[Jeff Higgins]

I've never been a fan of paint on firearms. It chips and wears off. Granted, some really like the look offered by a little bit of that kind of wear, just not for me. I prefer finishes that are "in" rather than "on" the material, especially on firearms that will see rough use.

That said, I hunted with a guide in Alaska one time who had painted both the fiberglass stock and the barreled action on his home made '98 Mauser .458 Winchester Magnum. He used Rustoleum on both. He told me he just wire wheeled the whole thing after separating the barreled action from the stock. Did it once a year in the off season. His reasoning was that any "nice" finish got absolutely trashed every season anyway, and this was something he could do at home with readily available materials. I have to say, his rifle did look the business towards the end of the season when I met him.