Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Ruger stainless finish bead blasted?

Looking at a Ruger 77 stainless steel barrel and action that has been bead blasted. Has a few shiny spots, wear spots, and now wondering if it is possible to return it back to the original shiny finish. Have access to a lathe if needed but the action would have to be hand finished, if even possible. Any experience at this?


Thanks

You can do it....but pack a few lunches. I'd reblast it 100 times before polishing it once.

Probably the best thing to do. Too much time and trouble to get it back to factory finish. They do look OK with the shine taken off and not as noticeable in the woods!!

Should just take the bead blast to make her look new again. If you ever get up to the onaway/indian river area drop it off to the guys at Red Oak Gunsmithing they would handle the job no problem.

When they were making them shiny everyone complained that they were too bright and lots of them were bead blasted to make them dull. Now that the factory is doing what the majority of shooters asked for some still complain.

Polishing sucks. What I prefer to do and do with my own rifles, is bead them, wipe the bead points off with a light fine grit wheel then blue them or not, if stainless.

I really, really, really hate a high polish. Especially if I had to do it, customer request. Note the "had" as I won't anymore, even if I was still in the business. Ain't worth the time...

+1 I did one once for a customer, never again, he had it blasted with sand. Just rebead it and be done, I have some 500 grit beads that gives a polish soft look to stainless, 240 grit gives a smooth dull finish with a little glare and 60 grit gives a gray finish

Thanks guys. Bead blast back is the right choice. I don't like the shiny finish when hunting.