AR Builds Show Them Off!

[Cab]

Thanks. Say it with Krylon! 

Krylon Seriously?

Can you post instructions on how you did that?

That is a cool paint job, I figured it was dipped, LOL

yeah, I'm fond of using Krylon on ARs for camo jobs; it's easy to remove if I want to go back, and it's plenty durable enough for it's purpose. Usually the sharp edges start to get worn, but that actually helps the camo look anyway.

As for instructions, I don't have a series of pics documenting it, but could take some next time I paint one. It's all freehand though, and seems like each one comes out a little different.
I use the Krylon "camo paint" colors for this; they are ultra flat and are part of the Fusion line so they work well on plastic like grips and stocks. Lots of good greys, browns, and greens to choose from. The general procedure goes something like this:

- Tape off everything important. Scope lenses (I'll use Butler Creek caps instead of tape if I have them), turrets, and the barrel muzzle all need protection, most everything else gets painted.
- For a desert camo, I usually start with a base layer of sand color, and then add random patches of darker browns and greys.
- Use something for stencils on the darker colors to break up the pattern. I like the tool wrap mesh, it gives sort of a snake-skin pattern, and have some tool box drawer liner material that makes interesting patterns too. Lots of different things can work there. With the mesh, sometimes I'll spray a patch of grey over the mesh, then shift the mesh slightly and spray some dark brown; that can make a pretty good pattern like scales or rattlesnake skin.

Ferns, leaves, grass etc all work well as stencils too if you're going for a local forest camo pattern.

great paint job and thanks for sharing! I thought it was one of those rifle wraps maybe.

[JasonG]

Could be interesting to see hunting builds. I've only ever really seen tactical setups as I don't know anyone personally that hunts with an AR.

I do. Unfortunately I do more AR building than hunting, so I've got several built for hunting that I've never actually hunted with. When I did hunt this fall, my son and I used a couple of the others that were not built as hunting guns, go figure. (He used my 9" 300 Blk pistol, I used the 12.5" 6.5 Grendel SBR shown below.)

Here are some pics. This first one is a 30 cal wildcat similar to the 30 American, using a 20" re-purposed Ruger 30/06 stainless sporter weight barrel and other light weight components. It weighs a bit under 7.5 lb.




This one is the 12.5" 6.5 Grendel SBR I hunted with this fall (without the light attached). The 129 ABLR worked great on one southern whitetail doe, but didn't shoot any other big game with it. I built this one a couple years ago before 12.5" Grendel barrels became popular, and it quickly became my favorite AR.




These two are matching 5.56 and 308 carbines. I haven't hunted big game with either one of these. The 5.56 is a "recce" pattern that I've shot a lot, and the 308 is there mostly just because I wanted one.

How do you like the 12.5? I'm thinking about getting one. Is that a Palmetto State Armory upper?

[Alchase]

Thanks. Say it with Krylon! 

Krylon Seriously?

Can you post instructions on how you did that?

That is a cool paint job, I figured it was dipped, LOL

yeah, I'm fond of using Krylon on ARs for camo jobs; it's easy to remove if I want to go back, and it's plenty durable enough for it's purpose. Usually the sharp edges start to get worn, but that actually helps the camo look anyway.

As for instructions, I don't have a series of pics documenting it, but could take some next time I paint one. It's all freehand though, and seems like each one comes out a little different.
I use the Krylon "camo paint" colors for this; they are ultra flat and are part of the Fusion line so they work well on plastic like grips and stocks. Lots of good greys, browns, and greens to choose from. The general procedure goes something like this:

- Tape off everything important. Scope lenses (I'll use Butler Creek caps instead of tape if I have them), turrets, and the barrel muzzle all need protection, most everything else gets painted.
- For a desert camo, I usually start with a base layer of sand color, and then add random patches of darker browns and greys.
- Use something for stencils on the darker colors to break up the pattern. I like the tool wrap mesh, it gives sort of a snake-skin pattern, and have some tool box drawer liner material that makes interesting patterns too. Lots of different things can work there. With the mesh, sometimes I'll spray a patch of grey over the mesh, then shift the mesh slightly and spray some dark brown; that can make a pretty good pattern like scales or rattlesnake skin.

Ferns, leaves, grass etc all work well as stencils too if you're going for a local forest camo pattern.

That is so awesome, sounds very doable.
How did you get the nerve to try it the first time, LOL

Thank you for the instructions!

[Yondering]

How do you like the 12.5? I'm thinking about getting one. Is that a Palmetto State Armory upper?

The 12.5" Grendel is awesome. Easy to pack around, very compact, but also easy to hit stuff at distance. At 600+ yards, if there's any wind at all this is easier to hit with than my 16" 223; more drop for sure but way more consistent in the wind with those heavier high b.c. bullets. And, it shoots well with cheap Wolf FMJ too, so that's a bonus.

It's not a PSA upper, I assembled it from parts, and machined the barrel and muzzle device myself from a blank. IIRC the upper receiver itself is a BCM with a Matrix handguard.

Alchase, the Krylon stuff is no sweat on AR receivers and handguards, you can always wash it off with brake cleaner or other solvents. It takes a little scrubbing, but they come out looking like new again. It's pretty low stress compared to dealing with a nice wood stock on a bolt gun.

[Alchase]

Did you disassemble for painting?
Did you paint the barrel as well?
I want to do this so bad
LOL

[Cab]

Just pulled the trigger.....bought everything I wanted and when it was all said and done with transfer fee it came out to $885.33 with optics and flashlight. its amazing what you can get when you really look around, I think I used about 5-6 different sites for everything to get the best deals on what I wanted. when its done I'll make sure to throw a photo on.

[Yondering]

Did you disassemble for painting?
Did you paint the barrel as well?
I want to do this so bad
LOL

No I keep everything assembled, just mask off stuff that shouldn't get painted. The patterns match up better that way. Usually I extend the stock fully so it won't show a bare spot if someone wants to use it that way.
I don't make any particular effort to paint the barrel under the handguard, but it gets plenty of paint anyway. I do normally paint the section of barrel that is in front of the handguard. If you like to get your barrels really hot with rapid fire, the paint may eventually darken and even burn off, but I don't do that because it's pretty bad for the barrel.

[Mongo Hunter]

Just did a couple of glam shots for a buddies website I'm helping him put together. Going to start selling AR parts.

[Cab]

Just did a couple of glam shots for a buddies website I'm helping him put together. Going to start selling AR parts.

Those look great!! I'm getting most of the parts in today so I should be set to start building this week.

[Mongo Hunter]

If you're assembling the whole thing from scratch I recommend a good punch/hammer set, vice, armorers wrench and the upper vice block. makes life a lot easier. oh and lock tight! lol

[Cab]

If you're assembling the whole thing from scratch I recommend a good punch/hammer set, vice, armorers wrench and the upper vice block. makes life a lot easier. oh and lock tight! lol

  Yup I was trying for a bit to figure out how I could avoid buying all those things but I just said hell with it and bought them all. Also got a Torque wrench. I rather do things the right way the first time rather than struggling or possibly damage something.

[Cab]

Well took about a month but it's all done!! Took it out last weekend and was very happy with the 3.5lb Rise Armament trigger.

[Alchase]

How do you like it with your red dot and flip-up rear that far up the hand guard?

[Cab]

How do you like it with your red dot and flip-up rear that far up the hand guard?

  yea this was when I threw everything on real quick to show my brother, I have moved everything since.

[Yondering]

and was very happy with the 3.5lb Rise Armament trigger.

I've been pretty happy with my Rise trigger as well, given the price.