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TN, USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:02:26 PM EDT
I'm heavily considering painting 2 of my rifles. I'd like to achieve a dull heavily used finish instead of a "finished pattern". I'm thinking hit it heavy, but not fully painted, with tan/FDE and then spots/stripes/streaks/whatever of green and some brown. So my question is, do I paint the scope and light too? and if so do I take them off to paint. I know I'll have to take off the tail cap and switch and tape that up good along with taping my glass and rotation areas.
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:05:13 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Koa]
[#1]
Tagged for interest. I've been wanting to do the same but I can't bring myself to do it!
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:07:01 PM EDT
[#2]
Just tape off anything that you don't want painted.
spend some time here. https://www.ar15.com/forums/Armory/Refinishing/19/ |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:10:01 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Subpar]
[#3]
The bottom one is the only painted rifle I have. I did no surface prep whatsoever and used Rustoleum camo spray paint. It's not durable at all and wears easily and quickly. I didn't lay the paint on heavily. Just enough to cover the black.
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:13:12 PM EDT
[Last Edit: DerekL]
[#4]
Cover up what you don’t want paint on. Paint it, if it looks like shit keep painting.
Tie rifle to string, tie other end to you and drag rifle for five miles. Rifles painted and you’re less fat now. |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:19:38 PM EDT
[#5]
Another trick if you don't want to spray directly on to your rifle is to go to the store and get a sponge, preferably a natural sea sponge. Cut it up, spray that, start dabbing your rifle. It ain't hard, just make sure you've degreased it well.
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:21:34 PM EDT
[#6]
Have a drink and just do it.
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:31:19 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Canoeguy: Have a drink and just do it. This is the way |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:33:21 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Deadtired]
[#8]
 Attached FileTape up the glass, and anything you want to be able to read. Most importantly if this is your first time painting a rifle: DO NOT ATTEMPT WHILE SOBER! |
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USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:37:44 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Subpar: The bottom one is the only painted rifle I have. I did no surface prep whatsoever and used Rustoleum camo spray paint. It's not durable at all and wears easily and quickly. I didn't lay the paint on heavily. Just enough to cover the black. https://i.imgur.com/EbkniGs.jpeg I wish I kept my m4gery in that configuration. Was so light and handy. |
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USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:40:00 PM EDT
[#10]
I have a Tipton Ultra Gun Vise and take the gear off except the thingy that goes in the mag well.
I can paint all over in a stable platform. Paint all your rifles the same pattern and your mags. I had a nightmare where my mag bag didn't match my painted rifle. I got killed. |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:40:15 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Canoeguy: Have a Silence the inner critic more effectively.  If you want an aged/heavily-used look, press on a plastic bag or glove while the paint is still wet and lift up. It will leave some paint and remove a portion. |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:44:03 PM EDT
[#12]
I finally grew the cajones to paint my truck gun last year. Just taped up everything I didn't want paint on, and got to spraying!
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:45:54 PM EDT
[#13]
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TX, USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:46:27 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Koa: Tagged for interest. I've been wanting to do the same but I can't bring myself to do it! Same here. Getting closer though. |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:46:37 PM EDT
[#15]
Spray it and then throw it down the driveway. 
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CA, USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:49:43 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Deadtired: DO NOT ATTEMPT WHILE SOBER! This is key |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:50:22 PM EDT
[Last Edit: FoxValleyTacDriver]
[#17]
Nothing wrong with painting optics or accessories. Just put caps on or tape the lenses over.
Most my rifles are painted. Just degrease so you don't end up with a sticky mess. Warm up the cans. Paint in a good temp and humidity. And leave it cure before you dick with it. Rapco is awesome for rattle can paint. Here's a couple of my jobs. BNVD-SG binos  Attached File556 SPR  Attached FileNV setup AR  Attached FileBergara  Attached File |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:51:45 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By gearjammer351: Spray it and then throw it down the driveway.  Attached File |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:53:06 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By _DR: Same here. Getting closer though. |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:55:26 PM EDT
[Last Edit: guns762]
[#20]
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:56:03 PM EDT
[#21]
do it proper and get the best of both worlds with a professional laying down a tasteful battleworn Cerakote
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:57:18 PM EDT
[#22]
I spray mine with brake cleaner, and wipe them down... Tape or take off anything I don't want painted. And go to town.
