This summer I decided to try my hand at restoring a firearm. I purchased a pathetic Eastern Arms coach gun to make all my mistakes on. LOL!  I have just about finished. Here's my question. After reading several posts on AR, it seemed appropriate to bead blast the barrels before applying the Cerakote. I am fairly new to my town and took it to a very reputable gunsmith. Walking into his shop I could see why. The elder gentleman had, and I am NOT kidding, close to five hundred shotguns and rifles lined up for gun smithing. So, it came as no surprise, that after two weeks, my work order is not in sight. He did say that he plans to do a group of guns at one time.

Question: Is there a Plan B out there? I perfecto understand the gun smith's predicament and maybe this is par for the course in gun smithing. However, would it be rude to take it somewhere else? I was surprised (I probably should add a few pics) at how well I was able to buff out scratches and tarnish and get an almost stainless steel look to the breach. Can I do that with the double barrels? It did take a LONG time to get that finish. As you can see, I am a total novice at this.

Oh, one more thought. As I removed the original stain varnish, I was surprised and pleased to see it had an ash butt stock. I decided to just put a neutral stain and then a half dozen coats of polyurethane, lightly sanded with 0000 steel wool. Now I am wondering if I should forget the Cerakote (Coyote Brown), and just blue the barrel. I've only blued one other barrel and it seemed to take forever to do that and it still seemed way too light. Again, coulda just been me.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/40464609@N03/sets/72157647361269841

Other options are machine shops and auto garages.  Most of them have bead blasters.

I'd be a little hesitant on those since they don't work with guns and they might get the beads into the chamber or barrel and roughen them up.
Other than that, you need to actually see the texture they'd do before letting them do it.  It might be too rough for you.

Many thanks! I will say that it is a beater shotgun so not too many tears if it gets marred.

And the blast media may be contaminated with who knows what.

I don't think he's got a SS Coach gun.
May be wrong

Sorry for the delay, guys. For some reason, posts don't make it to my mailbox even though I have it in my settings. Good stuff. I'll show the final results, hopefully by next weekend. The nerve of my job getting in front of my passion.

Now we can see what your talking about better.

If it were me, I'd bring her back to her original glory with a nice bluing job.

My dad had a 1903A3 he started to sporterize with a walnut Montecarlo stock from a blank. 20 yrs later it was just sitting there, so I borrowed it and finished it. Had a nice deep bluing job put on it, bedded a floated the barrel and gave it back to him. Nothing like a blued finish on a vintage firearm to bring it back to life IMHO.

Looks like a fine specimen to be working on. Stock came out great.

Rust bluing can easily be done at home in stages as you have time.

The finish will reflect the amount of time and effort you put into the metal prior to bluing.

Pits will still be pits, and the amount of sanding and polishing will determine whether it is shiny and reflective or a matte finish.

You could bead blast and rust blue for a black oxide similar to a black parkerize.

Or you could park it at home.

That top lever looks awfully left of center with the barrels attached & the action closed. Appears to be a well-worn action. Are you doing this as just a project gun? Doesn't look to be worthwhile to put too much cash or time into it.

I'd Belgian blue and call it good. Rust blue would take too much time and/or effort, just my .02.

Remember, Parkerizing needs to be kept at 185 degrees F to work correctly. I have tanks that use electric elements to keep the temp to within +/- 2 degrees while parts are in. Also be careful of old doubles. THEY ARE SOFT SOLDERED together. I have had 3 customers bring in guns that they tried to repair/refinish. Cost them 3x the worth of the guns to repair.

Where in Va are you?