again everyone and I look forward to your responses.
 
How durable do you want the finish to be? Are you just wanting to experiment or do you want something you can drag behind your truck and still tell what color it was?

That will make a big difference on the suggestions.
 
The more durable the better (but if I make a mistake hopefully it would be easy to take off or re-do ) I figure with use, the paint will wear down over time, but I can always reapply when it gets to that point. I have a really good idea of what I would like the finished product to look like. Haha, so yes I would like something that I could drag behind my truck and still tell what it looked like.

Would posting examples of what I would like to do help?
 
I just use Krylon and reapply. I understand the appeal of a more durable/permanent finish, but for my purposes, there are drawbacks too.

Expense being the biggest one.

I just use krylon. I can remove it with mild solvents, it is cheap, it is reasonably durable, it is easy to apply and reapply, and I can change it to suit environments. Yes it get's knocked off the high edges and gun solvents and oil will take it off where they leak out of the AR. I don't mind the worn look, as I use my 'truck gun' pretty hard. And I can freshen it up anytime.

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Please ignore the goofy light mount. It's a G2 with the lamp replaced with an IR led, and I'm still experimenting and plan to have a proper mount worked out someday.

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I have heard that using Flat Krylon Spray paint has worked for many and is very common. I do like the idea of being able to change the paint for the operational environment not a bad idea. Did you use a white primer base before apply the foundation for your paint job?

Looks good! Thanks for posting!
 
No to the primer. I'd rather have black underneath than white. Although I do plan to do some white/gray/brown on my coyote rifle this winter if we get some decent snow.
 
Krylon is probably the most popular if you want something easily reversible. I haven't seen the results beyond pictures online, but some people pull off some pretty nice work, it appears. I've repainted several guitars this way, but no guns, yet.

If you want to go more permanent, Dura-Coat and Cerakote are pretty popular, and both can be done yourself (though some say you need experience to make a good Cerakote finish). Watch what type you get, or find a big oven...or be really sneaky when the wife is out of town. OK, not the last option.

As with any refinishing project, patience is the utmost virtue. And keep it thin. Good prep work will make the finishing work easier.
 
Duracoat or cerakote applied with a harbor freight airbrush set. Gives great results that will hold up to gun cleaners pretty well. Im waiting on my lower to come in and I am planning a freaky paint job on mine. Im not a fan of
"black guns" so maybe zebra or some combo of dessert and black. I have even considered plating the whole thing chrome or gold:D
 
I just finished this one a few days ago. I used a $40 Kobalt small paint spray gun hooked up to my small compressor. I sprayed Duracoat WWII OD Green and Matte Black at full strength (no reducer) at 40PSI. It was very easy to spray and the gun sprayed the Duracoat very well. This is my 4th Duracoated firearm, and I find that it is a great and durable finish if the prep work was done correctly.

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I have used Krylon on a few wood stocks and on an 870. Their camo colors are spot on and they are plenty durable if you are not obsessive. And when you ding it up you can fix it pretty easy.

Used their white/black/grey's for a winter scheme on a Savage. I applied it with a sponge and got a real nice effect. Where the checkering was pressed into the stock I sprinkled a little very fine sand and gave it a great but basically invisible grip.

I have used the primer every time. It forms a matrix and helps keep the paint on. The only think I have ever done to prep the metal is to clean it. For the wood stocks I did sand them smooth.

My 870 got revamped from the brown group to a plain olive drab recently. I was real happy at how easy some paint stripper took it all off.

Some real nice work has been done with the Krylon. I have never tried it on any plastic so don't know how your pistol would fare. But on the slide I'd have no problem it I was inclined to paint it.
 
Okay this is all great information. Thanks to everyone! Ill have to look into the aspects of using a paint gun as I have no experience. Any suggestions as how to paint the rubber portion of a stock like on the Rem 700 SPS? I used krylon in the past with a primer and it just peeled right off :(
 
Highly recommend Cerakote. I used "H"(oven cure) and "C" (air cure) for this POF 308.

Prep is critical....
Disassemble firearm, soak all parts in acetone, blast with #120 aluminum oxide, clean with dry air, flash heat. Never handle pieces/parts without gloves, I use nitrile. The scop.e and plastic were not blasted but scuffed with scotchbrite and 400 grit paper


POF5_zps9dcc1f8b.jpg



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After prepping with denatured alcohol and masking: I laid down a base coat of tan and OD green. Then, I used a laundry bag and hit the tan areas with green and brown, the OD green with lighter "desert sand" and brown. After that was done, I sprayed tan lightly at a distance to just mist it and blend it in a bit.

I used all Krylon brand, no particular reason other then they are flat camo colors.

Realistically; the best camo is 3 dimensional using a rifle wrap. If you did this, the base color or pattern is irrelevant, simple tan or OD green would work, even black.
 
Okay Great points everyone and thanks for the instructions. Im nervous about tossing my weapons in the oven is there any more elaborate information on the paint and bake method?
 
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