Finishing an old Shotgun...

[Shooters Plus]

I have an old Remington 870 Wingmaster shotgun that has the blued (not parkerized) finish. It was mainly used a "truck gun" so the finish has seen it's better days. Now I am wanting to convert it to a more "self defense" gun, synthetic stocks, shorter barrel, etc... Anyway, can I get away with just spray painting (flat black) the barrel and reciever? Or will this just come off after the first cleaning? I don't want to spend a lot of money having it refinished, thus the idea of just spray painting. Thanks

[Robert Hairless]

Originally posted by uncle z
I have an old Remington 870 Wingmaster shotgun that has the blued (not parkerized) finish. It was mainly used a "truck gun" so the finish has seen it's better days. Now I am wanting to convert it to a more "self defense" gun, synthetic stocks, shorter barrel, etc... Anyway, can I get away with just spray painting (flat black) the barrel and reciever? Or will this just come off after the first cleaning? I don't want to spend a lot of money having it refinished, thus the idea of just spray painting. Thanks

Spray paint will come off sooner or later--probably sooner than later.

If you don't mind my saying so, you're going in the wrong direction. Send that old Remington 870 Wingmaster to Wilson-Combat and ask them to do their "Remington Steal" package on it. For $199.95 they'll do the following:

Replace all worn and/or damaged parts

Convert to 3"

Convert shell feed to flexitab anti-jam system

Install new spring and follower

Install new synthetic butt stock and foregrip (Note: Old stocks not returned w/Remington Steal package)

Replace safety with current design

Strip and parkerize all external parts

Strip and anodize trigger group


In other words they'll rebuild and refinish your Wingmaster for less than you could do it yourself, you'll wind up with one of the best 12 Gauge defensive shotguns possible, and it will look and work as if it's brand new. That's one of the best deals around.

For details: http://www.wilsoncombat.com/s_remingtion_steal.asp