Preference on shotgun: blue or parkerized?

[mldollins]

What do you think is best and why? Pros and cons please.....thanks ahead of time.....

[Old Vet]

It all has to do with how you are going to use them. There is no best for everyone. Blue is best for normal use but Parkerized is best for rough handling and damp cognitions.

[mldollins]

does the park gun scratch or wear off easily?

[Old Vet]

Not as easily as the blue one will.

[mldollins]

Old Vet, if the park does wear or scratch, can it be touched up like a blue?

thanks

[Cotton Picker]

Originally Posted by mldollins

What do you think is best and why? Pros and cons please.....thanks ahead of time.....

Hi Mldollins,

Like Old Vet says, the Parkerized finish is more of a durable finish that is better suited for adverse field conditions.

I would recommend it for a shotgun on the simple reasoning that a shotgun is only effective at close range. The dull finish is less likely to reflect flashes of light which might spook your chosen quarry. To say nothing about dragging it through the brush etc. in search of game.

On a long range rifle, one would probably desire it to be blued, as rifles of that caliber (Sorry, I couldn't resist) are as much showpieces, as functioning firearms. That said... If you are buying a Browning or some other high dollar shotgun, or your primary purpose for it is say, trap and skeet... You might wish to have the more esthetically desirable blue finish.

Blue and Parkerized are both metal finishes.... Kinda like paint...... Their primary function is as a rust inhibitor. Both will scratch or wear if subjected to less than idea handling and care.

Hope this helps.