 
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NC, USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:57:51 PM EDT
[Last Edit: JustDaniel]
[#23]
    Lots of beer, earth tones, and a sponge if you’re really feeling fancy. Don’t overthink it |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 7:59:52 PM EDT
[#24]
I recommend painting a few mags or not painting any mags at all. I never liked the really fancy camos where only 1 mag is painted.
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PA, USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:07:06 PM EDT
[#25]
achieve a dull heavily used finish instead of a "finished pattern"
To bad Olympic Cerakote wasn't still around, that was their specialty. |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:08:38 PM EDT
[Last Edit: MTNShewter]
[#26]
These are my three attempts at it. I think they all started with a beer. Clean it well and tape off action bits, muzzle, etc. alcohol wipe all the surfaces you’re painting. Then start with a solid coat of tan on both sides, then when that dries put sticks, twigs, pine needles on it in a random pattern and shoot swipes of green, let dry, then rearrange the coverings and shoot swipes of brown but more sparsely than the green, then do black more sparsely still. Then let dry, pull the coverings and see if you need to repeat anywhere.
 Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:15:02 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By FoxValleyTacDriver: Nothing wrong with painting optics or accessories. Just put caps on or tape the lenses over. Most my rifles are painted. Just degrease so you don't end up with a sticky mess. Warm up the cans. Paint in a good temp and humidity. And leave it cure before you dick with it. Rapco is awesome for rattle can paint. Here's a couple of my jobs. BNVD-SG binos https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/285899/1000004927_jpg-3207391.JPG 556 SPR https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/285899/1000002209_jpg-3207393.JPG NV setup AR https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/285899/1000004550_jpg-3207394.JPG Bergara https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/285899/1000007014_jpg-3207398.JPG Rapco Field Drab all the things. It is an awesome paint. |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:32:10 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By HRoark87: This is the way Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By HRoark87: Originally Posted By Canoeguy: Have a drink and just do it. This is the way To make it fun I hung mine by the flash suppressor from the garage door rails and gave it a spin and started spraying in bursts.... |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:33:05 PM EDT
[Last Edit: ltcdwb]
[#29]
Pat Rogers, one of the better carbine instructors, has a video that covers the topic pretty well. For those that don't know Pat's history, he retired from NYPD and the US Marine Corps. In the Corps he was a Warrant Officer and taught infantry tacics and close quarters battle.
https://op4guy.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-paint-your-carbine-by-pat-rogers.html Dang it, the link doesn't show the photos. I wnet back to the Light Fighter FORUM and found a good link. https://www.lightfighter.net/topic/geeks-and-guns-i-e-how-i-painted-my-colt-and-lived-to-tell-about-it |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:40:14 PM EDT
[#30]
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NC, USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:43:01 PM EDT
[#31]
I’ll give you my opinion and process and use it how you see fit.
I do a little more prep work and prefer Krylon camo colors. So far I feel like i have had better results than Rust oleum. PM if you want to see samples I rub down everything with rubbing alcohol and stuff void spaces like the magwell and trigger well with scrap cloth and cover with painters tape. I typically separate upper and lower and seal up each area, and i remove the trigger, selector, and grip since i use a K2+ ( i haven’t done enough to know how to adhere rattle can to rubber) Once I’m satisfied with prep i try to find a day with less than 80% humidity and above 50 degrees F. I lay the lightest color first as a base coat, let dry and apply a 2nd coat. Then i do the stripes if I am doing camo and then use a stencil for the smaller details. Primary Arms makes some pretty good stencils. I let it dry for a day or overnight and then finish with 2 matte clear coats for extra durability I’m still evaluating if I want to keep using it so you can skip that step. I like to let it wear naturally through use as opposed to trying to artificially weather it. I grew up during that stupid torn blue jeans fad so I feel like it builds a better story overtime. For optics and accessories like lights i obsessively over tape lenses and areas i do not want painted. I even go so far as to tape the interior of scope rings/ bases and unmount optics completely. |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:46:32 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Canoeguy: Have a drink and just do it.  Attached File |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:47:43 PM EDT
[#33]
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:48:52 PM EDT
[#34]
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TX, USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:49:30 PM EDT
[#35]
Found this searching previous post on Rapco paints. Shows the different colors painted on mags.
