I'm going to try turkey hunting for the first time this year, and I'm thinking about painting my 870 camo. Has anyone tried this ? If so, what paint works well ? I'd like to get as close to something like Real-tree hardwoods if possible. Any painting tips ? Thanks.
Camo painting your shotgun ?
- Thread starter Mantis
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I have done several for friends after they see mine.
Pick a base color. I was after a waterfowl pattern last time so I used tan, coat the whole thing with it. Pick your next color, then place the nozzle very close to the gun and pass it over it quickly in random directions. Make thin ralatively sharply defined lines that crisscross with no pattern. Do this with 3 or 4 drab colors like flat tan, olive drab, flat brown, and flat black.
For a spring turkey I would suggest black over everything, then tan sparingly, then brown and then green. Going with the darkest color as the base, highlighting it with tan and then putting some woods colors on creates the illusion of depth and resembles the colors seen in the spring woods. Remember, all you are hoping to do is take the shine off and break up the outline of the gun. Taking away straight lines is the key.
The only way you are going to get a commercial camo pattern is to have a commercial outfit dip your gun at a cost of about $200. With about $15 in paint you can get an effective camo finish that a turkey/deer/bear/duck etc can't tell from Real Oak Superdifilous Woodsy pattern.
Grab a cardboard box, say a foot cubed. Test your idea on it and see how it turns out, you have six tries per box to find what you want.
Last thing I can think of is put a strip of masking tape down the rib before you start. I like a flat black rib and white bead/s. If a critter can see the solid line of a black rib it is too late for it so don't let that concern you.
EDIT: Whoops, forgot to talk about paint. Krylon has a camo series that works nicely. About $3 a can at Wal-Mart and other discount retailers. HS Specialties makes a paint that isn't nearly as good for about triple the cost, sold at most outdoors shops. Out of several brands and types I like the Krylon the best.
Pick a base color. I was after a waterfowl pattern last time so I used tan, coat the whole thing with it. Pick your next color, then place the nozzle very close to the gun and pass it over it quickly in random directions. Make thin ralatively sharply defined lines that crisscross with no pattern. Do this with 3 or 4 drab colors like flat tan, olive drab, flat brown, and flat black.
For a spring turkey I would suggest black over everything, then tan sparingly, then brown and then green. Going with the darkest color as the base, highlighting it with tan and then putting some woods colors on creates the illusion of depth and resembles the colors seen in the spring woods. Remember, all you are hoping to do is take the shine off and break up the outline of the gun. Taking away straight lines is the key.
The only way you are going to get a commercial camo pattern is to have a commercial outfit dip your gun at a cost of about $200. With about $15 in paint you can get an effective camo finish that a turkey/deer/bear/duck etc can't tell from Real Oak Superdifilous Woodsy pattern.
Grab a cardboard box, say a foot cubed. Test your idea on it and see how it turns out, you have six tries per box to find what you want.
Last thing I can think of is put a strip of masking tape down the rib before you start. I like a flat black rib and white bead/s. If a critter can see the solid line of a black rib it is too late for it so don't let that concern you.
EDIT: Whoops, forgot to talk about paint. Krylon has a camo series that works nicely. About $3 a can at Wal-Mart and other discount retailers. HS Specialties makes a paint that isn't nearly as good for about triple the cost, sold at most outdoors shops. Out of several brands and types I like the Krylon the best.
The only one I can find a picture of is my 870. The paint on it is about 3 years old and starting to wear enough there is a little bit of sheen on the forend and pistol grip. It is a very simple pattern for the marshes. I wish I could find a pic of some of the others, they really turned out nice.
I bought a paint kit for the stock, and used camo tape over the metal parts. It worked, leaving the vent rib uncovered but the tape tends to peel over any period of time.
My dad painted his entire gun with an Outer's kit. We found that the paint came off easily and had no long lasting ill effects.
You gun WILL handle differently when you paint it/tape it. Subtle differences yes, but the feel of the slide and pistol grip in your hands is altered somewhat, esp. with tape or "gun chaps".
Practice with it after you tape it/paint it.
My dad painted his entire gun with an Outer's kit. We found that the paint came off easily and had no long lasting ill effects.
You gun WILL handle differently when you paint it/tape it. Subtle differences yes, but the feel of the slide and pistol grip in your hands is altered somewhat, esp. with tape or "gun chaps".
Practice with it after you tape it/paint it.
WhiteKnight
Member
Is there any way you could photograph those three scatterguns on a "not so hideous" background color? It hurts my eyes.
About three years ago my duck hunting partner painted our Rem 11-87 's with some kit that he bought somewhere. It was some type of semi-permant paint. It now needs to be repainted. I may have to try the Krylon thing.
