Gun Paint Planner·Updated September 28, 2026

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Rattle Can Guns: Rattlecanned AR-15, AR-10, AR-9, AK, Glock, Pistol and Shotgun Ideas

Rattle can guns online before you spray. Paint, stencil and camo a real photo of about 1,800 guns: AR-15s, AR-10s, AR-9s, AKs, every Glock, pistols, shotguns and bolt action rifles, the way the rattlecanned guns on r/rattlecannedguns are done, with Krylon, Rust-Oleum, Aluma-Hyde, DuraCoat and Cerakote colors, then get the cans to buy in spray order.

Rattle can guns online before you spray

Start from a pattern or strip it and paint your own with a spray can, a brush, stamps and stencil sheets. Everything lands on a real photo, so the paint picks up the light and the texture of the parts.

Rattle can Tiger Stripe AR-15 paint job, painted in Krylon camo colors
Loading the AR-15...

Community

Rattlecanned guns leaderboard

Paint jobs people made in the planner. Vote the best up, or submit your own.

Gun paint ideas for every gun: rattle can camo and stencils

Every pattern opens on the gun above, ready to repaint in your colors.

Gun skins from games: CS2, Call of Duty and Fortnite

Asiimov, Hyper Beast, Dark Matter and the rest, painted with real spray cans on a real AR-15, AK-47 and Glock.

Rattle can camo patterns and where they came from

M81 woodland, tiger stripe, chocolate chip, flecktarn and splinter: the history of each and the cans to paint it.

Gun color ideas and Cerakote color schemes

The shop sprayed finish most people ask for. All 262 Cerakote shop colors are in the gun finish paints, so pick one and paint it on the photo to see it on your gun.

  • H-146 Graphite Black
  • H-190 Armor Black
  • H-234 Sniper Grey
  • H-199 Desert Sand
  • H-235 Coyote Tan
  • H-265 Flat Dark Earth
  • H-267 Magpul FDE
  • H-236 O.D. Green
  • H-148 Burnt Bronze
  • H-237 Tungsten

