Need to talk about painting a rifle

[cmcculley]

I've just read Doug's article & pics about camo painting his rifle. I'm thinking of doing that to my Rem. 700 BDL but I've got a wood stock. What would you recommend for the stock prep work and the painting? Aluma Hyde II for the stock still or something else? Thanks.

[cuda]

Sell the wood and buy a synthetic stock to paint. Wood is to show not to hide. See if you can find a different stock first before you paint it. Someone is looking for nice wood for thier gun that is synthetic now. Just my 2 cents

[cmcculley]

Thanks. I'll search around to see if I can come up with one.

[thelefthand]

The gun that I did had a laminate walnut stock from Richard's Microfit. It had not been finished yet, but it could have been a real pretty piece of wood. Alas, I opted to camo it with Aluma Hyde instead. You know, I've never had one deer complain about how ugly it was... Actually, I have had several comments on it at the range. They all comment on how good the work is, so I make them get closer to the gun and look at how poorly I had finished the wood before I painted it. My point to them is that it's easy. I mean it's camo! Come on, it's whole purpose is to hide things....

As far as what type of stock to use, I don't like synthetic stocks. They are too flimsy. If you can find someone who will BUY your stock, then great. Take that money and get a roughed out laminate stock. Spend a couple of hours with some 80 and 180 grit paper to get the rough edges knocked down, and then you're ready for some paint. Paint it once (which will raise the wood grain real bad) then sand it, then go for the camo. Otherwise, tape her off an paint it like you stole it