Does rail color affect heat transmission?

[grizzlyblake]

For those that run rails in colors than black, do you find the lighter colors result in less heat retained in the rail?

I'm mainly looking at FDE/foliage colors.

If so, is there any difference in cerakote versus spraypaint?

[jsbhike]

I knew dark absorbs more heat, didn't know it emits more too.

https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/urban-heat-island1.htm

[PrivateCitizen]

Keeping it somewhat conversational, dark colors "absorb" light and covert it to thermal energy.

Color is not a factor in absorption of ambient heat from a barrel or gas block, etc. The handguard materials and mass will determine how much heat it will absorb and, essentially, how fast it will dissipate by convection.

Generally, an FDE handguard will absorb less direct light out in the daylight than a black one and it might be perceptible. But heat issues on a rifle are more a result of the mechanics of shooting and less environmental.

You could go full auto in complete darkness or high noon in Arizona … the difference would be inconsequential.

[grizzlyblake]

I meant specifically retained heat from firing. Off the barrel and GB. Not sunlight.

[turnburglar]

No my spray painted guns still heat up like a black gun when firing. The difference is when a gun has been sitting on a shooting bench in the direct sunlight for 15+ minutes in the desert during the summer time. When I touch my spray painted guns it doesn't feel like I am gonna loose skin, like a black gun feels like. It's just a regular hot.

[markm]

No my spray painted guns still heat up like a black gun when firing. The difference is when a gun has been sitting on a shooting bench in the direct sunlight for 15+ minutes in the desert during the summer time. When I touch my spray painted guns it doesn't feel like I am gonna loose skin, like a black gun feels like. It's just a regular hot.

This, for sure.

[MegademiC]

On a scientific level, yes.
Dark colors radiate heat more efficiently.
Edit: seems to be a minuscule amount if at all for objects cool enough to not radiate light. Also, surface texture and material are important: https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/276405/why-does-painting-a-silvered-radiator-with-black-paint-improve-its-ability-to-r
/edit

Practically, i would opt for a lighter color because I, personally, hold a weapon exposed to sun more often than I mag-dump.

Ymmv.

[vicious_cb]

On a scientific level, yes.
Dark colors radiate heat more efficiently.

Practically, i would opt for a lighter color because I, personally, hold a weapon exposed to sun more often than I mag-dump.

Ymmv.

Thats exactly why HK developed their baby s**t tan color for their rifles and machine guns.