I have a nice leupold scope on my hunting rifle. Hunting season is over so I'm doing a little customization. My problem is that the scope I have is silver, and since its a hunting rifle I have had to keep a scope cover on it. I would really like to paint it black but I have to make it look good. Its about a 700 dollar scope so I dont wanna do a crappy job.

Any suggestions???

Contact Leupold custom shop (see their website) and tell them what you would like. They will do the job for you in a real professional manner.

Welcome to the forum Jorden. Yup, what kdub said. They will even put flames on it if you wish in any color including camo. They can also add target turrets or custom reticles for reasonable costs.

Thanks for the help, I contacted them, they said they wouldn't let me send it in, they only do it before you buy one, any suggestions on how to paint it myself. Just like which kind of paint or something??

Some guys just mask off the stuff they don't want painted and go at it with rattle cans. Pick the paint and masking tape up at Wallyworld. You can use leaves and other stuff as masks.

If you want to get some ideas go over to this forum and do a search on painting. Lots of guys over there doing guns and such. There are also several outfits listed there that do the camo dipping thing. Just send you scope or rifle or anything you want camo'd and select a pattern you like. This runs about a hundred bucks for a scope and 200 or less for a rifle.

Here's the link to check it out.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/

about that instead of painting a stainless, black can you make a high gloss black scope stainless or silver

When I paint a scope I stick several strips of masking tape together to make 2 flat square pieces about 3"x3" and stick these flat to the endbells. I don't worry about the adjustment covers, they're waterproof. You've already adjusted the focus and won't be touching that again...and it's waterproof. For the power adjust ring I cut some 1/8" wide strips and wrap them on either end of the ring for a clean line and then cover the rest of the ring with tape. What you're trying to accomplish is sealing up the joint where the ring moves so that paint won't get in and make it stick. With a silver scope it's a little tricky because now you're left with a big honkin' silver ring...maybe slip a piece of inner tube over it. If this scope lives on a specific gun all the time, leave the rings on and paint them at the same time...that way you're not adding thickness to the tube with paint and the ring won't skid on the paint.

When painting, make very light layers so that the paint won't be liquid enough to seep under the tape. You may need 5,6,7,8 light coats, but it'll be worth the effort. You can touch up the inside of the endbells with a black sharpie...actually, that may be a good idea for the power ring. For paint, I really like the Krylon Ultra Flat paints...cheap at The Walmart. I'd avoid Rustoleum...each coat could take a week to dry! There are also some paints made for guns and bows that is meant to be easily removeable.

Whatever paint you choose, try it out on some cans first to get the feel of it. Also, remember to thoroughly clean your score to get all the little bits of finger grease and cleaning solvents off it first.

Have fun.

i would try to trade your silver scope even up for a matt one if it was me. doesn't hurt to try.