How to Paint an AR-15

Unload the rifle.

Use a screwdriver to remove the folding bipod from the AR-15. Skip this step if your rifle lacks this accessory.

Place the AR-15 on a heavy-duty fabric drop cloth.

Sand nonmetallic portions of the AR-15 with 180-grit sandpaper. Stop when these areas feel slightly rough to your fingertips.

Cover sensitive mechanisms, including the trigger, barrel hole and ammunition loading area, with painter's tape. Use scissors to trim the tape if necessary.

Cover all nonmetallic portions of the AR-15 with masking paper, using painter's tape.

Coat metallic portions of the AR-15 with galvanized metal etching spray primer. Maintain an 8-inch distance between the AR-15 and the spray nozzle as you apply. Remove the masking paper immediately after application. Wait 4 hours for the etching primer to dry.

Coat the entire rifle with acrylic spray primer. Maintain an 8-inch distance between the AR-15 and the spray nozzle as you apply. Wait 4 hours for the acrylic primer to dry.

Coat the primed rifle with acrylic enamel. Maintain an 8-inch distance between the AR-15 and the spray nozzle as you apply. Remove the tape from the rifle's sensitive mechanisms immediately after application. Wait 6 hours before handling the rifle.