Firearms- To spraypaint or not to spraypaint?

R

Rustle in the Bushes

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That is the question. Ill be getting a new black gun soon (a pump shotty) and Im sure it will face ridicule amongst the wood and camo guns in the safe. I dont really have any black guns, not that ive kept anyway.

I was really impressed by the results some people get with spraypaint/duracoat watching videos online. Anyone have any experience with this? needless to say im a bit worried about turning a nice looking shotgun into a real mess, also really worried about it ruining the texture and feel of the gun.
 
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I think you can find sheets to make templates and if you go to some of the companies websites and you tube there are probably videos enough to give you a good start.
 
I would be too worried about messing up a brand new gun. Maybe a used or older gun that is not as nice looking anymore. If you are just trying to get something other then black you should look at some wraps they have out. Something like http://www.cheaperthandirt.net/43936-1.html the great thing is that if you don't like it you have only spent $10 and the finish on the gun is not ruined.
 
I'm really not a fan of spraypainting guns but if you do decide to do it, I'd recommend using a good degreaser before painting it.
 
I would also be worried about spray painting a new gun. Watching videos would help, but I would keep looking for someone that has some experience in it before you paint.
 
The hardest part of painting a new gun, is doing the first one. After you get over that, then the rest of your guns probably arent safe. :)


Id suggest you use something like Testors model paints or Krylon (maybe not the Fusion on plastics though) for the first couple. For the most part, they can be removed completely (with a little work), so its not a big deal if you change your mind later.

Ive mostly used the Testors Military Flats, as the offer pretty much any color you might need. I also use their clear flat lacquer as a finish coat. It flattens and evens the whole paint job, and adds a couple of layers of additional protection.

I usually use a spray for the base coat. I try to use the lightest color in the pattern for the base too. After that, depending on the pattern, I either use a brush, or just random stencils made from notebook paper and spray them.

Heres a couple to give you an idea....

This is one of a few Ive used Brownells Aluma Hyde II (OD) as a base on. The rest of the colors were Testors, and applied with a brush. Ive found a bush actually works better with some patterns. You tend to get sharper results with better definition when a brush is used.

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This was done using both Testors and Krylon. I used the notebook stencils for the patterns. Depending how you use the stencils can give different results. If you lay them flat on the surface, you usually get sharper results. Hold them up a little, and you get a little over spray, which softens things a little. The colors in the Multicam pattern tend to bleed into each other, and holding the pattern up some gives a similar result.

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ry%3D400
 
Here's an idea. Go out and buy some toy guns, practice the first few times on them to get the application down. If you like what you've done to the toys then move on up to the real deal.:)
 
Even with doing a nice job painting, I would be curious to know how it would hold up over time with normal use and/or exposure to cleaning solvents.
 
They hold up pretty well, even with steady use. Cleaning solvents will take some of the paints off, and are actually one of the things I use to remove them when I do. Generally though, unless youre really sloppy when you clean, its not an issue. You may get some solvent wear at the muzzle end, but thats about it. Using the clear flat lacquer as finishing coats also helps in this respect.

These two were painted for about 25 years (the top one still wears the same paint today), and were used on a regular basis the whole time. If you look close at the lower one, you can see some of the finish wear on the forearm and grip, as well as a little on the comb of the stock. Most of whats wore off is the lacquer over coats..

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This is the lower gun in the above pic after I recently stripped the paint and swapped out the stocks.

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