Every Cerakote color

Blacks (18)
  • H-109 Gloss Black
  • H-111 Sumi Black
  • H-146 Graphite Black
  • H-190 Armor Black
  • E-100 Blackout
  • E-110 Midnight
  • F-102 Carbon Black
  • F-104 Black Shadow
  • F-110 Black Ink
  • C-102 Graphite Black
  • C-138 Jet Black
  • C-192 Armor Black
  • HIR-146 Gen II Graphite Black
  • V-166 Cobra Black
  • V-169 Jet Black
  • P-202 Arctic Black
  • LR-100 LR Black
  • BRC-102 Bio Rad Black
Grays (28)
  • H-130 Combat Grey
  • H-139 Steel Grey
  • H-184 Glock Grey
  • H-188 Magpul Stealth Grey
  • H-210 SIG Dark Grey
  • H-213 Battleship Grey
  • H-214 Bull Shark Grey
  • H-219 Gun Metal Grey
  • H-227 Tactical Grey
  • H-234 Sniper Grey
  • H-262 Stone Grey
  • H-295 Cobalt Kinetics Slate
  • H-304 Springfield Grey
  • H-315 Northern Lights
  • H-345 MultiCam Dark Grey
  • H-402 Jesse James Cold War Grey
  • E-120 Smoke
  • E-160 Concrete
  • E-240 Carbon Grey
  • E-290 Storm
  • F-103 Slate
  • F-109 Storm
  • F-118 Shale
  • C-209 SIG Dark Grey
  • C-219 Gun Metal Grey
  • C-228 Tactical Grey
  • C-239 Sniper Grey
  • C-187 Transfer Grey
Whites (8)
  • H-136 Snow White
  • H-140 Bright White
  • H-242 Hidden White
  • H-297 Stormtrooper White
  • F-125 Arctic White
  • C-140 Bright White
  • C-242 Hidden White
  • S-140 High Temp White
Tans (30)
  • H-142 Light Sand
  • H-143 Benelli Sand
  • H-199 Desert Sand
  • H-203 McMillan Tan
  • H-235 Coyote Tan
  • H-250 A.I. Dark Earth
  • H-261 Glock FDE
  • H-265 Flat Dark Earth
  • H-267 Magpul FDE
  • H-268 Troy Coyote Tan
  • H-305 Springfield FDE
  • H-344 MultiCam Olive
  • H-30118 FS Field Drab
  • H-30372 FS Brown Sand
  • H-33446 FS Sabre Sand
  • E-150 Sand
  • E-170 M17 Coyote Tan
  • E-190 FS 20150
  • E-200 FDE
  • F-106 Flat Dark Earth
  • F-114 M17 Coyote Tan
  • F-115 FS 20150
  • C-190 20150 Coyote
  • C-211 Desert Sand
  • C-240 Coyote Tan
  • C-246 Flat Dark Earth
  • C-267 Magpul FDE
  • C-30118 FS Field Drab
  • FIR-265 Flat Dark Earth
  • HIR-199 Gen II Desert Sand
Browns (12)
  • H-187 Noveske Tiger Eye Brown
  • H-212 Federal Brown
  • H-225 Mud Brown
  • H-226 Patriot Brown
  • H-258 Chocolate Brown
  • H-269 Barrett Brown
  • H-298 Plum Brown
  • H-342 MultiCam Dark Brown
  • E-130 Earth
  • F-113 Badlands
  • C-226 Patriot Brown
  • HIR-265 Gen II Flat Dark Earth
Greens (39)
  • H-168 Zombie Green
  • H-189 Noveske Bazooka Green
  • H-200 Highland Green
  • H-204 Hazel Green
  • H-229 Sniper Green
  • H-231 Magpul Foliage Green
  • H-232 Magpul O.D. Green
  • H-236 O.D. Green
  • H-240 Mil Spec O.D. Green
  • H-247 Desert Sage
  • H-248 Forest Green
  • H-256 Desert Verde
  • H-264 Mil Spec Green
  • H-296 Cobalt Kinetics Green
  • H-316 Squatch Green
  • H-331 Parakeet Green
  • H-338 Charcoal Green
  • H-339 MultiCam Pale Green
  • H-340 MultiCam Light Green
  • H-341 MultiCam Dark Green
  • H-343 MultiCam Bright Green
  • H-351 Green Mamba
  • H-353 Island Green
  • H-360 Crocodile
  • H-400 Jesse James Eastern Front Green
  • H-34094 FS Green
  • E-140 Jungle
  • E-210 Moss
  • F-105 O.D. Green
  • F-107 Foliage Green
  • F-119 Magpul O.D. Green
