painting a rifle barrel?

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Axis II

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I was reading an article and it showed what appeared to be a Remington 700 with the scope rings and barrel painted like a light grey color to match the pepper stock. It looked really nice and it got me thinking about doing mine like that.

here's my concern. What paint to use so when it gets hot or wet it doesn't flake off? If I don't like it or decided to sell it and remove the paint will it take the bluing with it?

anyone paint their guns? what do you do?
 
Cerakote or Duracoat. Don't bother with any hardware store paint, only the aforementioned will withstand heating, friction and general wear and tear. There are plenty of places that can do this for you.
 
The durability of paint on guns has more to do with metal prep than the paint itself. Parts store engine enamel (for exhaust manifolds) or hardware store stove paint is very durable in high temp situations. If the metal is properly prepared, i.e. glass beaded or sanded, to provide a good surface for the paint to adhere to and is clean and dry, a good primer is used, a good finish can be achieved. Paint should be allowed sufficient time to fully cure (a lot of variables here) before use. I personally would choose a bake on gun finish as mentioned above but the same metal prep is required. No bake paint like Brownell's Aluma-Hyde 2 is a good choice too but it takes a long time to air cure.
 
I've had several rifles painted with "duracoat" by my gunsmith. The paint is extremely "durable" and a worthwhile investment. No, it is not as durable as , say, Ceracoate, or any other baked on coating, but it works for 90% of the time. Depends upon what you want to spend.
 
I wouldn't use even the best of the metal coatings on a gun that had any collectable or sentimental value. On a common working gun I have and would do it again with a can of Krylon. It holds up surprisingly well and if it gets messed up you can easily touch up or repaint. There are lots of guys who have done some very good looking paint jobs with the rattle can stuff. Some form of camo seems to work best as it doesn't have to be perfect.

I wouldn't do it if I ever thought there was a chance I'd want to go back to the original finish.

Some photos:

https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs...=yhs-mozilla-004&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-004
 
this one was wearing a boyds pepper color stock and had the barrel and scope rings painted the same color as the light grey in the stock and it looked awesome. I painted the stock on a savage axis years back stone grey with silver web paint and it looks good.

I eventually want to get a boyds stock and having the rings and barrel painted would look pretty cool imo.

im more concerned with removing it if I fell on hard times and had to sell it.
 
I did a camo job on my Ruger 77-44 a few years ago. Very important to thoroughly degrease first. I applied a base coat of tan, and then sprayed krylon forest green, moss green, and some brown on over that, by spraying through a piece of burlap. Topped it off with a coat of flat clear coat. Google for the burlap technique if interested. All I taped off was the scope glass.

It's held up well for several dear seasons. Some paint has come off the bolt, which I think was still not degreased. Overall it's much better for deer hunting than black plastic and stainless steel. But I wouldn't do it to anything but a strictly "working" firearm.

RBH
 
I wouldn't do it to anything but a strictly "working" firearm.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Also I wouldn't do it to a gun I was planning to sell at any time. MOST people won't share your taste in paint jobs. What looks good to one may be ugly to another.
 
If you want a forgiving application, easy to remove if you change your mind, but (maybe) not quite as durable, finish, check out GunSkins. I have done a couple, and, for the price and ease of installation, I have been impressed. I tried the new rattle-can DIY version of DuraCoat, and was less than impressed, considering $70 for two cans (have to start with white before applying a lighter color).

http://www.gunskins.com
 
Ive rattle can's guns before an its OK. After a while its starts showing its wear. But honestly, that sometimes presents a better look if that's what you're into.

I'm lucky now though, I got a buddy who does Cerakote "semi professionally" and its always looks better and lasts longer. Never used Duracoat.
 
I have the gun skins on my hunting guns, this was just more to accent the laminate stock.

those gun skins are awesome.
 
Gotcha. Some of the GunSkins would accent some laminated stocks, like the winter camos. I have been looking for an alternative that would work in your application, for myself, with basic breakups. No luck so far.
 
I've spray painted barrels and actions with exhaust header paint from the auto parts store. It holds up pretty well and if there ever is a scratch I just give it a quick touch up with the spray can. The key is to degrease very well and scuff the surface with scotchbrite or fine sandpaper. I usually follow the degreasing with rubbing alcohol. Couldn't comment as far as removing the paint afterwards though
 
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