Earl Scheib varminter

[redial]

I'm not GB but someone who routinely paints rifles!

Not being one for protocols, I usually tape over what doesn't need painting and have at it with an assortment of RustOLeum colors! It's worked thus far!

I buy rifles to use, rather than worry about resale value - which is why I own Savages, not Merkels or Krieghoffs. Not that those aren't wonderful guns, it's just that a clod like me has no business with 'em.

It feels like sacrilege when you're standing there holding a can of spray paint, but ..... it really isn't that skeery.

Redial

[Mikey]

Pinkerton:  I have also seen wheelrim spray paint used to re-cover rifles.  A friend was once given three older rifles, an old Remington bolt in 30-06, an older Savage and another older Remington.

He did what Redial did, covered everything he didn't want to paint with masking tape and then had at it with the wheelrim paint.  He used that stuff because it is advertised as being more resistant to rust and road wear than even Rustoleum, and he had used it before on some of his wheelrims - he liked the stuff becuase even after 3 coats of spray he could still read the letters and numbers stamped into the rim.  

The paint went on very evenly without any drips or runs and gave the finish a military 'matt' look.  He still uses the old Remington 06 and the darn thing looks as good as it did when he first painted it.  

Hope this helps.  Mikey.

[Joe Kool]

I was at a large gun show and seen a guy with a gun slung on his shoulder with a for sale sign on it. It was the ugliest gun I'd ever seen. The stock was painted a pale green, with dark green, brown and gray kind of oak leaves painted on. A long 26" barrel stuck up beyond the poorly cut down stock. About on hour later a friend came up to my table and proudly proclaimed "Look what I bought for $35!" It was the ugly gun. A 7.7mm Japanese Mauser. I checked it out and it was in good shape, with a very nice bore. My friend found a set of loadings dies. We sized 30-06 brass to 7.7 and I looked up a load. The gun would shoot sub 2" groups at 100 yds. with open sights, and my friend has kill several deer with it. It's just as ugly as the day he bought it, but it does shoot.
 I learned a lesson from the ugly gun I now paint some of my guns that I use for rough duty.Sometimes I hunt in some bad brush or choppings, and the gun gets beat up. I have painted a few barrels and actions with Brownells Aluma-Hyde2. I sand the metal with 240 sandpaper, and paint. I like to let the paint cure for 2-3 weeks before I use the gun. The Aluma-Hyde is super tuff, it will take a few strokes of a file to rip it off. All of my rough duty guns are 98 mausers and I retain the military stock, just cut down the forend. These stocks are tough, and they handle good.  I paint or oil finish the stocks, and I have a gun that requires little exterior maintenance. They look terrible but they shoot great.  

[WLB]

:-) I have used hi-temp exhaust manifold paint successfully on barrels.  The heat from firing cures it.  Never tried it on actions though.
Bill

[Graybeard]

Pinkerton, sorry for the delay. I don't check this forum very often and am just now seeing your question.

I used Rustoleum paint. I took the stock off and bolt out. Stuffed the inside of receiver full of kleenex as I did the end of barrel. Either use modeling clay or masking tape to cover any and all other places you do not want paint to stick. I used acetone to clean and remove all traces of oils and grease.

I then sprayed first using rust colored primer and let it set and dry thoroughly. I then used flat black which was the final finish I wanted. After this was dry to the touch I removed all the kleenex, clay and tape and put it all back together. I think the secret to the success of my project was what I then did next.

I took it to show my best friend Billy Doss (now deceased) what I had done. This was on a HOT summer day and the rifle stayed in the gun rack in my truck with windows closed all day with truck standing in the sun. Got REAL WARM inside and seemed to back the paint on.

That was almost 20 years ago now. The rifle still has about 90%+ coverage of the original paint still on it. The only places some is missing it where the barrel contacted the gun rack in the truck and around the trigger guard and bolt handle, those from wear from use. It has never required any care to the outside and has not a single trace of rust in almost 20 years since the painting job.

It works great and you can use any color or combination of colors you wish. Just be sure to clean all oils and grease from it to include any finger prints. Use Rustoleum as it is designed to prevent rust. Bake it on afterward as I did in the hot vehicle on a hot sunny day and you should have excellent success with it as I have.

GB