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How to Paint Camouflage on an AR-15

You can paint a camouflage pattern on your AR 15 rifle, or any firearm, with a combination of colored finishes applied by airbrush. The colors you choose and a pattern of camouflage is up to your own discretion. You can also use the natural color of your rifle as the base finish and break up the design with a separate color. To paint a camouflage pattern on your rifle you must apply a combination of paint with a finish hardener. If you choose not to buy an airbrush for your project, you can apply the paint with a disposable aerosol-powered airbrush.

Things You'll Need

Gun paint/finish
Finish hardener
Degreaser/stripper
600 grit sandpaper
Airbrush
Masking tape
Wire or fish line

Instructions

- 1
  Disassemble your AR-15 rifle and set aside any pieces that you do not wish painted -- for example, the bolt assembly.
- 2
  If there are any scratches or blemishes on the surfaces that you plan to paint over, lightly sand them down with 600 grit sandpaper.
- 3
  Clean off the surfaces with a degreaser/stripper solution to remove any carbon deposits or debris.
- 4
  Hang the parts that you are about to paint with a wire or fishing line. Suspending the parts will give you full access to them.
- 5
  Mix the finish and hardener solution in the airbrush container. Use your syringe to add approximately 10 to 14 parts paint/finish to 1 part hardener.
- 6
  Paint your pattern onto the parts with your airbrush. If you have a second color in mind, change the container on the airbrush with the mixture of the new paint and continue.
- 7
  Allow the parts to dry the for approximately 12 hours and reassemble your AR-15. Your rifle is now ready for use. For the paint to completely cure takes about 30 days; during that time try to limit contact with any painted surfaces

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