Anybody know how to paint an entire rifle? Stock, scope and all.

[Snaps]

I like the idea of an all cammo rifle. But I have no idea how to do it. I want everything from BiPods to the scope painted, but I'm not sure about masking it to look decent or how to just make sure I don't get anything stuck in one way with paint.

Is there a certain way to do it, or just trail and error?

 

[DMK]

This should get you started:

http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/PaintingPrimer.htm

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/riflecamo.html

http://members.tripod.com/acorn_breath/camogun/camo.htm

 

[telewinz]

I'm an expert now, I've done 2 rifle stocks with black truck bed liner. Looks and wears great, no more difficult than spray painting. Black IS beautiful. Have masking tape, will spray. On a POS hardwood shotgun stock to get the cammo effect I used real tree leaves and pine needles (outlines only), its not "Real Tree" but their's is printed on. I'd stick with basic black, whats nice is if you make a mistake just spray over it. Be real carefull masking off parts you do not wish to paint and can't remove from the gun, I have had to do this several times and the results CAN BE perfect. Good luck.

 

[bdhawk]

a buddy had an older browning a-bolt. it was a good shooter, but the cosmetics were out the window. he took the stock off and painted it with herculiner, the pickup bed liner. he then degreased the barrelled action and did the same with it. it looks really cool. it has a nice texture, easy to hold on to. he did not paint the scope. his scope had a black matte finish and it looked ok on the recoated rifle.

 

[Snaps]

i'm thinking I may try and buy a cheap flea market rifle or a cheap japanese bolt action rifle and try that first.

By the end of the 2nd one I'll be an expert too.


I'm thinking the hardest thing will be scope and bipods (if I end up buying bipods) just because of moving parts, springs and knobs.

 

[Navy joe]

Check out Bowflage, it is semi-permanent camo paint for bows(duh!). I painted my entire AR, just closed the dustcover and masked the glass on the scope. Spray away, if you don't like it the paint is easily removed.

 

[MiniZ]

Bowflage is nice as it is "semi-permanant". I really like the Krylon cammo paints for durability.

If you are going to do a lot of rifles or stocks, I would suggest investing in an air brush.

Before going hog wild on the rilfe, do some practice patterns on a sheet of cardboard, or an old stock, or whatever. It will help you with getting your spray pattern down. I have only done stocks, as I am too chicken to paint my entire rifle.

 

[Coltdriver]

I would recommend the Krylon Camo Paints.

Once you put them on, let them cure for a full week before you take the gun out shooting. They are very soft for a few days but they really toughen up after a week.

I would also recommend that you use tape to create the pattern. Just my opinion but if you compare a gun that has been masked off it just looks better than one that has been sprayed without any masking.

All you really need to do to prep the gun is to get it absolutely spotless clean. Alcohol does a good job of this.

Use the base grey primer Krylon recommends.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

 

[El Rojo]

I just used masking tape and masked off what I didn't want painted. My first time aroudn, I masked off the action and everything on my Rem 700 VS. The second time around I just masked off the lens on the scope, the gold ring, and the zoom numbers. I just use the Krylon paint and paint away. It really is easy. The paint has not effected my bipod much nor my bolt or safety. Just mask off with masking tape what you want to remain unpainted and go at it. I will paint the whole thing a base color and then add strips of whatever else I want. Here are examples.

http://home.bak.rr.com/elrojo/pictures/700camo1.jpg

http://home.bak.rr.com/elrojo/pictures/700prtc2.jpg

http://home.bak.rr.com/elrojo/pictures/870camo.jpg

http://home.bak.rr.com/elrojo/pictures/m1acb.jpg

http://home.bak.rr.com/elrojo14/pictures/700prtc4.jpg

 

[Snaps]

that looks good

The 700 is pretty much what I'm going for right there.

 

[AK103K]

Testors Military Flats work great, and can be completely removed with a little work and some Hoppes. They come in just about any color you might want to match any pattern. A couple of three coats of clear flat lacquer when your done and it will hold up a long time. Touch ups are easy if you do need or want to. Here's a couple I've done. The Shotgun has been painted over 15 years and not touched up. It bounced around in my truck for years and while it is worn and scratched in places, it still does the job. The AK has taken its place now. Sorry about a couple of the pics, my camera was on its last legs and I dont have any new ones yet. The AK looks like the AR for the most part. The coat in the pics are the same so you can see the difference in the cameras.