To what grit or polish level should an rifle be taken to when rust bluing like pre war rifles?

I understand there are different levels of finish when rust blueing.

Don't know what the pre war guns usually were.

I don't know if I worded that correctly or not. Hopefully it makes sense.

Allen

I go to 400.

I go to 320 or 400, 400 looks nicer. Finish off with a grey scotchbrite hand pad to blend & smooth it out.
As to how Pre War guns were finished I'm not sure, maybe 320.

I go to 400 also.

metal,

Who's/what bluing solution do you use?

Hi Craigster, I use Gun Goddess by Jim Baiar, Half Moon Rifle Shop. Top stuff.
I would like to try Bobster's one day too.
Cheers.

I've pretty much been using Gun Goddess as well. I sometimes use Laurel Mtn, which works pretty well also.

Using up to 400 or 600 grt. for preping, but once you start the bluing process use a fine cording wheel. I get mine from Brownells..I use Mark Lees rust blue solution, its a little more aggressive than those mentioned and it works real well without a cabinet but I use a cabinet with a 25 watt light bulb only and blue on clear dry days. you can dip it in a hot water tank or actually just pour hot boiling water on it as you spin the barrel by hand. Sometimes I cord the polished metal before I put on the first coat of blue, it gives the blue something to attach too and a nice slightly satin finish.

Its almost more trouble than it worth to me, considering some of those guys out there can do such a good job with a hot blue..D'Arcy Echols uses some guy that hot blues so well that its incredible, and it apparantly last forever?