I want to paint my magazines

[1rudeboy]

Specifically, handgun magazines. Just the bottom, so I can more easily identify what ammo they contain. FMJ vs. JHP, that kind of stuff.

Anyone done this? What sort of paint should I use? I'm worried about the oils and solvents that will come in contact. Not too worried about flaking, as it will happen anyway . . . but I don't feel like repainting often.

Is this even possible? Or should I go with colored tape? Any better ideas?

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

It might be easier to get a colouring book than to colour your magazines, this will make them harder to read. Johnny says that you can paint one fuscia with saffron stripes. He says that you may paint one a solid teal and another may be painted perwinkle with azure in a houndstooth design. They would look special, good enough to display on a coffee table or use for a hat!

(Sarc.) Sorry, I cound not resist.

[gettinolder]

Paint Pens work well for me.

Specifically "Super Met-Al Squeeze Action Marker" in yellow....

[tumblindice]

Get some of that rubber (vinyl?) in a can. I’ve only seen red and black.
I dip pliers handles in it, my ‘tire knockers’ handles, brass knucks and other things.

I just look at the first cartridge in the magazine, but sounds like an interesting project.
You know how to remove the base-plate? Maybe powder-coating. You can pick that stuff up cheep at Harbor Freight.

[Last Dakotan]

Paint markers

http://www.mcmaster.com/#paint-markers/=mifwnr

[Greysard]

IMO, you don't want to paint magazines, for several reasons.

First, you must be able to easily move tags between magazines, unless you have way too many empty magazines and can always use the properly marked ones.

Second, you should be able to read the tag by touch. This is important in low light situation, like when a home invasion is in progress at 3am. This is also important when you need to pull the proper magazine from where it is, without looking.

Third, magazines - as many parts of many firearms - have light-absorbing coating. If you use magazine pouches on the belt, the bottoms of magazines are exposed. If they are painted with sufficiently bright color, they will be better visible to other people. If you are geared up then probably this is not what you want.

Fourth, the paint probably will not ruin the feeding from the magazine, but are you willing to risk something that is very important to you to test that theory?

If you want to get fancy, get a few BBs and a few rolls of colored electrical tape. Put one, two or three BBs under the tape. Alternatively, punch one, two or three holes in the tape (so that you can count them by touch.) But most people, who are not professionally employed as US Navy SEALs, would do just fine with paper-based masking tape.

That said, fifth - once you learn your coding system you will want to maintain it. This means that any new magazine that you acquire should be quickly marked. Painting is not something that you can do anywhere; but the handyman's secret weapon - the duct tape - and a few small pebbles will get you going anywhere.

[martin_fierro]

[Organic Panic]

Hydrographics. You can find a local shop and take one mag base and ask if he can coat the base with something another customer is already using. I do that with our local hydrographic guy for a nominal fee since he is already set up.

[VanShuyten]

“Finger nail polish”

After reading all the worried advise here, pink nail polish is probably the best. (snark, snark)

[American in Israel]

color code with electrical tape. It comes in all colors. Use 3M brand, type 35. Does not get gummy.

[riverrunner]

Personally I just look at the top of the mag and see what ammo is in it.

[trebb]

Different colors of nail polish to denote the info 9need to remember it, but keep it simple). Fairly cheap and durable as all you need is enough color to be recognizable.

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Ever notice how much Dzhokhar Tsarnaev looks like young Bob Dylan?