Spray paint AR 15 mag

If you want a lasting paint job I would try Duracoat. Google the name and check it out, if you just want to do a quicky paint job then any good spray paint would work. Although, unless they are actually rusty, I would take the springs and followers out and just degrease them with brake cleaner, then paint. I think sanding them may be more work then it's worth.

If they work, rough adds character! I'd never refinish my old GI mags.

My only problem is they look kinda rough on the surface. Would they still fit in my AR if I sanded and painted them?

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Don't sand 'em, you will strip off the anodizing. Just clean and paint.

I've scrounged some fairly rough looking AR mags in the past, some were more gold than anything else in color.

My personal method of re-doing them is to give them a good soak in aircraft aluminum stripper, a dusting of 'self-etching aluminum primer', (both found at local auto supply houses) and then a misting of Aervoe paints. Brownell's.com carries the line at modest cost. The only other thing needed (possibly) is an old set of fishnet stockings (do NOT steal from the wife; use your own) to give a nice fish scale appearance.

When using the aluminum stripper, protect hands with something MORE than yellow gloves, it Will go through them.
Above all else... don't go all nit-picky crazy on them, remember they Are disposable items and they Will get nicked up.

Not very likely that GI magazines would get rusty, since they have aluminum bodies.

Remember, Duracote takes 3 months to 100% cure.

M_E_ said:

Remember, Duracote takes 3 months to 100% cure.

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3 to 6 weeks.


http://www.duracoat-firearm-finishes.com/

if your gonna finish and worried about them sticking go with kggunkote. its a bake on but it goes on real thin. thats what ive done to all my mags that were rough looking.

Some of the early GI M16 repair manuals that I've seen specify "Dry Film Lubricant" for field refinishing of both mags and receivers. This is really a gray, graphite-based spray paint (Brownells used to carry it; I don't know if they still do). It almost has a waxy consistency when dry.

Doxiedad said:

The GI mags are aluminum? Guess I need to pay more attention. What can I do to bring back the original luster of the aluminum?

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Erm... there never was a "luster." Semi-flat black or flat gray, sure, but never a luster.

Regarding carbon buildup on the followers, might as well swap them out for MagPul followers. Might replace the magazine springs too, while you're at it.

I've got a pile of Okay Ind. magazines that are NIB, and they already look pretty used. I'm not that worried, personally.

I've painted many military mags - just avoid the top 2 inches so. The added layer of paint can either cause it to be too snug or flakes of paint could scrap off and end up in the chamber.

+1 what leadcounsel said. Leave the top clear and you'll avoid any potential issues with the mag well. Otherwise, go to town.

I think most folks over-think the painting of weapons and accessories. Trying too hard to make it a precise work of art instead of just dulling the highlights and breaking up outline.

I've thrown GI mags and an M4A1 on a piece of cardboard laying in the dirt and hit them with a $2.50 can of Krylon. Wait awhile to dry, flip, and hit the other side.

Naturally, don't paint your iron sights, your mag followers, or the glass on your optics. As leadcounsel mentioned, go easy and only lightly coat (or skip) the top of your magazines.

Grab dried weapon & mags and move out for the rest of the war...

(Edited to add: The paint job in the picture is after about 10 months of dragging that M4A1 across Afghanistan.)



If the mags are corroded (aluminum), rusted (steel mags), or have a lot of gunky tape residue from some clown labeling them, just scrub them with a green scrub pad or some sandpaper...then hit with some paint. It's not rocket science.

If you are looking at $10 a pop to duracoat (not to mention time to clean/prep, dissassemble/reassemble) I'd just buy some of these for less than $10 each:
http://www.44mag.com/product/d_h_ar15_magazine_black_teflon/223_ar15_magazines
Never had any problems with them.

Doxiedad, man you've been posting all over asking questions about cleaning kits, lube and all sorts of stuff as though there is some magic formula that you have to follow to keep the AR running. I'm not knocking you. I understand that you are excited about your AR. I just get the feeling that you're running yourself ragged for nothing.

If you just came by these mags and they didn't cost you anything, good for you. First verify that they work. If they do, use them. Just realize that new GI type mags run around $10 a piece. Cheaper if you buy by the case. Quit killing yourself with the small stuff and get out and shoot.

If you need mags/springs/followers go to 44mag.com and get what you need. Just stay away from the mags with the stainless steel bodies.

Just in case, don't bother painting the mags. If you paint them, cleaning solvent is just going to remove the paint. Duracoat would work well, but it ain't cheap and is pretty time consuming to apply correctly.

Nuthin



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I would just spray them with some Solid Film Lubricant. With the amount of work you would put in them you could buy new ones. But if you would like, Replace the followers if necessary, replace the springs for sure, spray them with the SFL or DFL and they should be good as new. One caution, check the wear on the mag catch hole on the magazine first before you start...

I wouldn't bother anodizing them at home. The home kits that I've seen apply a Type II anodizing, which is equivalent to that which comes on Mag Lites. You're better off Duracoating.