Stevens 520 shotgun any good?

[DrDremel]

I picked up a used Stevens 520 for $75 at an estate sale. It is a humpback receivered, shotgun designed by JMB and was also a popular trench gun in WW1. Mine is a sporting gun, has about 70$ finish and the wood is ugly. Somebody cut the stock down and put a rubber pad on it. It rotted so I will replace it. Are these shotguns known to have any problems/ I am asking because I was thinking of cutting the barrel to 18.5 inches and making it a trunk gun. For the off chance i ever need it, it will nor be fired much. The takedown feature makes it a nice gun to keep in the trunk. Any feedback, what to look out for? I might parkerize it and cover the wood with paint or truck bed liner. The stock has pock marks from moisture i think. It is not a candidate for a nise refinish. The gun is nto a collectors item or a valuable gun so I figured it can at least have another life.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Good design, well made. Have a good smith go over it. Some of these are cursed by the Short Chamber Demon. Some A-5 parts may fit if needed.

Sounds like a doable project. I'd leave the finish alone until I was sure it worked OK, then maybe a baked enamel for the metal and flat black paint on that wood.

HTH....

 

[DrDremel]

I have had good luck with the Brownells bake on finishes. Thanks for the info, just wanted to make sure it was not a design with some major flaws.