https://old.reddit.com/r/rattlecannedguns/comments/178uv33/rapco_paint_sample_megathread/ |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:49:47 PM EDT
[#36]
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Posted: 5/6/2024 8:54:40 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Canoeguy: Have a drink and just do it. This. This right here.  Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:02:11 PM EDT
[#38]
It’s even more fun when you have a couple beers on Independence Day and spray one for something to do while you smoke pork.
 Attached File |
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TN, USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:11:20 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By DerekL: Cover up what you don't want paint on. Paint it, if it looks like shit keep painting. Tie rifle to string, tie other end to you and drag rifle for five miles. Rifles painted and you're less fat now. |
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NC, USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:13:46 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Vaquero45: It’s even more fun when you have a couple beers on Independence Day and spray one for something to do while you smoke pork. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/104405/6DD044AB-7E83-435D-9265-32606B76A074_jpe-3207488.JPG  Attached File |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:14:10 PM EDT
[Last Edit: ZF-1]
[#41]
Only 3 I've done...
 Attached FileRattle can, pine straw method.  Attached FileAlcohol inks.  Attached FileThis was only the India ink and the shellac. Taping was a pain to get the two tone working. |
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TN, USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:14:39 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Kingdead: I recommend painting a few mags or not painting any mags at all. I never liked the really fancy camos where only 1 mag is painted. |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:26:51 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Subpar: The bottom one is the only painted rifle I have. I did no surface prep whatsoever and used Rustoleum camo spray paint. It's not durable at all and wears easily and quickly. I didn't lay the paint on heavily. Just enough to cover the black. https://i.imgur.com/EbkniGs.jpeg This. Rustoleum is the way if you want the battle-worn look, but ultimately, you gotta get out and use your guns if you want the worn-in patina. I use only two colors, and I start with the light first. Backfill with the darker color, then accent again with light. You're basically just alternating between the two until you achieve a desirable pattern. Use mesh to give it some scales, but alternate between colors and distance and angle. Less is more, and despite what you may think, you really can't fuck this up. |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:30:49 PM EDT
[#44]
I paint them to match, but I remove them and paint them separately. That way if I move or remove them later, there won’t be a bare patch with no paint.
 Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:35:12 PM EDT
[Last Edit: WUPHF]
[#45]
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AK, USA
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:36:56 PM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By guns762: https://www.ar15.com/forums/Armory/How-to-Sponge-Paint-like-guns762-Update-pg6-8-3-22-Accessories/19-500356/ I've done a few. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/1292/20210719_065150-2720791.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/1292/20210708_153251-2836205.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/1292/20210709_131118-2836190.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/1292/20210719_065039-2223089.jpg Thanks I lost the bookmark I used to link to the thread. |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:38:11 PM EDT
[#47]
 Attached FileHang em, tape them, starting drinking at least 3 beers quickly (ymmv), the. Fire up the spray bombs. |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:40:01 PM EDT
[#48]
Attached FileHang em, tape them, starting drinking at least 3 beers quickly (ymmv), the. Fire up the spray bombs.  Attached File |
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:41:15 PM EDT
[#49]
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Posted: 5/6/2024 9:42:14 PM EDT
[#50]
Finally got up the nerve to paint mine. I (poorly) used the Guns762 method. I like it.
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