Short answer: there are three routes to a green, FDE or gray AR-15. The easiest is to buy parts in that color: our stores had 793 in-stock parts in FDE or tan and 250 in OD green on 22 October 2026. Cerakote is the durable option: detail strip, degrease, mask, blast with #100 grit, gas out, spray thin coats and bake (250°F for 2 hours for H-Series on metal, per Cerakote). Spray paint is the quick, cheap option: degrease, mask the bore, chamber and moving parts, and follow the can's label.
The three options
Cerakote, step by step
These steps and numbers are from Cerakote's Elite and H-Series training manual. Many builders send parts to a Cerakote applicator rather than buying a blast cabinet, spray gun and oven.
- Detail strip the parts and photograph them. Cerakote suggests a trained professional do the disassembly if you are unsure.
- Degrease everything to be coated.
- Mask and plug anything that should stay bare. Cerakote warns that improper masking of mechanical parts can cause tolerance or function problems, and not to coat parts where that could happen.
- Blast with #100 grit aluminum oxide or garnet at 80 to 100 psi, until the surface is no longer shiny.
- Gas out metal at 300°F for 60 minutes (plastics, polymers and composites at 150 to 180°F).
- Spray H-Series at 20 to 25 psi in thin, even coats. Cerakote's check: a nut should still thread onto a coated test screw.
- Cure: H-Series on metal at 250°F for 2 hours; polymer parts at 150 to 180°F for 2 hours. Start the cure within 1 to 2 hours of spraying.
Spray painting an AR-15
A rattle-can finish is cheap and easy to redo. Field strip the rifle, degrease the outside, mask the bore, chamber, optics and anything that moves, and apply light coats following the paint maker's label. It is not baked on like Cerakote, so expect it to wear at contact points.
The shortcut: factory-colored parts
Stocks, grips, handguards and magazines are molded in FDE, OD green and gray, so you can build a two-tone rifle without any coating. For magazines, see how to dye PMAGs and PMAG generations. Our completed builds show color combinations.
Colored furniture, with today's prices
Lowest price across the stores we track:
Magpul CTR stock, OD green
Pros
- Collapsible mil-spec stock in ODG
Cons
- Mil-spec buffer tube only
ODG stock
Magpul MOE-SL carbine handguard, OD green
Pros
- Drop-in carbine handguard in ODG
Cons
- Carbine length only
ODG handguard
Magpul STR stock, OD green
Pros
- Collapsible stock with storage, ODG
Cons
- Mil-spec buffer tube only
ODG stock
Magpul CTR stock, FDE
Pros
- Collapsible mil-spec stock in FDE
Cons
- Mil-spec buffer tube only
FDE stock
B5 Systems Collapsible Precision Stock, coyote brown
Pros
- Adjustable precision stock in coyote brown
Cons
- Short version on this listing
Coyote stock
BCM Gunfighter KAG angled grip, FDE
Pros
- Angled foregrip in FDE
Cons
- Picatinny mount
FDE grip
Compare stocks, grips and handguards in every color.
Frequently asked questions
Can I Cerakote an AR-15 at home?
Yes, with a blast cabinet, spray gun and an oven that holds 250 to 300°F; many people send parts to an applicator instead.
What temperature does Cerakote cure at?
Cerakote lists 250°F for 2 hours for H-Series on metal, 300°F for 1 hour for Elite on metal, and 150 to 180°F for 2 hours on polymer.
What parts should not be Cerakoted?
Cerakote warns against coating mechanical parts where the coating's thickness could affect tolerance or function; mask the bore, chamber and threads.
Is spray paint OK on an AR-15?
Yes, for looks. Mask the bore, chamber and moving parts; it wears faster than a baked finish.
How do I get a green AR-15 without painting?
Buy OD green furniture: stocks, grips, handguards and magazines come in ODG from makers such as Magpul.
