Male versus female stencils
If you are going to be using an airbrush to apply your paint you will want to use female templates. That is, the stencils with the holes cut out. It is a more efficient style of painting. You basically move the female stencils around the weapon and keep painting.
If you are going to be using a spray can, then you will want to use the male stencils. You will lay down 1 layer of paint, apply a bunch of male stencils. Then apply another layer of paint, and lay down more stencils. You repeat this process for all but your last layer of paint (which will not have any stencils applied.
