Is it worth it?

mtlee · Post by **mtlee** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:11 pm

I'm trying to figure out what I should do w/ this old SxS I have. It was the first shotgun I was ever given, my dad bought it for me when I was in elementary school. It was left outside overnight in the rain when I was younger (my little brother blames it on me, I blame it on him..haha). I re-blued it myself a few years back and basically it looks like crap. I'm trying to figure out whether or not I want to put $300 bucks into it and get it fixed back up?? I'd like to have a double barrel...just don't know if its worth that. It's a E.R.A., from my understanding a cheap Spanish import from the 80s.

Option 2: Save my money and get a new, higher quality gun in the future.

I know its ultimately my decision...just asking opinions!

Bowhunter20 · Post by **Bowhunter20** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:28 pm

I say a gun like that with all that memory, keep it. Ya it might be smarter to get a whole new one but when you pick that new one up it wont remind you of your fight with your bro(or stuff like that). I have a 22 that i will never get rid of because of that fact.

gonehuntin' · Post by **gonehuntin'** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:16 am

What brand of shotgun is it?

Mike50 · Post by **Mike50** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:29 am

I say keep it. Can't get a new one for 3 hundred.

dog dr · Post by **dog dr** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:56 am

i say keep it and fix it up, if for nothing but the memories. i havent played golf in about 4 yrs, but i still have my grandpas old set of clubs he gave me. more than once i have walked out to the garage, ready to set them out in the garage sale, but i just cant do it. they have too much sentimental value.

brav302 · Post by **brav302** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:27 am

I think you can get a gun reblued for alot less than 300 bucs. The last one I had done cost me 150. Its been several years but I can't imagine the price has doubled.

mtlee · Post by **mtlee** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:37 am

gonehuntin' wrote:What brand of shotgun is it?

It says "ERA" on the receiver...this is what I've found online.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/ERA_brazilian_Shotgun

mtlee · Post by **mtlee** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:40 am

brav302 wrote:I think you can get a gun reblued for alot less than 300 bucs. The last one I had done cost me 150. Its been several years but I can't imagine the price has doubled.

You're right...I was calculating getting some screw in chokes installed as well!

Thanks for the input everyone. I was never planning on getting rid of it, just wasn't sure whether or not to leave it under my bed or fix her up! I think I may fix it up. It may not be a nice gun, but I've never had a misfire with it and I've had it since I was about 9! It also fits me well and it will give me a change from my 12g (its a 20g).

BigShooter · Post by **BigShooter** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:53 pm

As you know the price for rebluing is different depending on the type of soldier used between the barrels. Check on the choke tubes before committing to the project. An o/u with three thin wall Briley choke tubes can run around $400 .. that's before any bluing.

If it's a 20 ga. and you can get it all done for $300, I'd go for it. If it were a 12 ga. or a lot more money I'd say forget it and buy a different gun.

mtlee · Post by **mtlee** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:01 pm

Here is the price list I was estimating by...I can get dealer prices since I'm a member of shotgunworld.com

BigShooter · Post by **BigShooter** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:18 pm

Have you had each barrel measured yet so you know whether choke tubes can be installed? The last price list I saw had significantly higher prices for SxS & O/U than for each single barrel. I assume once you put this money into it you know you can get replacement parts later if necessary. Have fun with the project.

mtlee · Post by **mtlee** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:21 pm

BigShooter wrote:Have you had each barrel measured yet so you know whether choke tubes can be installed? The last price list I saw had significantly higher prices for SxS & O/U than for each single barrel. I assume once you put this money into it you know you can get replacement parts later if necessary. Have fun with the project.

Haven't thought it through that far yet. I plan on calling this guy sometime soon. I'm in no huge hurry though...I've got a Beretta autoloader I normally shoot. Once I talk to the guy I'll let you know what the prices are. Thanks.

RGT · Post by **RGT** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:23 pm

Once you fix it, you'll be glad you did. Might even become your favorite.

nj gsp · Post by **nj gsp** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:27 pm

I've got a really old Mossberg .22 single shot rifle. My grandfather taught me how to shoot and how to handle a gun safely with it. I cleaned it up, refinished the stock, stripped and cleaned all the metal parts and took them to a gunsmith for re-bluing.

He tried to talk me out of it - he said, "You know, this is going to cost around $120, and the most this gun will be worth is about $75 when it's done. I've got to tell you that - you can buy one in mint condition for a lot less than it will to re-do this one."

I told him that I might be able to get another gun, but I'd' never get another Granddad and never replace those memories, and if he didn't want to do the work I could take it somewhere else.

He told me he didn't think it would be right not to warn me I would be spending more money on it that it's worth. And I told him, "To me the gun is priceless. $120 is nothing. Do you want to do it or not?".

He did an amazingly good re-blue job on everything, and even fixed the damaged screw heads at no charge.

brav302 · Post by **brav302** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:39 am

For what ever reason when I'm at work I can't view pictures added into the text. I'm assuming that since you mentioned shotgunworld.com that it’s a price list not from someone local. You may want to check out the gun doctor off of 17A between Summerville and Moncks Corner. I have used them several times and have been pleased with their work.

mtlee · Post by **mtlee** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:45 am

brav302 wrote:For what ever reason when I'm at work I can't view pictures added into the text. I'm assuming that since you mentioned shotgunworld.com that it’s a price list not from someone local. You may want to check out the gun doctor off of 17A between Summerville and Moncks Corner. I have used them several times and have been pleased with their work.

Thanks for the heads up...I will give them a call. I would rather do it locally.

mtlee · Post by **mtlee** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:57 am

Ok, so I just got off the phone w/ a local gunsmith and the guy from the brochure I posted.

I'd be potentially be looking at 500-1,000 dollars w/o even re-finishing the receiver (which has the be re-hard cased or something??? and cost an additional 400-500 dollars).

So, I think the gun is going to stay in its current condition for now.

brav302 · Post by **brav302** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:02 pm

Man that sounds crazy. Usualy the gun doctor is pretty competitive on his pricing but it may be worth your wild to call around, but I guess if the other guy on the phone was saying the samething they might be right.

mtlee · Post by **mtlee** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:24 pm

brav302 wrote:Man that sounds crazy. Usualy the gun doctor is pretty competitive on his pricing but it may be worth your wild to call around, but I guess if the other guy on the phone was saying the samething they might be right.

I called both places and was surprised at what I found out. Apparently the barrels may be "soft soldered" whatever that means and if they are it costs out the rear to re-blue them. Also, restoring the receiver is REALLY expensive b/c its "hard cased" or something. I'm not a gunsmith so I have no idea what the heck they were talking about. Oh well, maybe one day!

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:06 pm

"Case hardened"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_hardening

claybuster_aa · Post by **claybuster_aa** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:58 pm

Here is your gun...I think.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/productschem. ... l=1380zBR8

Looks like a barrel cost about $51, but they're sold out. Keep checking back, you never know. Maybe if you call, tell them you're looking for a 20 gauge barrel maybe they can put you on the list if one comes in?

Charlie