Post by will on Mar 14, 2012 15:34:35 GMT -8
Don't know if any of you folks have seen a hydro-dipped ARs yet, but I decided to go that direction instead of painting it. You can get info on hydro-dipping here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrographics_(printing).
I have two BHW LH AR uppers and two BHW barrels (middy 5.56 & 6x45) and had them, along with a lower, dipped in a pattern called A-TACS www.a-tacs.com/ to fit in with the semi-arid area we have in Eastern Washington. It took roughly 4 weeks for the Liquid Transformations liquidtransformations.com/ and then I put the whole thing back together again. You're seeing the 5.56x45 here.
UPPER - BHW 16" middy 5.56 barrel, Samson Evolution 11" hand guard, Trijicon TA-33 ACOG, Magpul front BUIS, MATECH rear BUIS, Ares Armor EFFIN-A Compensator
LOWER - S&W M&P 15 receiver, Magpul CTR stock, Magpul MIAD grip & Geissele SSA trigger, Ares Armor Amentum Sling
PROS - A polymer coating that you no longer have to oil - just wipe it down with a wet cloth and you're good to go (mine has 2 coats of PPG cleat matte sealer on it). Can be media blasted off if you want to return it to original (or coat it again). There are a billion(!) different patterns available so you can find one to fit your area or likes (except desert MARPAT- darn those Marines for not licensing their camo!). Looks really cool when finished.
CONS - Coverage for tight or complex areas can either gum up the area or be nonexistent. Can chip off if abused too much. Actually adds a thickness to the gun (I had to trim off pattern where the inside lower meets inside upper or the rear take-down pin wouldn't seat. I also had to manually ream out trigger/takedown holes to fit the pins back in). Can stretch during application resulting in a warped image (mine was done quite well, but I've seen bad dips)
All in all, a neat experience and a cool looking gun. Also, while this doesn't worry me too much, it does remove some of the stigma of hunting with a "evil black rifle". I build the 6x45 so I could deer hunt with it in WA and the look of a EBR in a hunting area might concern some folks. It's also a great pattern so that when I'm hunting coyotes with the 5.56 it will help me blend in a bit better.
I have two BHW LH AR uppers and two BHW barrels (middy 5.56 & 6x45) and had them, along with a lower, dipped in a pattern called A-TACS www.a-tacs.com/ to fit in with the semi-arid area we have in Eastern Washington. It took roughly 4 weeks for the Liquid Transformations liquidtransformations.com/ and then I put the whole thing back together again. You're seeing the 5.56x45 here.
UPPER - BHW 16" middy 5.56 barrel, Samson Evolution 11" hand guard, Trijicon TA-33 ACOG, Magpul front BUIS, MATECH rear BUIS, Ares Armor EFFIN-A Compensator
LOWER - S&W M&P 15 receiver, Magpul CTR stock, Magpul MIAD grip & Geissele SSA trigger, Ares Armor Amentum Sling
PROS - A polymer coating that you no longer have to oil - just wipe it down with a wet cloth and you're good to go (mine has 2 coats of PPG cleat matte sealer on it). Can be media blasted off if you want to return it to original (or coat it again). There are a billion(!) different patterns available so you can find one to fit your area or likes (except desert MARPAT- darn those Marines for not licensing their camo!). Looks really cool when finished.
CONS - Coverage for tight or complex areas can either gum up the area or be nonexistent. Can chip off if abused too much. Actually adds a thickness to the gun (I had to trim off pattern where the inside lower meets inside upper or the rear take-down pin wouldn't seat. I also had to manually ream out trigger/takedown holes to fit the pins back in). Can stretch during application resulting in a warped image (mine was done quite well, but I've seen bad dips)
All in all, a neat experience and a cool looking gun. Also, while this doesn't worry me too much, it does remove some of the stigma of hunting with a "evil black rifle". I build the 6x45 so I could deer hunt with it in WA and the look of a EBR in a hunting area might concern some folks. It's also a great pattern so that when I'm hunting coyotes with the 5.56 it will help me blend in a bit better.
Looks amaizing.....(Green with envy)
