Battleworn Bronze Spartan AR-15 Duracoat Project 

Thanks, Martin! Duracoat makes several shades of Bronze in their “Metal Collection,” but personally, I think “Sunrise Bronze” looks the best. Have a great day 👍🏼

Thanks, Matt!

Thanks! I had a lot of fun with this project. She’s a smooth shooter, and an absolute tack-driver. Thanks again, for the kind words 😎

Portal produced it - Thanks! I appreciate that! Hope you are doing well... I’ve been putting together another pistol painting vid this week, should drop hopefully tomorrow 🇺🇸

Johnny Shepherd - Thanks!

Thanks, Warren!

Thanks!

Thanks, Chris! I’ve changed the look of this poor rifle about 7 times. It started out as just a basic, black, flat-top, M4-pattern AR (except for it’s leftiness). I had a lot of fun with this project 😎

@BigSil48 - You’re welcome! Hope you enjoyed.... Have a safe & happy Independence Day!!! 💥🇺🇸🎆🇺🇸🎇

Thanks! It looks really good in person, video doesn’t do it justice.

@steve bliss - Hi, Steve.. Great question.. I believe Duracoat says that just one 4oz bottle is enough for 1-2 long guns, or 3-4 handguns.. and I would agree.. If you’re just painting the upper & lower receivers, and maybe the handguard, the 4oz bottle should be plenty enough to do 2-3 coats on the aforementioned parts, and maybe even some extra to do a few mags. It goes on real thin, so a little bit goes a long way. Just go real light on the first coat or two. If you miss a few spots, don’t sweat it, you’ll get them on the next pass. Also, try to be as consistent as possible with your 12:1 mixing ratio with the hardener. Too much hardener can make it appear a bit glossy, too little can give a matte appearance. Whichever hue of bronze you went with, I’m sure it will look awesome. Good choice.. I always get lots of compliments at the range. Good luck!!

Good Morning, Scott...for detailed/ fine work.. This one has served me nicely: PointZero Dual-Action 7cc Gravity-Feed Airbrush 3 Tip Set (.2mm .3mm .5mm) www.amazon.com/dp/B004KNHGG4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HbwWEbK2FSDHF

@fivevibez - “What is your profession..?”

Hi, Kale- Lefty ARs are not technically “necessary,” but are instead simply a “Niche” feature for lefties. It allows spent brass to be ejected away from the shooter’s face, thus actually making it safer. Required components, other than the obvious (ambi-safety, charging handle) would be a left-hand ejection upper receiver, and a left-hand Bolt/ BCG. (when looking at the bolt-face, the ejector is in the 2 o’clock position, instead of the 10 o’clock position). All other components can be standard. On lefty upper receivers with an ejection dust cover, they are designed to flip “upwards” so as not to impede access to the bolt-catch paddle on the left side. Any custom-printed dust covers would have to be printed upside-down to be displayed correctly. LEOarmory.com makes custom dust covers, and accommodated my request for my Woodland Riptile 300BLK project (on my channel). Some lefty uppers, like the billet lefty upper by CMT (Cross Machine Tool) use no dust cover at all.. I used one for this Riptile build: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-f7Eyv578uYw.html

Gravity feed Airbrush, by PointZero. 😎

Thanks… Is it due to it being a left-hand ejector, or the cringe Spartan art? I’ve had comments on both 😂 Ironically, I’ve been considering covering up some of the Spartan art soon, just as a “airbrushing experiment”

The left side ejection port. The spartan stuff is ok.

@@c.a.gregor1128 - the only true lefty parts required for a lefty AR are just the Lefty upper receiver, and a Lefty BCG. Everything else is “normal.” Ambi-safety & Charging handle as well. The only other anomaly is that the ejection port cover flips “upwards,” in lieu of “downwards.”

For this project, I had used “Sunrise Bronze” (MC7), from Duracoat’s Metal Collection. They make about 3-4 hues of bronze, so Cerakote Burnt Bronze might be a touch darker.

