Camo Shotgun

Bill Gass

Active member
Good Day

I am considering the Remington 870 Express Super Magnum shotgun as my old Maverick 88 gave up the ghost last fall after 16 seasons not bad for a hundred bucks back in 90. I am going with the synthetic stock, however the camo stock is over 100 bucks more than the black stock. Is the camo stock really worth that much more? I'm tending to think not but I was just wondering what everyones opinion is.

Bill Gass
NB, Can
 
I've never owned a camo gun. I shot a Remington 870 for years and have been shooting a Benelli pump for the last 4-5 years. I guess if you were doing a lot of timber or field hunting and wanted to blend in with the surroundings and be less conspicuous, the camo gun would be good. I've never had the need for a camo gun though. Cover up, stay still, and let the ducks get in close. By the time they realize your gun is not camoed, it will be too late anyhow!

Nate
 
Bill--I bought a 870 synthetic all black 7 years ago, I camoed the whole thing with a homemade stencil and krylon. If you are hunting out of a blind I don't think it matters, out of a layout couldn't hurt. If you really want a camo stock paint it yourself, then you can change the pattern for turkey season if you want. -j
 
If the ducks can see that your gun is camo instead of black, then you should be shooting!
IMO, camo patterns on guns might only have one useful purposes if the finish is extrememly rust-resistant and you hunt brackish/salt water. Other than that, it is a gimick to charge you more money.
Sitting still and being in the right spot are more important.
 
My last two have been camo. The first was a 1187 that I sent out to be camoed the second a SBE II came with it. I hunt a lot of salt water, I think it does wonders for protecting the exterior against the elements.
 
OK thanks, so it looks like the camo finish is as much about corrosion resistance as it is about camoflage. Since I'm on a rather tight budget I've pretty well decided that I'm going with the straight black synthetic stock. Another improvement that I was considering is going with one of the after market choke tubes such as the Haydels DPX
http://www.haydels.com/pages/choketubes.html
Is anyone using them?

Bill
 
Camo is cool looking and great protection for your gun.. And that is it.. Unless you are turkey hunting .... IMHO.... Would I get camo??? Yeap..... More important is the choke on your bang stick. You don't know what choke would be better on your individual gun without patterning it on a pattern board with different shotgun shells and shot sizes.... That simple nothing more no magic here.. Get to a pattern board with the tubes the factory gave you.. You may be surprised.. The $$$$ would be better spent on decoys or gas..... My old,1973, jap A-5 loves Kent faststeel 2's with IC and Mod.. With hevi-shot it inconsistently throws the shot to one side or the other....
 
before you paint the gun,degrease it, wait till mid summer... the heat will bake the paint on and into the plastic.leave gun outside for 4 hours, in mid summer day. hottist days... scrub the plastic surfaces (only). with a low grit sand paper, wipe it down, with a terry cloth. tape up anything that you don't want to paintthen prime it with thin layers. use a heat primer. after that dries, then paint one layer at a time, letting each thin coat dry , and wait 10 minutes after each coat was dried , before next coat. add patterns, and so on, layer after layer...

.metals, use a degreaser, and then rinse everything off,wipe down with alcohol, let sit out in the sun about 4 hours prior to painting. and the prime with heat treated primer... with a terry cloth.then prime it with thin layers. use a heat primer. after that dries, then paint one layer at a time, letting each thin coat dry , and wait 10 minutes after each coat was dried , before next coat. add patterns, and so on, layer after layer...

then after the last coat, let the gun sit outside in direct sun light. for 3 days, (bring in at night)after the third day. use a flat clear coat on it. i promise that your gun will be dull and camo'd...

i used to do it in the military, and now i still do it on boats, guns, and so on. take your time, and the gun will turn out great.. email me and i will send you pics of my guns that i have done, or if anyone can help me, i will send the pics to someone to post for me. don't know how to down size the darn things.
 
Last edited:
Bill, Break out the rattle can and let 'er rip. I have several 870's and they are all "custom" painted. More something to do in the off season than real effectiveness probably. I had an 870 beadblasted and hot blued in the mid 80's and took unbelivable grief from my shootng buddies, now I have the last laff. Good choice on the Rem 870, I have several too many but they all keep on shooting.
Shiny side up,
Wicker T, Walker & Charlie Brown
 
If you are going to paint it..I suggest stripping the gun as far as you are able, stuff the action with rags or paper towel, plug the chamber and muzzle too...take the trigger assembly out so that doesn't get gummed up.De-grease/oil the snot out of it.
 
My plan is to just get a plain straight up Rem 870 with the black stock. The price on the camo ones seems to go up every time I check the price. Thanks guys for the first hand advice/experience about shotgun self camo, but I think that I'll just keep it as it arrives. I've never owned an actual new gun of any type before, Oh wait I guess the 20 gauge that my brother and father gave to me for Xmas when I was 14 was new but that was many years ago. For chokes the Rem 870 comes with the modified choke and I plan to purchase the IC when I order.

Bill G.
 
Back
Top