The first time this writer ever saw an example of a rifle sporting a DuraCoat camouflage finish, one problem immediately came to mind. Don’t set this gun down in the field and turn your back or you may never find it again.

Steve and Debbie Lauer from Lauer Custom Weaponry (LCW) offer several complete packages for the “do-it-yourselfer” to apply their DuraCoat firearms finishes to existing guns. DuraCoat was introduced at the 2001 SAR Show in Phoenix Arizona, and while listening to a lengthy answer asked by a potential customer, there was a one comment that stuck out more than any other; “You can do it yourself.” That simple phrase has stuck with me in the years since hearing it, and after watching these finishes evolve and adapt to so many new environments it was time to give it a try.

DuraCoat can be applied directly to carbon steel, stainless steel, alloys, synthetic materials and even wood. There is no priming and no etching necessary and unlike other finishes, no baking is necessary to cure. DuraCoat dries to the touch in about 20 minutes and can be handled in about an hour. It is ready for use in just one day but continues to get harder and even more resistant to solvents and abrasion in 3 to 4 weeks. It is extremely resistant to salts and because it retains a light amount of elasticity it does not typically scratch or chip. It can be applied as thin as .25mls and as thick as 1.5mls. It can even be used to build up tolerances when desired.

Starting completely from scratch, it only made sense to order the Level II Starter Kit, the instructional DVD and some of the TruStrip Cleaner/Degreaser. This includes everything you need to get going. For the test, the Urban MirageFlage was chosen for a color and pattern selection, thus receiving the appropriate colors and templates. The colors used in this package are Matte Black, Snow Gray and UM White, but with over 15 different patterns to choose from and over 64 base colors to begin with, the combinations are unlimited.

The Urban MirageFlage is a digital pattern and a series of “Peel ‘n Spray” self-adhesive templates are included to achieve these shapes. It is as simple as peeling these shapes from the backing and sticking them on the firearm where the design is desired. After the color is sprayed the templates are removed by just peeling away. This makes it completely unnecessary to design and create custom masking when finishing your own firearm. In some instances these shapes are even reusable allowing you to finish several firearms with the same set of templates.

Putting DuraCoat To The Test

Where this was a project for an admitted novice in the area of refinishing, a couple of firearms that were already in need of some kind of finishing were selected as the initial test subjects. This way a firearm that looked fine to begin with would not have to be sacrificed should things not work out as planned. Two candidates from the depths of the gun safe emerged as the guinea pigs. The first was an old, suppressed MK I Ruger pistol that has lived in the back of the safe for over a decade. It functions great and is quite impressive in its performance but was mismatched with the pistol finish having a very worn and thin bluing while the suppressor portion was parkerized. It did not match at all and looked terrible. The second test subject was an AR-15 variant that was assembled from a collection of spare parts that had been growing for several years. After test firing, it was decided it would be a “keeper” because it was so accurate, but it still looked terrible. The lower was a dark and heavily blast beaded finish. The upper receiver had a shiny, dull and worn finish with a Police Department inventory number carved in it with an electric pencil. A sound suppressor was selected to match the rifle and a few magazines were chosen to complete the package. A few minutes with the Dremel tool and a light sandpaper drum removed the electric pencil marks and it was time to get going.

Properly cleaning the parts may be the most important step of the entire process. The finish needs a clean, dry surface to adhere to. In this example, both firearms were finished fully assembled. This would help match the patterns on the final product and would be a much quicker way to begin. While this is an acceptable way to apply the finish, it is very important to completely degrease everything. When parts are assembled it leaves many places for oils and lubricants to hide. The TruStrip Cleaner/Degreaser was used allowing everything to dry. A high-pressure wand from the air compressor to coax any residue out from these hiding places was also utilized. The TruStrip was used again after drying just to be certain all oils were gone.

