Would you paint an 870's barrel and reciever?

They also make tapes and sleeves if you don't want to paint.

My basic premise is that if the arms value is under $500 and will not increase, paint away.

BTW, commonly used paints can be removed. Downside is that the removal process may also remove the original stock finish.

Acids WILL remove bluing as I have recently re-learned. Place expletive here.
 
I bought a Mossberg 500 from a guy last year for 20 bucks. The receiver was worn silver and the barrel was rusty. I sanded the rust off, and spray painted the entire gun with Krylon camo paint, in a wide "tiger stripe" pattern. I even painted the bolt and elevator. Gun works fine, and I killed a slew of ducks and specklebellies with it this spring.

For a knockabout waterfowl shotgun, it is hard to go wrong with simply painting away !
 
I shot clay with it a couple days ago and it shoots just fine, except the scratch / splinter I got on my cheek from the missing chunk of wood on the comb. The finish is all but gone near the butt pad, and the "hardwood" there doesn't feel too hard anymore.

I really think the butt stock needs replacing. It's beat up so bad that I asked the guy if he pounded tent stakes with it... He didn't deny it. Anybody think that a synthetic replacement stock and fore-end is a bad choice?

I know I don't NEED camo, but my duck buddies seem to think I do. I don't really care either way.

Roklok, does that Krylon Camo paint hold up well? It's a heckuvalot cheaper than Alumina-Hide from Brownells.
 
The Krylon holds up pretty well except on moving parts, such as the bolt and elevator, some is flaking off. Also on the mag tube where forearm slides. I really dont care though, this shotgun is NOT about looks. It is a simple matter to reapply paint once it becomes too worn.

I roughed up the wood with coarse sandpaper and wiped the metal parts down with 90% rubbing alcohol before painting.
 
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Paint it

It's a good barrier against the rust and if you decide to go another route later, the paint comes off easily with some acetone or paint stripper.
 
Why not try the flat black from home depot. It's cheap and easy to put on, touchup would be just as easy. With a set of plastic stocks there would no surface to reflect any sun light from the gun.
 
Paint it.

I bought my daughter a rusted youth model 870. I got some blue and
rust remover, took gun apart stripped all the finish and rust
down to white steel. Then sanded with fine steel wool and cleaned
with disc brake cleaner. Shot a coat of flat black, more steel
wool, another coat of paint, another wipe with finer steel wool,
one more coat of paint. I let paint dry several hours between coats.
For the wood I asked did she want it to be dark or light stain.
She replied "I want it to be blue" lol. So a trip to Lowes and the guy
at th epaint counter mixed me a small can of blue stain. I stripped
wood and refinished with blue. I sealed it with 3 coats of matte polyurethane.
3 years later the gun still looks great and at the dove shoots all the boys want
a gun like hers. Lol.
 
Get rid of the rust first.

You don't need camo on the gun, but since you're painting it anyway go ahead. Orange, green, and brown should work fine.
If you're not a big guy, used camo clothing is all over the thrift stores. Or you could paint an old set of coveralls;-)
 
Good quality spray lacquers will give you very good protection and reasonable durability AS LONG AS YOU THOROUGHLY DEGREASE BEFORE PAINTING.

Furthermore, it is a simple matter to remove the paint, if you ever get tired of it, by using acetone or even Wal-Mart carb cleaner.

For even better durability and longevity, you can use a good quality spray primer first.

About 10 years ago, my local Wal-Mart had a closeout sale on Krylon camo colors, which included khaki, tan, black and green, all of which were very matte and dull. (I bought everything they had.:D) Not sure if it was just Wally World cutting stock or if Krylon has stopped making these colors, but similar colors are still available.
 
About 10 years ago, my local Wal-Mart had a closeout sale on Krylon camo colors...
Click to expand...

Sherwin Williams did the same thing a few years back. Had about 30 camo kits each with five cans of Krylon in olive drab, tan, brown, black, and khaki. We cleaned them out and ended up painting a suburban with it. Don't think I will ever run out of camo paint :rolleyes:
 
Is the Express Super Mag a 3.5" gun? If yes, just know that many people feel they do not run as well as the 2-3/4 & 3.0" versions of the 870. Might want to ask how it does with 3.5's before buying it.
 
Many Gangbangers paint their guns flat black so there is no light reflection from the gun. As for a honest gun user I think one has to consider the possibility of the gun losing value.
 
This was a Beretta black gun. It has held up real well the past two years. Key is good prep work and a good automotive primer to start with.

ber390.jpg
 
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