  • F-120 Shamrock
  • C-215 Highland Green
  • C-231 Magpul Foliage Green
  • C-232 Magpul O.D. Green
  • C-241 O.D. Green
  • C-244 Mil Spec O.D. Green
  • H-655 Go Ducks Green
  • HIR-253 Gen II Solid Leaf Green
Blues (19)
  • H-127 Kel-Tec Navy Blue
  • H-169 Sky Blue
  • H-171 NRA Blue
  • H-172 Sea Blue
  • H-175 Robin's Egg Blue
  • H-220 Ridgeway Blue
  • H-238 Midnight Blue
  • H-245 SOCOM Blue
  • H-326 Polar Blue
  • H-329 Blue Raspberry
  • H-349 Aztec Teal
  • H-357 Periwinkle
  • H-362 Patriot Blue
  • H-401 Jesse James Civil Defense Blue
  • F-117 Navy Blue
  • F-121 Bolt Blue
  • C-158 Blue Flame
  • C-297 Aqua Teal
  • C-299 Deep Blue
Reds (10)
  • H-167 USMC Red
  • H-216 Firehouse Red
  • H-221 Crimson
  • H-306 Ruby Red
  • H-318 Habanero Red
  • H-319 Black Cherry
  • H-348 Sangria
  • E-310 Fire
  • C-143 Stoplight Red
  • C-298 Black Cherry
Pinks (5)
  • H-141 Prison Pink
  • H-224 SIG Pink
  • H-244 Bazooka Pink
  • H-321 Blush
  • H-328 Pink Sherbet
Purples (4)
  • H-197 Wild Purple
  • H-217 Bright Purple
  • H-332 Purplexed
  • C-163 Lollypop Purple
Oranges (7)
  • H-128 Hunter Orange
  • H-309 Tequila Sunrise
  • H-322 Blood Orange
  • H-346 Hi-Vis Orange
  • H-8000 RAL 8000
  • F-123 Burnt Orange
  • C-128 Hunter Orange
Yellows (6)
  • H-144 Corvette Yellow
  • H-166 Electric Yellow
  • H-317 Sunflower
  • H-354 Lemon Zest
  • F-122 Yellow Jacket
  • H-656 Go Ducks Yellow
Metals (54)
  • H-112 Cobalt
  • H-122 Gold
  • H-147 Satin Mag
  • H-148 Burnt Bronze
  • H-149 Copper Brown
  • H-150 Savage Stainless
  • H-151 Satin Aluminum
  • H-152 Stainless
  • H-157 Bright Nickel
  • H-158 Shimmer Aluminum
  • H-170 Titanium
  • H-185 Blue Titanium
  • H-237 Tungsten
  • H-255 Crushed Silver
  • H-259 Barrett Bronze
  • H-293 Vortex Bronze
  • H-294 Midnight Bronze
  • H-310 Copper Suede
  • H-311 Pink Champagne
  • H-312 Frost
  • H-314 Crushed Orchid
  • H-320 Cranberry Frost
  • H-327 Rose Gold
  • H-337 Platinum Grey
  • H-347 Copper
  • H-359 Smoked Bronze
  • H-363 Champagne
  • H-375 Black Gold
  • H-376 Fools Gold
  • E-250 Titanium
  • F-108 Bronze
  • F-111 Platinum
  • F-112 Satin Aluminum
  • F-130 Stainless
  • C-105 Titanium
  • C-111 Tungsten
  • C-112 Cobalt
  • C-124 Satin Nickel
  • C-129 Stainless
  • C-148 Burnt Bronze
  • C-189 Blue Titanium
  • C-293 Vortex Bronze
  • C-7300 Black Velvet
  • C-7600 Glacier Black
  • C-7700 Glacier Silver
  • C-7800 Glacier Gold
  • C-7900 Glacier Titanium
  • C-8200 Glacier Forge
  • V-119 Satin Silver
  • V-164 Titanium
  • V-165 Mag Silver
  • V-167 Tungsten
  • V-168 Cobalt
  • V-172 Gold
FX pearls (12)
  • FX-101 Blaze
  • FX-102 Cosmic
  • FX-104 Liberty
  • FX-105 Mystique
  • FX-106 Ranger
  • FX-107 Riot
  • FX-109 Typhoon
  • FX-112 Anthracite
  • FX-113 Gold
  • FX-114 Silver
  • FX-115 Copper
  • FX-117 Mardi Gras
Specialty (10)
  • C-186 Piston Coat
  • V-136 Piston Coat
  • V-139 Titanium Red Piston Coat
  • V-171 Turbine Coat
  • H-900 Electrical Barrier
  • SG-100 Super Grip
  • SG-200 Super Grip Oven Cure
  • C-110 Micro Slick
  • P-109 Micro Slick Oven Cure
  • DFL-200 Dry Film Lubricant