When everything was dry it was time to mask anything not intended to be finished. In this case all that needed masking was the bolt in the MKI Ruger pistol. Everything else was going to be sprayed. A small automotive detail gun was used to apply the finish instead of the airbrush included with the kit so it involved much more masking that typically necessary due to the additional overspray. This would come into play a little later in the process but for the initial base coating everything got a coat of Black. It is important to think ahead a little when spraying and to adjust your finish coverage appropriately. Areas that are “high traffic” and tend to rub on holsters or other surfaces should get a little extra covering. Areas with tight tolerances, like magazine wells, should not be covered so heavy. It is easy to go too light on the base coat because the DuraCoat covers everything so well it immediately looks finished. My advice would be to spray what you think is covering everything, than spray a little more.

After the initial base coat was allowed to dry a few hours, the first set of templates were applied. These “male” templates should be stuck on every area that you intend the original, base color to remain. In a 3-color system, the second color will be the dominant color and in this case the second color would be the Snow Gray. The templates are all pre-cut and after deciding on the size and shape desired, they only need to be peeled from their backing and stuck right on the area being finished. After applying the templates the next step was spraying the second coat, completely covering everything again. When spraying multiple colors, only enough material needs to be sprayed to cover the previous color completely. It is not necessary to “build up” consecutive colors because it covers so well. After applying the Snow Gray everything was allowed to dry overnight.

The next step in the Urban MirageFlage pattern is to remove all the templates covering the base color. This is when things started looking drastically different. It was becoming obvious how well this project was actually coming out. After all the templates were removed there was a little excess adhesive remaining from the templates. It was removed by gently rubbing the areas with some mineral spirits on a soft, clean, white cloth.

After allowing all parts to completely dry it was time to apply some “female” templates for the areas where the final (UM White) color would be sprayed. We wanted to cover some larger areas than the provided “female” templates would cover, so we used the knockout areas left over from some of the larger “male” templates to make our own. After masking everything for the final time the last color was sprayed. If the little airbrush had been used to apply the final color, there would have been little masking necessary at all. Usually, the extra masking around the provided “female” templates is all that is necessary for this application. Because of the larger spray gun, with overspray as an issue, everything needed to be masked completely that was not intended to be covered with this final color. In hindsight it would definitely had been advantageous to go the airbrush route on this final layer and save the extra masking time.

Approximately an hour after spraying this final layer all the templates and masking were removed. Everything was allowed to dry overnight and was rubbed down with a protective layer of DuraLube as a protectant.

To say that I was delighted with the results would be an understatement. The finish looks great and everything looks far better than imagined. One thing is for sure, and that is the DuraCoat is a complete system that is simple enough for anyone to apply.

After asking Steve Lauer to critique the job, he offered the following advice. He said to pay particular attention to the direction of the lines of the templates when using any of the digital template sets. The rifles, (particularly the AR-15 and M16 family) tend to look their best when the horizontal lines are all parallel to the bore. He reaffirmed the importance of removing all oils and lubricants before beginning. There needs to be a clean, dry surface to start with in order to achieve a good end result.

DuraCoat can be heat cured if timing is critical but it is not necessary. For the purposes of our test application everything was allowed to air dry only. DuraCoat will resist temperatures as high as 600° F and lower than any temperature ever recorded. Those requiring a finish on machine gun parts and suppressors that will reach high temperatures should use the DuraHeat products in place of those above. These high temperature coatings are able to withstand temperatures of up to 1,800° F and even become harder at these high temperatures.

Other LCW Products

There are several finishing products available from Lauer Custom Weaponry. A quick glance at their website or catalog will reveal many items for almost all firearm finishing tasks. Some of these other items include parkerizing solutions, bluing removers, wood stains, drying ovens, solution tanks, bead blasters and much more. Lauer Custom Weaponry is also a Title II Manufacturer who sells their own LCW-15 rifle and several models of sound suppressors. For those who may desire one of the many DuraCoat finishes offered but do not have the time, facilities or even the interest in doing it, LCW will do the work for you. You should contact them directly for pricing on each individual job. Retail pricing for each firearm typically varies from $275 to $575 depending on the colors and patterns. Turn around time is usually 4 to 6 weeks. Classes to become a certified DuraCoat applicator are regularly offered so gunsmiths, manufacturers and refinishers can learn to professionally apply the DuraCoat products.

