Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing 870 Project Barrel

I got a 30" full-choke 870 barrel for free. I've been shooting trap with it. I don't know the full story, but apparently it needed refinishing and whomever did it did a poor (and incomplete) job:

[img]https://i.imgur.com/toLGJDX.jpg?2[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/pLtCyaZ.jpg?2[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/3Kl3Q3w.jpg?2[/img]


Suggestions how to economically make it look halfway decent? A professional job would likely exceed the cost of a new barrel. I just want it to look good from 10 feet away, or so. Thanks in advance.

Krylon

I saw your picture earlier and then saw the thread title. I was really hoping it was going to be a show and tell on a tricked out 870 barrel you turned into a sleeper.. A money maker so to speak... Kind of like this "duck gun" here:


You didn't lengthen the forcing cone, backbore it, port it, polish and pattern it???? Come on man. This one pictured^^ has won $1,000's. Its a "sleeper"..... Just sayin.. You just want finish on it? That is a simple thing, considering..

Brownells Oxpho-blue, if you do a good job degreasing and put it on in a few coats when the metal is hot, is pretty durable as instant blues go. It's my go-to for stuff like you're describing and I use it on any piece of metal I've ground or re-shaped, from gas blocks to scope bases to touching up guns that aren't collectible. Using heat makes a big difference.

T-4 will give a darker color, almost blue-black, in fewer coats, which can look nice on older guns, but I haven't really tested it for durability.