I'm torn. My rifle that I use in the vintage sniper matches shoots fantastic! But it's UGLY! And I love it! I've had the stock since probably 2011 or so and it's had a two different actions dropped into it over the years. It's a hueygunner carbon fiber/graphite/kevlar stock. They're hard to find. It's probably been bedded 4 times or so. It initially wore a coat of CARC paint, which I was not a fan of. I then painted it with chocolate brown Krylon. It's seen probably 6 hunting seasons in the Oregon wilderness and I've used it as a walking stick to climb up hills while hunting.

My friend, Phil, calls it "the rash" and says the rifle looks like it has leprosy. I don't know. i always saw it as more of an "Ugly Betty" more than anything else.

















I managed to snag another one a few years ago for Wes Howe and somehow, the second one made it's way back to me. I just finished my M25 scout with it and instead of using Krylon to paint it, I used Brownell's Alumahyde II. It came out looking really nice!









Part of my wants to strip Ugly Betty down and give her a new coat of paint and make her new again. But there's something primal in me that likes showing up on match day with a rifle that looks like it came off a bargain bin at a pawn shop and still scoring X's at 600. A sleeper rifle, if you will.

Thoughts?

Tony.

I say leave "Rash RaLue" alone.

I bet it jitters the nerves of others in a match when they see that well handled rifle.

"Beware the man with one gun - he knows how to use it."

You spray painted it? Kudos! Such a masterpiece deserves to preserved!

If it shoots well leave it. I think it looks good!! Been there done that vibe.

Absolutely leave that gun alone. Never mess with something that works. And every scratch and chip on that thing is well earned character. I'd be prouder of a gun like that than a spotless, brand new unfired one.

The character of that rifle has been well earned. I wouldn't touch it.

Another vote for leaving it alone.

Looks fine to me.

You could always sponge camo it and the wear and tear would just blend in.

Refinish it. Life is too short to have an ugly rifle.

I'm in the "sleeper" camp. I dig it the way it is.

Arguments can be made for both sides, so I won't. But "character" or "patina" from hard use is different than abuse from doing something stupid.

While I like it how it is, my ocd would get the better of me and I would have to do more with it. What "it" is, depends on if I had one but off the top of my head, refinish or a new stock for starters, like you did. That green gives it a really nice look.

Well, the people have spoken. Ugly she will stay!

Yes, this was a decades long patina. I dug back through some archives and found out I first purchased this stock in 2009. So 16 years of use.

Tony.

The well used look is nice. I almost bought an Ithaca pump that must have been actually carried and handled daily for years. I had never seen so much exterior wear on a modern gun.

My vote would be leave it ugly.

I’d leave it as it is!

I recall some of my high power service rifles from back in the day. Hand guard stained black from multiple hits of spray adhesive to get my glove to grip, finish loss of the cheek piece from sweat, etc.
I would keep as is myself

It's hideous. Refinish it.

M-14 isn't "ugly" it's just a piece with an active history.

Leave it ugly!

There’s just something about being underestimated. You show up with that old ass, banged up, scratched up, beater of a rifle, and start scoring some serious points?
Novice’s don’t expect that out of a beater, they point at the shiny, new guns and expect accuracy out of them.
“Surprise!”