A few other interesting products in the LCW finishing line include DuraFill and DuraCoat Texturing. DuraFill is applied over areas with imperfections like pitted metal or rough wood and can be built up before being finished with DuraCoat for a smooth finish. DuraCoat Texturing can be used to texture stocks and pistol grips and may be used in conjunction with the other DuraCoat products as well.

Summary

With a starting cost of $49.95 on the LCW EZ Finishing Kit, almost everyone who owns a gun can afford to upgrade or update it without dipping too far into the ammo fund. The number of color and design combinations are endless, and are only limited by the imagination of the applicator. The system is simple and easy to apply and the time necessary to complete a project can be broken into several parts or completed right away if desired. The complete packages are made up of everything necessary from the airbrushes to the templates and the instructions are easy to follow. All the creativity necessary is the desire to have a new look and LCW has thought of the rest. I highly recommend the DuraCoat Gun Finish to anyone who is interested in taking on a small task with the possibility of exceptional results.

Lauer Custom Weaponry
Dept. SAR 3601 129th Street Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 Phone: (800) 830-6677 Fax: (715) 723-2950 www.lauerweaponry.com

SIGARMS Introduces Their New SIG 556 Rifle

No other semi-automatic rifle has captured the imagination of the shooting public like the SIG 550 series rifle. For years this legendary Swiss made rifle has been restricted to law enforcement and military sales where it has continuously built on its reputation for outstanding performance, accuracy and durability. Now, SIGARMS has announced that the time has come for a U.S. made version and introduces the new SIG 556. The SIG 556 features the same high-performance two position adjustable gas piston operating rod system engineered by SIG’s sister company Swiss Arms and marries it to a trigger housing that not only cuts the rifle’s weight by a pound but is designed to accept standard AR magazines. Originally developed to work under the extreme situational pressures and environmental conditions of the Swiss Army on Alpine duty, the new SIG 556 delivers when it counts regardless of ammunition type and variances in gas pressure or case material. The SIG 556 features a 16-inch military grade cold hammer forged barrel with a twist rate of 1 in 9 inches. The barrel is locked to the steel receiver through a unique system that allows the user to easily change out the barrel. The forearm housing the gas operating system is a vented non-slip polymer featuring the SIG TriRail design with three integrated Picatinny rails for mounting accessories. There is a forward mount for right or left side sling attachment. The flip up front combat sight is adjustable for windage and elevation. The Picatinny rail equipped receiver is made of high strength carbon steel with a durable wear-resistant Nitron X rifle finish. The trigger housing is made from a heat treated aircraft grade aluminum alloy with a hard-coat anodized finish designed to survive extreme conditions. The rifle comes equipped with a smooth two-stage trigger. The SIG 556 also features an ambidextrous safety and is designed to accept standard AR magazines. A rugged 30-round polymer magazine is supplied with each rifle. Spare battery compartments are provided in the ergonomically designed pistol grip as well as the rubber padded watertight adjustable butt stock. The buttstock also offers sling attachment points. In addition to the standard model SIG 556, SIGARMS will also offer a SIG 556 L featuring a longer forearm but also equipped with the 16-inch barrel. The 556 L will be ideal for upgrading to the 20-inch barrel for more precision oriented shooting. The third model planned for 2006 is the SIG 556 SWAT. The SWAT model will feature the same compact design of the standard SIG 556 with 16-inch barrel but will feature a flat top Picatinny railed receiver and a tactical quad rail. These three rifles are the first of several new SIG 556 models that are currently in development at SIGARMS. The new U.S. made SIG 556 will begin to ship in late summer of 2006. For more information please contact SIGARMS, Inc., Dept. SAR, 18 Industrial Drive, Exeter, NH 03833. Phone: (603) 772-2302. Fax: (603) 772-9082.