Hi, Bryce - This 13” free-float handguard is made by Stoner. I know I picked it up from MidwayUSA, but it looks like this exact model isn’t on their website currently. The one with this “exact” hash pattern is only available with Keymod holes, and not M-Lok. But there is a very similar style by Stoner, with a slightly different pattern. Still looks amazing, and very easy to install.. check it out here: www.midwayusa.com/product/1020691635

Hey, Bryce - This 13” handguard is VERY close, a bit lighter, and on sale! www.midwayusa.com/product/1020691560

Hi, Devon ~ The color of the Taran Tactical Basepads is what TTI calls “Coyote Bronze.” Duracoat makes approx 6-7 hues of Bronze in their Metal Collection, but “Coyote Bronze” isn’t one of them. “Rustic Bronze,” “Royal Bronze,” or even “Copper” may appear to be close, but one can NEVER rely on “internet color swatches.” I actually bought those TTI base pads over a year after I painted this rifle “Sunrise Bronze,” and I guess I was not initially interested in painting them. I’ll tell you what I’ll do, because this is such a very good question, and my curiosity is now peaked as well, I will be happy to reach out to Duracoat / Lauer Custom Weaponry for you, and I will reply to you on this thread with whatever their answer is regarding a good match for TTI’s Coyote Bronze. Thanks!

@@p99shooter I appreciate that very much! I also used this as a reference and sent it to them and asked if they knew which bronze would be a good match. Hopefully they get to either of us relatively soon, my first AR kit arrives this week and im more than excited to get it painted and put together! Also, i really love the weathering you did to yours in this video. I might try to use your methods on mine in the future

Devon Nyers - Sounds good! My advice would be to take your time, don’t rush it, and just enjoy the process! In terms of the distressing, it almost seems counter-intuitive to puff matte-black paint onto all of the divots and hard edges of your brand new fully cured paint job... But trust me, within an hour, start gently wiping off that black with the steel wool, and the results will amaze you. I didn’t film it, but I just did the same technique on my new Palmetto AK with the Magpul Stealth Gray furniture, and it looks SICK 😎👍🏼

Devon Nyers - Hi. Devon.. I heard back from Duracoat. They feel that their “Rustic Bronze” is pretty close to TTI’s “Coyote Bronze.” Hope that helps

Man do I appreciate the effort and hard work but im a gold guy all the way so I feel like u just ruined a already amazing gun lol

Mike B - Thanks! And no, I have no interest in the A51 Flash mob 👽🛸, haha...(or any mob, for that matter) 😄

@Siegfired 10xx - Thanks! 🙂🇺🇸

No, Sir.. not really necessary in my opinion.. you’re always gonna get a little wear, like on the deflector block next to the ejection port, etc. it’s a bit cliché, but the finish seems to get better with age, like a fine wine. The Riptile lefty AR that I did on my channel, almost has a ceramic-like quality.

@p99shooter ya I see what you mean. I ordered "Royal Bronze"

@@ThunderousCacophony - excellent choice, that’s a beautiful color 🫡

Airbrush style used was a “Point-Zero gravity feed.” (Just NOW got the notification on this..) RU-vid hijinx 🤨

@@p99shooter looks great

@@p99shooter what size needle did you use in the airbrush?

@@michaelthrelkeld212 - I believe it was the medium-sized tip. They usually come with three needles:. .2mm/ .3mm/ .5 mm. Always take great care to never bump the tip on anything. The tip is so fine, that if you looked at it under a microscope after bumping it, it would look like the tip of a knitting needle, and will totally screw up the spray effect.

Great color choice! Just take your time, enjoy the process, have fun!

Hi, Andrew ~ Good catch. That is a +5 round PMAG extender by TTI. (Taran Tactical Innovations) owned by Taran Butler. Professional competition shooter, and trainer. Keanu for John Wick, among others 😈 The color on this one is called Coyote Bronze. Beautiful color, but they do make others.. Installation only takes about 1 minute.. In addition to the obvious addition of +5 rds, the little bit of extra weight aids mag ejection. I have some on my Glock mags, as well. HIGHLY recommend these. Fantastic quality and finish. Here’s a link: tarantacticalinnovations.com/5-6-base-pad-for-ar-15-223-30-40-round-pmag-magazines/

Thank you for letting me know I appreciate it sick gun I have a similar one love the color keep it up

@@andrewshtadler8439 - Thanks! I have another Duracoat project video in progress right now.. Tungsten Gray is the color.. should be done soon.. you’re the first to hear of it ☝🏼😎

@@andrewshtadler8439 if you're already painting the gun, and you want a extended base plate, just buy the black one and paint it when you paint the rifle. That way the color will be the same.

@@p99shooter Looking for the Tungsten Gray video. Getting ready to do a Glock in that color from Duracoat. Was hoping to see your project. This one looks great.