My bro'-in-law painted his 11-87 in an engenious way. He gave it a base of black, then some brown and then "leaves" of varous colors. To paint the leaves, he simply made a stencil out of cardboard and held it on the gun where ever he wanted a leaf. It turned out really nice.
Some of our friends are appalled that we painted out guns. However, we see our guns as tools to help us accomplish a mission. They are not shiny museum pieces to be held and admired.
My bro'-in-law painted his 11-87 in an engenious way. He gave it a base of black, then some brown and then "leaves" of varous colors. To paint the leaves, he simply made a stencil out of cardboard and held it on the gun where ever he wanted a leaf. It turned out really nice.
Some of our friends are appalled that we painted out guns. However, we see our guns as tools to help us accomplish a mission. They are not shiny museum pieces to be held and admired.
longrifleman
Member
I did that for a shotgun for my nephews-grandkids. I used the Krylon paints and followed their directions. I know it sounds wussy but it worked.
My nephew killed his first turkey this morning at about 15 yds. so the paint job must've worked!
I stripped it to the bare metal and wood both and started with a good primer so the paint should last as long as any good paint job. I tried for the basic woodland pattern and it worked well.
No picture yet but we took several of the hunter, turkey and gun together.
You will probably get the chance to look at them.
My nephew killed his first turkey this morning at about 15 yds. so the paint job must've worked!
I stripped it to the bare metal and wood both and started with a good primer so the paint should last as long as any good paint job. I tried for the basic woodland pattern and it worked well.
No picture yet but we took several of the hunter, turkey and gun together.
You will probably get the chance to look at them.
TurkeyHunter
Member
I use
Camo Tape..
Just clean the gun well before applying it.
It works well in the duck blind or in the woods. I do not tape the vented rib.
I concure that it makes a BIG difference in the feel of the shotgun.
Next Turkey season I plan on getting the front and adjustable rear sights from NTF's web site.
I use a Winchester Model 1200 pump with a 30" BBL, a Colonial Arms Extended choke tube in Modified, and Remington Hevi-Shot #2's for Turkey.
Camo Tape..
Just clean the gun well before applying it.
It works well in the duck blind or in the woods. I do not tape the vented rib.
I concure that it makes a BIG difference in the feel of the shotgun.
Next Turkey season I plan on getting the front and adjustable rear sights from NTF's web site.
I use a Winchester Model 1200 pump with a 30" BBL, a Colonial Arms Extended choke tube in Modified, and Remington Hevi-Shot #2's for Turkey.
TurkeyHunter
Member
One more thing
Those NTF sights I mentioned are MAGNETIC. They'll make my shotgun a "Multi-Purpose" tool.
Those NTF sights I mentioned are MAGNETIC. They'll make my shotgun a "Multi-Purpose" tool.
WhiteKnight
Member
Do you not feel hindered by your super-long tube? From your title of "TurkeyHunter" it would lead me to believe your main quarry is the turkey, but I would think a hardcore turkey hunter would have one of the "tricked out short barreld models."
TurkeyHunter
Member
My 1200
Yes I hunt with a 30" bbl and I use it for nearly everything I hunt.
I use the long barrel with an extended choke in Modified. I can SMOKE anything out to 60 yards with the Hevi-shot #2's. Inside 15 yards I'll head shoot. I'm fast enough to get off a second one if needed. If you hit a bird with this stuff, he's going down...and fast!
I have an 18" barrel without a choke for off season when I keep it loaded with 7 rounds of 00 Buck for two legged turkeys that want to challenge.
I have One more chance this season to get my Spring Gobbler.
At least I had one talking to me earlier this season.
With only one more chance to go, my biggest dilema is where to set up at 5:30.
So many places to hunt...so little time.
Yes I hunt with a 30" bbl and I use it for nearly everything I hunt.
I use the long barrel with an extended choke in Modified. I can SMOKE anything out to 60 yards with the Hevi-shot #2's. Inside 15 yards I'll head shoot. I'm fast enough to get off a second one if needed. If you hit a bird with this stuff, he's going down...and fast!
I have an 18" barrel without a choke for off season when I keep it loaded with 7 rounds of 00 Buck for two legged turkeys that want to challenge.
I have One more chance this season to get my Spring Gobbler.
At least I had one talking to me earlier this season.
With only one more chance to go, my biggest dilema is where to set up at 5:30.
So many places to hunt...so little time.
45crittergitter
Member
nico
Member
aren't all turkeys two legged?
TurkeyHunter
Member
LOL
Come to think of it...yes they are...
LOL!!
I should have said "The featherless type!"
Thanks...you made me laugh..
Come to think of it...yes they are...
LOL!!
I should have said "The featherless type!"
Thanks...you made me laugh..
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