New M16 A2 Stock from Keng’s Firearms Specialty

A new stock for the M16 A2 is now available from Keng’s Firearms Specialty, Inc. The stock has a sealed compartment for storing a loaded back-up 20-round magazine for use in emergency situations. The 20-round magazine is accessed by pulling down a lever on the buttplate and then rotating the buttplate counter-clockwise. The magazine is then released by pushing a standard M16 magazine release bottom located in the left side of the stock itself. There is a hidden spring in the compartment that helps “push” the magazine out of the recess. The stock’s length-of-pull is the same as that of a standard A2 buttstock and the new stock also has an opaque window through which the magazine can be seen. The inside of the compartment is bright yellow and, if there is no magazine inside the compartment, will serve to remind the shooter to put a loaded 20-round magazine back in place. The new stock is made from 30% glass-fiber reinforced material for added strength and durability. Availability will be late summer. For more information please contact Keng’s Firearms Specialty, Inc., Dept. SAR, 875 Wharton Drive, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30336. Phone: (404) 691-7611. Fax: (404) 505-8445. They can be found on the web at www.versapod.com.

New Colors and Templates from Lauer Custom Weaponry

Lauer Custom Weaponry, long known for their excellent DuraCoat products, have now introduced several new colors as well as new peel & stick templates to help refinish weapons of all types. One of the striking new colors and templates is called the Diamond Plate. The finished product makes the weapon look as if it is made of aluminum tread brite; the same color as a tool box that you would see in the back of a truck. The new “color” gives the host weapon a true 3-D look, as if the Diamond Plate material was actually formed in a weapon. The new Diamond Plate design is actually three different designs that are put on in layers with the help of Lauer’s Peel & Spray templates. Lauer now also has colors and templates available for the new Army Digital Camo as well as Black Oxide, Titanium and even colors that makes your weapon look as though is it the offspring of a Bengal Tiger. Their DuraCoat coatings can be applied with an airbrush, can be baked or not, and give outstanding results with minimal expense and expertise. Lauer even has complete kits which include paint colors, templates, airbrush and an instructional DVD. For more information please contact them at Lauer Custom Weaponry, 3601 129th Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729. Phone: (715) 723-6861. Fax: (715) 723-2950. You can also view the colors on actual weapons at www.lauerweaponry.com.

New Spec-Ops Sniper Rifle Stock from Knoxx Industries

Knoxx Industries, LLC have just released their new Spec-Ops Sniper Rifle Stock. This stock adds to a list of other remarkable recoil-reducing stocks from this California company. This new stock is based on their tried and true Spec-Ops recoil reducing mechanism that tames recoil dramatically. The design and development of their Spec-Ops shotgun stocks have led the way for this new line of rifle stocks. The new stocks have a dramatic look and feature a new billet aluminum CNC-milled forearm. With a fully floated barrel and high tolerance machining, accuracy with these new stocks is said to be nothing short of fabulous. The first stocks will be available for the Remington 700 short and long actions and they will be adding Winchester, Weatherby/Howa 1500, Savage and Mauser stocks as quickly as they can be digitized and programmed into their milling machines. The new Spec-Ops Sniper stock makes a .308 feel like you’re shooing a .22 long rifle and a .375 H&H Magnum feels like a .22-250. An added feature of the new stocks is that the length of pull can be adjusted to fit anyone. For more information on these innovative new stocks, please contact Knoxx Industries, LLC, Dept. SAR, P.O. Box 2848, Paso Robles, CA 93447. Phone: (805) 227-4099. Fax: (805) 238-2069. Their website is www.knoxx.com.

ArmaLite AR-18/180 Extended Scope Mount from StormWerkz

StormWerkz has now added an extended version of its popular AR-18/180 scope mount to their line of firearm upgrades. The StormWerkz brand scope mount for ArmaLite AR-18 and AR-180 rifles utilize the military standard M1913 Picatinny rail. Both Weaver and Picatinny rings and adapters will fit this mount. The mount fits all AR-18 and AR-180 rifles, carbines and machine guns regardless of date of manufacture. The mount body is completely CNC machined from 6061 T6511 aluminum bar-stock and then anodized matte black. All of the sub-components are stainless steel for maximum corrosion resistance. For more on this new scope mount as well as other accessories for the AR-18/180 and Daewoo line of rifles, please contact StormWerkz, Dept. SAR, 408 15th Ave. East, Superior, WI 54880. Phone: (218) 349-6175. They can be found on the web at www.stormwerkz.com.