What does rattlecanned mean?

A rattlecanned gun is painted at home with plain aerosol spray paint, the rattle can, instead of a baked shop finish like Cerakote. Flat khaki, earth brown, olive and black over leaves, netting or a stencil is the classic look, and the r/rattlecannedguns subreddit is where most of them end up.

You can rattle can any of them: an AR-15, AR-10 or AR-9, an AK, a Glock or any other pistol slide and frame, a shotgun, or a bolt action hunting rifle. Lay the pattern on a photo of yours above first, then buy the cans it lists.

Why people rattle can their rifles, AKs and pistols

A few cans of flat camo paint cost about as much as a box of ammo, while a professional Cerakote job runs a few hundred dollars. It is also the easiest way to make a rifle look like yours when most ARs leave the factory in the same black anodizing.

Part of it is history. Vietnam era tiger stripe, and the painted Mk12s, Mk18s and M4s carried by special operations units, made a rattle can finish look like a working rifle rather than a range toy. The other part is practical: a black rifle is the darkest thing in the brush, and a broken up pattern hides it.

And if it comes out bad, it comes off with solvent and you spray it again.

How to rattle can a gun, step by step

  1. 1. Strip it down

    On an AR pull the bolt carrier group and split the upper and lower. On an AK take off the dust cover and bolt carrier. On a Glock take the slide off. Remove the optic or plan to tape it.

  2. 2. Degrease everything

    Wipe every outside surface with acetone or isopropyl alcohol. Paint will not hold over gun oil.

  3. 3. Mask what moves

    Plug the chamber and muzzle, tape the ejection port, magazine well, trigger and safety, and cover the optic lenses.

  4. 4. Spray the lightest base

    Two light coats of the lightest color, 8 to 12 inches away, 10 minutes apart. Thin coats stop runs.

  5. 5. Lay the pattern

    Hold leaves, netting or a stencil sheet on the gun and spray the next darker color. Work light to dark and finish with black if the design uses it.

  6. 6. Let it cure

    Handle it after an hour but give it a full day before it goes in a case, and a few days before hard use.

Rattlecanned guns by type: AR-15, AR-10, AR-9, AK, Glock, pistol, shotgun and bolt action

Rattle can AKs

FDE and OD green parts: skip the paint

Want a tan or green gun without painting? These parts ship with a color finish.

FDE lower receiversFDE handguardsOD green stocksFDE pistol grips

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you rattle can a pistol slide?

Yes. Take the slide off and paint it on its own, after a degrease. Keep paint out of the rails, the breech face, the barrel hood and the sight dovetails, and off the slide stop. A polymer frame takes paint after a light scuff; leave the magazine well and the trigger bare.

Can you rattle can a shotgun, an AR-10 or a bolt action rifle?

Yes, the same way as an AR-15. Mask the bore, the chamber, the action and the scope lenses, paint the stock and the outside of the receiver and barrel, and keep paint off a hot barrel's muzzle end. On a bolt gun, pull the bolt and paint the stock off the action if you can.

What does rattlecanned mean?

A rattlecanned gun is one painted at home with ordinary aerosol spray paint, the rattle can, instead of Cerakote or another shop finish. Most are AR-15s, AKs and Glocks in flat camo colors, and the r/rattlecannedguns subreddit is where most of them get posted.

Where can I see rattlecanned guns?

Reddit's r/rattlecannedguns is the biggest collection. The leaderboard on this page shows rattle can paint jobs people planned here first and the community voted up, and every pattern above opens on a real gun photo so you can try it before you spray.

What spray paint is best for a gun?

Flat camouflage aerosols like Krylon Camouflage and Rust-Oleum Specialty Camouflage are what most rattle can jobs use. Gun finish aerosols like Brownells Aluma-Hyde II and DuraCoat are tougher. None is as hard as Cerakote, which a shop sprays and bakes.

Does spray paint hurt an AR-15 or AK?

Not if the working parts are masked. Keep paint out of the bore, chamber, bolt carrier group, trigger group and the inside of the receivers, and off the optic lenses. On an AK, paint the dust cover off the gun so it still seats.

Can you rattle can a Glock?

The polymer frame takes paint well after a scuff and a degrease. Take the slide off and paint it separately, keep paint out of the rails, the barrel hood, the trigger and the slide stop, and leave the magazine well bare.

How do you get paint off a gun later?

Most aerosol camo paint comes off with acetone or a citrus paint stripper and a nylon brush. Test on a hidden spot first and keep strippers away from polymer parts that the solvent can soften.

Can you paint the barrel and muzzle device?

Standard camo paint burns and smokes on a hot barrel and muzzle device. Use a high heat engine or grill paint there, or leave them black. Suppressors need a coating rated for their temperature.

Cite this tool: GunPartPicker, “Rattle Can Guns: Rattlecanned AR-15, AR-10, AR-9, AK, Glock, Pistol and Shotgun Ideas”, https://gunpartpicker.net/gun-paint-planner. Paint colors from the Krylon, Rust-Oleum, Brownells, DuraCoat and Cerakote color charts; gun photos credited under each gun. Free to cite with attribution.

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