Painted my Calling Rifle

[tlbradford]

I just finished up painting my predator calling rifle.  It is a Savage Model 12 with a Leupy Vx3 4.5-14 with the illuminated reticle. 

 
Cleaned, taped, and ready to paint.  I remove the action and barrel from the stock and tape up anything that moves, ports, and then reassemble.  Tape up your action screws, and scope ring screws which is one of the biggest mistakes first time painters make.  Rub metal blueing parts with the rough side of a green and yellow sponge with a little bit of cleaner on it.  Wipe everything down until completely dry.


A ladder makes for a nice platform to hang something off of for painting.  I used some rebar tie wire throught the sling studs.


I like to primer everything.


Base coat of Krylon flat paint.


Second coat of Krylon StoneTouch which is a textured paint.


Throw a pattern on there to break up the monotone look, disassemble, remove tape, wipe down all of the action and swab barrel, reassemble and add gun oil to exposed metal parts.  Then keep it out of your safe over the course of the next couple of weeks as the paint will continue to cure out.  Continue to monitor for moisture and keep all metal parts dry.  I use the nonstick tape for the front of the scope, since I add a sunshade a lot of times when hunting.  Apply a little masking tape over any color you want to customize your stock.  This is advertising calls when I take pictures and videos.

Nothing fancy, but it does the job.  Total cost $17.00 for tape and paint.

[Sagedawg]

Nice job!!!! I did a .222 that I use as my calling gun, Ill try to get some pics posted up.BTW I like the Slydog.


  Sage

[MountainWalk]

very nice job with the paint. i think your name in the paint is also a pretty cool touch.
ive painted my swift with the textured paint.. pretty tough stuff.

[tlbradford]

This was the first one I did with the textured paint.  I really like it.  A rough surface really cuts down on reflection.  I am glad to hear it is durable, it seems like it should be.

[PacificNWhunter]

looks awesome! I don't have the guts to do anything like that. Nice work.

[tlbradford]

looks awesome! I don't have the guts to do anything like that. Nice work.

I wouldn't go and paint a nice wood stock, but the Savage is ugly and cheap.  It is a wonderfully designed rifle and a great shooter.  That scope will probably be on that rifle for life so I felt ok painting it.  If I really had guts I would paint up my Sako.

[MountainWalk]

my ruger 77 tang safety swift is a wood stock rifle. but my grandfather, a master wood craftsmen, made a cheeck piece for it.  when i got, i shot it for awhile, but then took a chisel to it and off it came. i then filled it and smoothed er all out. then painted er. i had the paint job in mind when i mutilated the piece off.  i also painted my scope. its an old redfield 6x18, and it lives on the rifle forever. i'll work up some pics.

[saylean]

Is that the first one you did? Curious..I was thinking on doing that to my Tikka...well, not painting it myself, but getting something to break it up a bit...(tape, different stock,etc)

I saw on one of my Primo videos they take some camo burlap and just rubberband it all over the gun...looked ok for a temp solution...

Might have to consider the paint idea. Thanks for posting.

[tlbradford]

This was my third.  It is pretty easy to do, but just make sure up it is something you really want to do since it is mostly permanent.  There is nothing to be scared of.  If you make a mistake you can take a little sandpaper to the paint and go right over it.  Some people get really into it and put get leafs and ferns and spray those patterns on, but that is more for themselves.  All I want to do is eliminate glare, and break up a solid pattern.  The best product I have found is the camo gun wrap that sticks to itself.  I had it on this rifle for a couple of years and it did not leave any residue, was removed and replaced a couple of times, and did not hold moisture.  Here is a link.  The downside is you can only tape up the barrel, a small part of the scope, and the stock, which is still quite a bit, but it only sticks to itself.  I still use that on my bear rifle. 

http://www.mountsplus

[runningboard]

did my nephews Mossberg 100 with the krinkle finish followed by four colors of camo and/or primer. used leaves from my yard to add that extra touch,only did the stock though. turned out really nice and most can't believe it was a $100 gunshow outcast, previous owner beat it. it still shoots good, tried to post some pics but since I had my camera setting wrong the files are huge and won't upload.

[Lowedog]

A few seasons ago my friend told me how bad the glare from my stainless barrel.  He was way across a basin from me as I moved through the trees trying to push something out and said every time I moved through the sun he could see the barrel shimmer in the sun.  After that I decide it was time to paint my rifles.

I did my coyote rifle first.  It's a Remington 700 VS SF


And just did my Model 70 Stainless Classic since I am hunting modern this year.  It has a HS Precision stock so I just painted the action and barrel.


-Lowedog

[saylean]

Cool guys, thanks for the ideas. I might do this...as I constantly think about my all black rifle giving away my position if I am calling...

I will post if I get the balls...

[MountainWalk]

all the stainless on my 338 is painted plain OD.. your right tho,, stainless is a big attention getter.

[littletoes]

I've got an accumark with a stainless barrel I just can't bring myself to paint...this make me chicken??? I think so!

Have another with a black barrel, but the stock is OD/Black from McMillan, not bad for glare, although kinda dark, but I like to stay in the dark with that one any-hoo!

Great looking rifles guys, and nice looking yote LoweDog.