It makes no sense to issue uniforms that conceal a soldier, and then issue the same soldier a black M4 whose shape an enemy can easily spot. U.S. Army soldiers are (without permission) painting their weapons to blend into the environments of Afghanistan and Iraq, but some have gummed up their weapons by spraying paint into mechanical parts. Early this year, the Army issued the first formal, detailed guidelines on how to paint a rifle. "There is no doubt that weapons painting is about to be elevated to a fine art," reads a shortened version of the guidelines, created by Program Executive Office Soldier. "Anyone who has spent time in theater knows that some units haven't waited for a formal policy to allow troopers to camouflage their weapons with paint. Some of the results have been impressive, while some results have been mixed. The bottom line, however, is that it's more important that a weapon be functional, than 'invisible.'"

Step 1: Clean

Remove all the oil, grime and dirt so the paint sticks. Anything attached to the rifle needs to be removed—the bolt, bolt carrier assembly and charging handle included. To properly clean an M4 or M-16, the Army issues a dry cleaning fluid that is flammable and toxic, requiring troops to wear chemical gloves, an apron and eye protection.

Step 2: Tape

All moving parts need to be protected from paint: the safety, magazine release button, magazine catch and forward assist. For the Army, identifying the weapon is a priority, so the guidelines demand that soldiers leave all serial number and model numbers taped during painting. Plug the barrel with a foam ear plug to protect it from paint.

Step 3: Paint

Paint in color schemes from light to dark. Spray from about 6 to 8 inches away from the weapon to lightly dust the gun. In some environments, it makes sense to layer local foliage or grasses on the weapon and paint around them to leave a natural-looking pattern. Painting the barrel is a waste of time—heat during firing will burn off the paint. Insert the magazine and paint the exposed part.

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