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Military Firearm Restoration Corner

To Cammo Or Not To Cammo?


rdm1962

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A long story as short as possible. When I was 12 (1974) I worked all summer cutting grass. I earned enough money to have my parents buy me a Mossberg 500 shotgun. Back then it came with a "Select-A-Choke" 26" barrel. This shotgun has kill countless Squirrels, Rabbits, Quail, Turkeys and lots of targets.

 

I've had it wrapped in cammo. bow tape for about 30 years. This past Turkey season I got caught in a day long rain. The bow tape peeled off. It left a crusty dried up residue. The barrel and receiver were easy to get cleaned up. The stock and pump were a different story. Nothing would remove the old adhesive. I finally had to use a chemical stripper. It took off the adhesive but the finish also. So now do I refinish the wood or paint the whole shotgun with a cammo paint job? It will be my go to Turkey gun either way. I have several other shotguns. I just kind of feel like the hard work it took to buy this one makes it special. So what would you guys do? Cammo or Not Cammo?

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Ralph I think with the history behind your Mossy my choice would be put it back as close to new as I could then use a cloth sock/sleeve type camo cover I could get on/off without any trouble to be able to keep things lubed up and protect the wood while huntin. I know those things are a PIA to use in the woods but that would be my first choice,with Clemsons hydro dip next. Jim

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I also like the hydo-drip suggestion but for what it will likely cost compared to the actual value of the Mossy. Myself being a cheapskate I'd look for a lower cost method. Since the early 70's I've had several Mossy pumps but no longer have one. Best I recall the aluminum receivers have baked on enamel paint. If the barrel will take cold bluing you may want to consider painting the aluminum receiver and cold blue the steel parts. Refinishing the wood is as simple as spray-on polyurethane or a rub-on finish. While you have the wood stripped you may also want to stain it as well.

 

I also share the same sentimental value of my first shotgun. Got it for Christmas in 1963 and still have it. I had to replace the for end years ago. Since the for end's color didn't match the buttstock. I stained and refinished all the wood while adding a recoil pad. I used cold bluing to touch up spots where I removed the bluing along with some surface rust. I've been taking my Savage single shot as a back up on Dove and Quail hunts since the early 70's when I purchased a Mossy 12 ga pump. .

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