Has anyone used a foam earplug to plug a barrel for painting?

[Z-Michigan]

I would like to repaint a barrel on one of my rifles, including the crown area if possible, but definitely don't want any paint getting in the bore. After looking at cork/stopper options, it dawned on me that a standard foam earplug would make a good stopper for a .30 cal barrel. Has anyone done this before? Does it work, or have any drawbacks?

 

[Zak Smith]

It should be fine. I've used them in a similar situation to block the bore hole of a suppressor in a bead blaster.

 

[rondog]

What a great idea!!! I've never needed to plug a barrel, yet, but always wondered what would be a good way to do so.

 

[Digger Odell]

Hi Z-Michigan

Test the foam before you put it in the barrel. Some liquids will melt or dissolve different foams & you don't want to end up with a blob in your barrel.

Digger.

 

[HankC]

A little paint in the bore is not a problem. Clean up at the first shot. May use a little grease to prevent the paint stick to the bore.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Thanks. I will test one outside the barrel first to make sure it doesn't melt. This should really beat the $20 pack of plugs from Durakote, or spending hours hunting down rubber stoppers at a home store.

 

[19&41]

When I had my barrel parkerized, I got a 1" square of 1/4" thick sheet rubber and sharpened a .308 case neck from the inside and used it to cut a few plugs. I used two in the muzzle end and expanded the case neck a little and smeared a bit of rtv on the case and inserted it into the chamber. You probably wouldn't need the rtv for painting though. The plugs pulled out with a dental pick.

 

[nastynatesfish]

Go to an ace hardware if you have one handy. They sell rubber plugs that fit by all the screws, that's what I use. Or I jus use a stray bullet and tap it into the bore enought to hold itself and remove it with a letherman afterwards

 

[slicksleeve]

The first time I Duracoated a gun barrel, I cut a tree limb and whittled it down to a point. I drove it into the end of the barrel, and used the new plug/stick to hang it up in the air to spray the Duracoat on. This was a .54 caliber muzzle loader barrel I'm talking about though, you might not want to do that to any nice gun.

 

[Centaur 1]

Earplugs work great for painting, they're what I use.

 

[Clark]

I have used Silicone Rubber Tapered Plug for painting and bluing.

It is a horrible mistake to get bluing or paint in the bore.

Copper sticks to blued bore like baby droppings stick to a blanket.

 

[Rugby8]

Yut

 

[rc109a]

Does getting paint at the end of the bore mke any difference? Everytime I painted them it cleaned right out after the very first shot. I also gave the crown a smoother finish. Most of mine were painted with krylon and two with moly resin.

 

[schmeky]

For pistols, I drive a hardcast bullet into the bore, impervious to any solvents, will not move until you want it to, and seals the bore well.