Production gun color

[shane8168]

If I were to have my gun cerakoted in some funky color would that meet USPSA specs for production class?

[WidowsSon683]

As long as it doesnt give you a "competitive advantage" you can color it any wierd ass color you want. Of course we all know that neon colors reduce trigger pull by 30%.

Edited April 20, 2014 by WidowsSon683

[Sarge]

Per existing NROI ruling, cosmetically enhancing the

finish of a slide is already ALLOWED in Production

Division, provided that the finish provides no competitive

advantage.

This clause is NOW interpreted to specifically

ALLOW refinishing the frame, as well as the slide,

subject to the existing constraints on refinishing (cosmetic

only, no competitive advantage).

Special Notes/Clarifications:

• Any finish which provides a non-cosmetic function

will be deemed PROHIBITED. For example, a gun

finish which provides a roughened texture in an area

where grip tape is not allowed (Appendix E4) is a

PROHIBITED modification.

[JAFO]

I imagine that might also be questioned if you were to coat a bright stainless finish with a matte color finish, since it could be construed as reducing glare.

[EkuJustice]

You would be fine refinishing a shiny finish to a full one as reducing glare isn't a concern. What's prohibited is adding something like a rough truck bed liner finish to the slide to give you grip on the slide over the slick smooth finish

[okiestovepipe]

I saw a guy at a local club match who had done his M&P in Blue (like a Ring's BlueGun) except the backstrap.

It was very well done, but still kind of weird.

[spanky]

I imagine that might also be questioned if you were to coat a bright stainless finish with a matte color finish, since it could be construed as reducing glare.

I really, really, really doubt that. That's a hell of a stretch.

You would be fine refinishing a shiny finish to a full one as reducing glare isn't a concern. What's prohibited is adding something like a rough truck bed liner finish to the slide to give you grip on the slide over the slick smooth finish

Yeah, that.

[JAFO]

I agree it's a big stretch.

I've always wondered what other competitive advantages (besides texture) could be gained by refinishing. The way they wrote the rule, they list texture as an example, but prohibit any non-cosmetic function. Since it wasn't written only to prohibit texture mods, I guessed that glare reduction might have been something they had in mind. Perhaps a finish pattern that might be considered to aid in sighting, like a contrasting color line between the front and rear sights, would be considered advantageous?

[cnote]

That's a stretch , the Indian needs work, not the arrow. That is unless you like an attractive arrow

[Sarge]

Attractive arrows are what it's all about!

But I still think you may be stretching it a bit. Another advantage would be to paint the mag well so as to aid in inserting mags. That has already been addressed but that looks like it could fit here.

If you can see the frame between your sights you might be shooting a little high?

So it looks like we are back to texture being the likely reason for the rule. I'm sure somebody "painted" over some gritty material on the slide at some point. GAMERS!

[JAFO]

As far as seeing the frame between the sights, I was hypothesizing being able to point shoot on close targets without having to bring the gun all the way up.

Like I said, I was having a hard time thinking of a reason other than texture.

Edited April 23, 2014 by JAFO

[Sarge]

I know.

What does JAFO stand for? I was a scout in the Army and we had JAFO's on our Bradley's.

Just Another Friggin' Observer

[shane8168]

So If I wanted to get some crazy Lime metallic Green diamond plate concoction... where would I start looking for that type of thing?

Anyone have any experience with crazy paint colors on guns?

[Sarge]

Athena Lee used to run a bright yellow Open gun. Probably just google various baked on finishes

[steel1212]

What like those?

[JAFO]

I know.

What does JAFO stand for? I was a scout in the Army and we had JAFO's on our Bradley's.

Just Another Friggin' Observer

Yep. That's what it was for. When I first discovered internet forums, it seemed a good screen name as I was exactly that. A lot of reading without a lot of contributions. I first heard the term in the movie Blue Thunder.

So If I wanted to get some crazy Lime metallic Green diamond plate concoction... where would I start looking for that type of thing?

Anyone have any experience with crazy paint colors on guns?

There is a guy around here who has his Glock painted up like Tigger, all orange and black tiger stripes. It kind of looks like he did it himself with spray paint, though.

[Sarge]

Actually if you keep up with it you can just use good spray paint. There used to be a shooter around here who spray painted everything blue. Gun, holster, pouches, shoes, all blue.

To each his own I guess

[afoulk]

I wonder if leaving the magwell the stock color and finishing the rest of the gun in a contrasting color could be construed as competitive advantage. I'd vote for yes.

[shane8168]

What like those?

What like those?

Kind of... what is the coating on those?

[mpolans]

I agree it's a big stretch.

I've always wondered what other competitive advantages (besides texture) could be gained by refinishing. The way they wrote the rule, they list texture as an example, but prohibit any non-cosmetic function. Since it wasn't written only to prohibit texture mods, I guessed that glare reduction might have been something they had in mind. Perhaps a finish pattern that might be considered to aid in sighting, like a contrasting color line between the front and rear sights, would be considered advantageous?

You might recall the huge controversy when Amidon/NROI ruled that adding White-Out or any other coloring to the inside bottom of the grip would result in a move from Production to Open.

[JAFO]

I do recall that. At the time, I only had an orange dot inside the magwell to remove, so I didn't really think of that as refinishing. But I suppose someone could go so far as to actually attempt to recoat the magwell opening a contrasting color, which would be.

In considering that, would it be considered advantage to refinish the frame of a gun with removable grips in a bright color (e.g., white, blue, green, orange)? Once you replace the grips, which are usually dark in color, you essentially have a brightly colored magwell opening. At least, I would if I refinished a Sig frame like this (courtesy of my poor photo editing skills):

[Skydiver]

This ruling is still in play.

Q: Can I paint a dot or arrow inside the magwell of my production handgun for a reference point and paint an arrow or stripes on my slide to help with alignment?

A: No, a competitor may not paint dots, stripes or anything to help them reload or align sights quicker, cosmetic finishes only as per 21.2a "this clause is now interpreted to specifically allow refinishing the frame as well as the slide, subject to the existing constraints on refinishing (cosmetic only, no competitive advantage). Item 22 also goes on to say that the absence of an item in the list of prohibited modifications may not be construed to mean a modification is allowed. A modification is only allowed in Production Division if there is a rules clause or interpretation which specifically declares that it is allowed.

Edited April 29, 2014 by Skydiver

[JAFO]

So then someone refinishing their frame with a bold/crazy color would need to avoid the magwell opening.

[jonb.]

Can you refinish a barrel? Like tin coating a barrel specifically?

[fishsticks]

So If I wanted to get some crazy Lime metallic Green diamond plate concoction... where would I start looking for that type of thing?

Anyone have any experience with crazy paint colors on guns?

I would guess that shops doing Duracoat or Ceracote could come up with something.