Hi, Josh~ the main color is “Sunrise Bronze” (MC7). You will find this color in the “metal collection” in Duracoat’s catalog of colors. Shading & distressing was done with “Matte Black” (#4). 😎👍🏼

Thanks, Ellis! Base coat is “Sunrise Bronze,” (#MC7) From Duracoat’s Metal Collection. Shading/ distressing is done with Matte Black (#4).

@@p99shooter do they do this colour in cerakote?

@@elliswenborne - Not sure about this exact color in Cerakote, but I AM aware of at least 3 Cerakote shades of bronze: Tequila Bronze, Midnight Bronze and Burnt Bronze.. any of which would look AWESOME

@@p99shooter okay thank you! You’re an absolute legend!!!

Brent Mack - I am so flattered to be asked.. But I’m in Michigan. Just a hobbyist, not certified to do the work via mail..

@@p99shooter understand. You could make a ton of$ you are very talented. How long did you let the black flash off before you sand and did you clear or is that just better light at the end that makes it pop? Looks like I'll have to try to copy your amazing work. I have the sig 1911 spartan and it needs a mate

Sorry to piggy back your comment, Nice, where in Michigan are you? I am in White Lake

Hmmmm..🤔 Perhaps it’s the “lighting” on this vid. Could use some improvement on my end. Duracoat DOES make a few other hues in the “Bronze family” of their Metal Collection. You could always go over it with another color, or tone it back with some Matte Black on the raised spots, then do some mild distressing with soft steel wool as I did in this vid.. I was afraid to try it, but it looks really nice in person!

www.FreedomStencils.com (for these stencils) www.predatorink.com (for even more stencils) Predator Ink does great work, also. He can even design custom stencils. Just email him your ideas!

Robert Barton - Thank you very much! There are 2 options. If you have an airbrushing kit, you can buy the paint in little 4 or 8oz bottles, and they’ll include little mini-bottles of the epoxy hardener. Additionally, they also sell the paint/ hardener in a kit that also includes a one-off aerosol sprayer, which is just fine for one solid color. (That’s actually how I did this rifle) An airbrush is required for fine/detailed work. This color is from Duracoat’s Metal Collection, in which there are a few hues of Bronze to choose from. This one is ‘Sunrise Bronze” (MC7) www.duracoatfirearmfinishes.com/products/duracoat-standard-colors-metallics

@@p99shooter thanks man!

Very nice was the aerosol can easy to use? What did you use for prep I wanna paint my Ar9 tungsten from the duracoat website

I’m not sure I’m understanding what you mean regarding “backwards.”

E. Lundbom - Thanks, I appreciate the comment.. And yes, you are 100% correct, Spartan society was indeed particularly cruel. Especially to many of their own people. History doesn’t always tell the truth, or the whole story. Today’s pop-culture tends to glorify their warrior ethos/ spirit, whilst skipping over the dark side of their societal cruelty. That being said, my intention was never to honor the shortcomings of their societal cruelty, but to simply honor their defiance against those whom came to destroy/ conquer them. ~ p99shooter To those reading this whom would enjoy a sort of cliff-notes version of their history, I highly recommend checking out the story of the 300 Spartans on the RU-vid channel called: “History Buffs.” A young man by the name of Nick Hodges critiques the historical truths & inaccuracies of modern film in a very entertaining manner. Thoroughly enjoyable..😎

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HXZt-IlClhs.html

Very nice looking rifle. One of the parts of shooting is appearance. Many make fun of that, but there is nothing wrong with making something unique to suits your taste. We cannot ALWAYS be shooting our weapons, but we CAN look and admire them. That too, is rewarding.

They weren't any different than any other society thousands of years ago. It wasn't a time that you could go into the cry closet when work gets too rough, or whine about someone having an offensive Halloween costume, or get any of the other coddling that happens now; especially in Europe. It was a warrior society, that did bad things, that they had to do. Again, just like any other culture of the time.

Ralph Toribio - ¡Muchas gracias! ¡Y gracias por suscribirte también! 😎👍🏼

Kilo Meter - appreciate the feedback.. aside from the spartan stenciling, what did you think of the distressing technique? Or do you prefer a crisp, clean solid color?

@@p99shooter overall looks great, Its a pretty rifle, I'm not a big fan of the spartan stencil personally to me its a worn out trend. But if you like it go for it, it looks great!