Comments on: To Camouflage Your Weapon or Not, That is the Question

By: bang-bang chicken

bang-bang chicken — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:50:35 +0000

This is an easy fix. Simply add camo-tape. You can’t create gang signs using a set pattern and it will help soldiers to personalize their weapons. It is also removable. As far as painting, It comes down to you CO. If i remember the reg. right. You can paint your weapons as long as it doesn’t interfere with any of the main components. But Taping them would be a better option and it would be cost efficient.

By: John

John — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:48:17 +0000

I do agree tactically a black rifle is a bad idea. But for those that don’t know black was taken out of militay uniforms because it shows up BRIGHT white through night vision, that is the only reason! Anything black will appear white through night vision which takes a good amout of it’s night camo advantage away. It’s like running around in snow camo at night. So a black rifle would be white as well and make you easier to identify as a combatant from a longer distance. That’s why Special Ops paint thier weapons, so it’s harder to see them during the day AND night. Some day the main line unit commanders will figure this out and MAYBE then their Joes will be allowed to paint their weapons?

By: John

John — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:47:37 +0000

Uhh… it’s the main line unit commanders that don’t want to paint their pretty black rifles. I served in an SF group and we painted our guns ourselves with rattle can paint for years(krylon). Never had any problems with the paint burning up on the barrel and we fire a ass load of ammo through those rifles. Plus if I’m not mistaken krylon now advertises their paint for gun camo? Best thing is you scuff it up you break out a can anf touch it up!

All this stuff about camo tape like hunters use, tried it and it don’t last. You spend a few days in the suck and that crap falls apart. Duct tape will stay on but you wil have one hell of a mess to clean off you weapon when you barrel melts that crap all over you rifle.

As far as balck rifles getting too hot to hold with you bare hands in desert heat never hear such a thing?! I spent the better part of 5 years in the middle east and did some long freak’n extended patrols in 135 degree heat and never new any one to have that problem, and the Rangers we did some ops with weren’t allowed to paint their weapons? Never knew anyone who burned thier hands on a black weapon?

By: ian

ian — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:02:50 +0000

I personally dont give 2 craps as to what color my rifle is as long as it works. I doubt that the terrorist on the other end of the barrel is gonna say “Hey man that is a great tan/green that you used on your rifle. Where can i get that color of paint for my AK.” If you really what to camo your rifle then just go buy a roll of camo tape. Its easy to take off and you can put it back on if you want it back on.

By: William C.

William C. — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:03:51 +0000

I for one question the actual utility of camouflaging our soldiers weapons, but if they want to do so we should offer them that option.

One of the advantages of newer weapons like the Remington ACR, XM8, G36, SCAR L, and so forth is that if you just change the color of the plastic used, you have pretty much changed the color of the whole rifle. This is harder to do with older weapons like the M4 and M16 however, which have more exposed metal surfaces and such. Perhaps just procuring some different color rail covers and stocks would do something to break up the outline however.

In my opinion the US Army should stop waiting for the next big small arms development as they have been for years now, and adopt a new 5.56mm or 6.8mm assault rifle. Then get it from the factory with the plastic a general purpose gray color.

By: Erres

Erres — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:15:25 +0000

The biggest givaway of a weapon (painted or not) is the straight barrel. even Tanks try to conceal that with netting to make it look like a tree trunk/branch. Why not hide the barrel?
You could use an irregular shaped tube (any nonburning material) that fits over the barrel and fasten to the bajonet socket or a loophole. Paint it like a piece of wood. Use (green) elastic bands to keep grass, foilage or cloth attached as well .
The high placed aiming devices of the M16/M4 weapon family are not effected
– an other example: the kitty corner shot http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php…

ps. The size of the tube might impress/scare people as well (see: the Sherman Tanks from the movie “Kellies Heroes”!)

By: Kody Grimes

Kody Grimes — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:56:03 +0000

It’s simple, just have a set of different patterns for desert, woodland, etc.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:42:56 +0000

The real problem is the statement "black doesn't exist in nature". While that is technically true (outside of a black hole, anyway), it's also irrelevant. The human eye sees the 200 shades or so from true black to very dark brown or blue as the same color: black. We can't tell the difference. Our depth perception tells our brains that the darker something is, the further away it is. This is why the woodland pattern 'breaks up' us up so well. Parts of our uniform seem further away than other parts, so it doesn't register as looking human. Camouflaging the weapon is important, sure, but ultimately pointless until the glow-in-the-light Universally Concealment Proof pattern is replaced.

By: WarScientist

WarScientist — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:01:42 +0000

Also, if your are worried about gang signs on your guns, i think the problem is more of a recruitment issue instead of what happens when you give a soldier a can of spray paint

However, even then, as long as the gang-sign in question is in OD green or tan, it will still help break up the outline of your gun (and at close range might buy you a split second where the enemy looks at your gun and tries to figure what gang u are from, whereupon you shoot him in the face and say “USA motherf*cker, that’s where I’m from!”)

By: Adam

Adam — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:29:29 +0000

Give soldiers some tan and brown krylon paint and watch them fail to dissapoint. Soldiers are sick and tired of being babysitted and treated like children by the chain of command.

Also, Duraheat can be used on the barrel to withstand high temperatures.