Duracoat vs. Wonder blue

the rifleer · June 5, 2011, 05:14 PM

So I've got an old worn Winchester model 25 (pump shotgun). Its in pretty bad shape, it has some rust on it and the majority of the bluing on the receiver as well as the barrel has worn off. I'm going to scrub it and clean it up, but Im wondering what the best way to refinish it is. It really needs to be redone.

It seems like duracoat and wonder blue are both top of the line products and would like to know what you guys think is best. I know the best thing to do is have it hot blue, but that is expensive.

any input is appreciated.

GURU1911 · June 5, 2011, 07:36 PM

Contact the boys @ robar in arizona or coal creek armory in tenn regarding your needs. My personal favorite is the robar np3.

Guru1911

Scorch · June 5, 2011, 08:16 PM

The Winchester Model 25 is a solid-frame shotgun. As such, it has some fairly tight clearances inside it, and the Duracoat goes on thick, so it may jam things up. Just take it to your local gunsmith and ahve it hot blued, that's what it came with from the factory.

Wonder Blue is a cold blue product. Cold blue is made for touch-up work, not for rebluing whole guns.

C0untZer0 · June 5, 2011, 08:38 PM

I've heard great things about NP3+

the rifleer · June 5, 2011, 09:33 PM

I just checked them out, they are awfully expensive. I'm sure they do great work, but its out of my price range.

With wonder blue ruled out, Is duracoat a good product? I'm not going to do the inside of the receiver, just the outside, the barrel and the mag tube.

GURU1911 · June 5, 2011, 10:06 PM

You said "they were AWFULLY expensive & out of my price range"----were you referring to the "robar company" or "coal creek armory" ????

Guru1911

the rifleer · June 5, 2011, 10:17 PM

The price estimate for Robar is a over $200, which is more than I paid for the shotgun.

I did manage to find a place that if i ship them the gun completely stripped, disassembled and ready to go, they will blue it for $80, which is better.

Edit- this is a real beater of a shotgun. The stock is a mess and the bluing is mostly gone. I spent a good hour with steel wool just getting the rust off of it. I doesn't have any major pitting or anything that I think will hinder its ability to perform like a shotgun should, it just needs to be completely re-done. I am refinishing the stock as well as the metal. This is just a project gun and I'd like to do as much as possible myself, but if you guys really don't think there is a product I can use myself at home, I will have it reblued.

Mac's! · June 6, 2011, 11:38 AM

Take a look at having it refinished with a product like Gunkote. Stuff like duracoat will not burnish and is way too thick for close tolerance moving parts. (Like, any part inside of a firearm!) Gunkote will burnish and won't gum up the internal workings. Keep yer powder dry, Mac.
http://www.shootiniron.com

publius · June 10, 2011, 10:37 PM

You can rust blue it yourself. It's very labor intensive but produces the best results, if done correctly.

**Unclenick** · June 11, 2011, 09:19 AM

If this is a beater gun and if you have something you can boil water in that will hold your whole barrel, rust bluing at home is the most economical approach. Takes about six passes and is a lot of work, but produces the beautiful slightly satin blue finish that is traditional on custom English shotguns.

Search the forum on rust bluing for details.

Bill DeShivs · June 11, 2011, 12:16 PM

Paint it with Krylon spray paint.

June 5, 2011, 05:14 PM	#1
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	Duracoat vs. Wonder blue So I've got an old worn Winchester model 25 (pump shotgun). Its in pretty bad shape, it has some rust on it and the majority of the bluing on the receiver as well as the barrel has worn off. I'm going to scrub it and clean it up, but Im wondering what the best way to refinish it is. It really needs to be redone. It seems like duracoat and wonder blue are both top of the line products and would like to know what you guys think is best. I know the best thing to do is have it hot blue, but that is expensive. any input is appreciated. __________________ There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

June 5, 2011, 07:36 PM	#2
GURU1911 Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2010 Location: SEALY, THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS Posts: 501	Firearms refinishing Contact the boys @ robar in arizona or coal creek armory in tenn regarding your needs. My personal favorite is the robar np3. Guru1911 __________________ NRA LIFE MEMBER (1984) & PRESIDENT: S.W. LA. R&P CLUB, LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (1994-1999) METALLIC CARTRIDGE RELOADER (1977) & GENTILE CHRISTIAN ZIONIST INFIDEL !!! "THERE AIN'T TOO MANY THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T FIX, WITH $500 DOLLARS OR A .30-06"

June 5, 2011, 08:16 PM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	The Winchester Model 25 is a solid-frame shotgun. As such, it has some fairly tight clearances inside it, and the Duracoat goes on thick, so it may jam things up. Just take it to your local gunsmith and ahve it hot blued, that's what it came with from the factory. Wonder Blue is a cold blue product. Cold blue is made for touch-up work, not for rebluing whole guns. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

June 5, 2011, 09:33 PM	#5
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	I just checked them out, they are awfully expensive. I'm sure they do great work, but its out of my price range. With wonder blue ruled out, Is duracoat a good product? I'm not going to do the inside of the receiver, just the outside, the barrel and the mag tube. __________________ There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

June 5, 2011, 10:06 PM	#6
GURU1911 Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2010 Location: SEALY, THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS Posts: 501	RIFLER You said "they were AWFULLY expensive & out of my price range"----were you referring to the "robar company" or "coal creek armory" ???? Guru1911 __________________ NRA LIFE MEMBER (1984) & PRESIDENT: S.W. LA. R&P CLUB, LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (1994-1999) METALLIC CARTRIDGE RELOADER (1977) & GENTILE CHRISTIAN ZIONIST INFIDEL !!! "THERE AIN'T TOO MANY THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T FIX, WITH $500 DOLLARS OR A .30-06"

June 5, 2011, 08:38 PM	#4
C0untZer0 Junior member Join Date: April 21, 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,555	I've heard great things about NP3+

June 5, 2011, 10:17 PM	#7
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	The price estimate for Robar is a over $200, which is more than I paid for the shotgun. I did manage to find a place that if i ship them the gun completely stripped, disassembled and ready to go, they will blue it for $80, which is better. Edit- this is a real beater of a shotgun. The stock is a mess and the bluing is mostly gone. I spent a good hour with steel wool just getting the rust off of it. I doesn't have any major pitting or anything that I think will hinder its ability to perform like a shotgun should, it just needs to be completely re-done. I am refinishing the stock as well as the metal. This is just a project gun and I'd like to do as much as possible myself, but if you guys really don't think there is a product I can use myself at home, I will have it reblued. __________________ There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

June 6, 2011, 11:38 AM	#8
Mac's! Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2001 Posts: 129	Take a look at having it refinished with a product like Gunkote. Stuff like duracoat will not burnish and is way too thick for close tolerance moving parts. (Like, any part inside of a firearm!) Gunkote will burnish and won't gum up the internal workings. Keep yer powder dry, Mac. http://www.shootiniron.com

June 10, 2011, 10:37 PM	#9
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,505	You can rust blue it yourself. It's very labor intensive but produces the best results, if done correctly. __________________ "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain

June 11, 2011, 09:19 AM	#10
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	If this is a beater gun and if you have something you can boil water in that will hold your whole barrel, rust bluing at home is the most economical approach. Takes about six passes and is a lot of work, but produces the beautiful slightly satin blue finish that is traditional on custom English shotguns. Search the forum on rust bluing for details. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

June 11, 2011, 12:16 PM	#11
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,984	Paint it with Krylon spray paint. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com