To paint or not to paint, that is the question?

[bear]

So I'd really like to camo my Tikka T3 22-250 but just can't get myself to paint it up.  I'm just too chicken.  I love the look of the gun, but think that a stainless barrel is a bit of a detriment.  What do you guys think?

[luvtohnt]

Have it dipped in camo, that might be easier.

Brandon

[GoldTip]

I think that I don't believe a stainless barrel has ever been the cause of a game animal being spooked and killed.
That being said, if you simply don't like like the looks, then send it off to be dipped.

[satchel3006]

paint a gun you dont really care about first thats what i did and if you like it paint your tikka its preety easy

[high country]

cerakote or beadblast

[Rob]

You guys are missing a great opportunity here...

Sounds to me like you need an additional gun.

[Kain]

Paint it!!!  But I am a painter so I will always say that.   

Here is a how-to for doing snake skin if you wanna try that.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,24447.0.html

[Big10gauge]

Paint it.

[Bofire]

I do not like the tape but I made a little "sock" that slips over my barrel loosely and is sorta held in place by the sling swivel. works good.
Carl

[Wile E. Hunter]

I had the same dilemma. I gave it a lot of thought, and decided that it was more important to me to have my gun do what I wanted it to do, than look like when I took it out of the box. I REALLY had a hard time deciding to paint my Leupold long range target scopes.... Ultimately, I decided that since they were going to be staying on those two guns, I'd just go with it. I masked off my guns, and used several colors of flat rustoleum paints, and am pleased with the results.

Wile E.

[Wile E. Hunter]

Some before/after of my flat top, and my Sendero with a camo sock. I liked the camo sock program, but kept having to mess with it.

[CastleRocker]

Paint it!  Krylon makes all the camo colors in flat, so no shine!  Just make sure you paint a "plastic" stock with some type of anti-mold release clear coat first so your paint will stock.  The stuff that is in the polycarbonate, or plastic, or whatever your stock is made of, that allows the stock to release from the mold when it is manufactured, will also not allow most paints to stick well.  If it doesn't come out the way you like it, paint it again, or use some brake-clean and elbow grease to take it off.  That's what I like about cheap Wally-World Krylon anyway.  I use the type foliage from where I hunt that will lay fairly flat for a stencil.  Fir boughs, Cedar, Oregon Grape, Vine Maple leaves, and Scotchbroom work well.  Practice on a piece of cardboard or something until you get the hang of it, then just GO FOR IT!

Either that or contact Kain, and see what he will charge to paint it.  The guy is really good.  If I had the money, I'd look into having him to his snake skin pattern on my AR.

[bear]

I'm gettin' a lot of resistance from my son.  He doesn't not want me to paint it really badly.  I will never sell this gun, so resale is not a concern.  Really, its all about how it functions, right?

[Jerry malbeck]

dont paint it , vet wrap in camo is real easy and when you get tired of it it comes right off . lasts a long time and gives it a real nice non slip surface . i love mine .

[coop2424]

I am all for the painting.  Check this link out.  There is some really good looking rifles even with them painted..

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=19&t=199533