Re: Do you have to blue before paint?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AZPrecision</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Bluing is a controled rust. IMO it's old technology and seems to be fading away with coatings like duracoat and Cerakote becoming so widely used.
As said above, just paint away. If it's chromoly and you leave it bare, it'll rust
Keith </div></div>
In tactical terms it's old tech, but for an elegant rifle with a fine piece of wood, there's nothing quite as beautiful IMO.
It's an Fe2+ state, hence the blue/black color. It's significantly tougher than the Fe3+ "red rust" we all associate with damage.
No you dont have to blue, if you do, the rifle is less likely to rust or be damaged when the paint begins to flake.