Looking at getting 4 of my shotguns coated, a Beretta a391 eXtrema 2, 870 Wingmaster, 870 Express and 870 Express Youth 20 gauge. All guns are used almost exclusively in the salt, so they're being coated purely for functional reasons. The Beretta is my daily use gun, the 870 Youth is my sons gun and I may want to do some kind of pattern/camo on those, but the other 2 will be solid colors. Here's my questions
1. I've done some research and it looks pretty darn easy to do yourself, but I wonder how long a DIY project would hold up versus a professional job. Any of you guys done it and how have they held up after heavy use in salt water?
2. My biggest question. The Beretta has some surface rust that wiped clean but always returns, and the Wingmaster is pitted. Loaned it to a buddy and he left it in a wet case for 6 months before getting it back to me. Was my dad's gun and I'll never speak to the guy again, but that's another story. Anyways, should I sandblast the rusty guns before the coat is applied?
3. Can the trigger assembly be coated?
4. Who is a good applicator in either the Houston or San Antonio area? Keep in mind, I'm a practical kinda guy and don't need an artist working on my gun for top dollar.
5. Advantages between Duracoating and Cerakoting? My barrel doesn't usually get too burned up, but every once in a while I'll take it to a skeet range and put a couple hundred rounds through it and warm her up pretty good. Dove hunts can get some pretty fast shooting too

Thanks a lot for the tips guys!

I've done duracoat on a few guns. It's very easy to apply and holds up very well, although I'm not around salt much so I can't speak about how well it holds up in that environment. I'm not sure what to do on the pitted gun.

I'd do it myself if I were you.

I've used duracoat with good results so far. If you are doing multiple guns you can get the spray can stuff for 50 bucks or so and do 2 or 3 guns. Prep work is key with duracoat so take your time. I hear cerakote is better,but I've never used it.

I know people diy, but you can see a quality difference. Some home people do good work, but they have been doing it for a while

I have several rifles cerakoted and about five 1911's. I am not real familiar with duracoat, I believe Derrick @ Horizon duracoats and I have two of his rifles and they are holding up very well. What I can't speak of is the baking, cerakoat is a baked on finish. Talk to Derrick, what he has done for me is excellent. A friend has a cerakote business in Amarillo is why I more familiar with it. Maybe both are very similar but I tend to let someone who really knows what they are doing with my weapons.

Finally found this. I guess that answers one of my questions

http://oregunshooters.com/manufacturer-spotlight/cerakote-firearm-coatings/

moly-resin. Ken at Kenz Kustomz in Gun Barrel City can fill you in. He did a 1911 for me 3 years ago and it looks and functions as good today as it did when I got it back from him.

We actually use KG its a competitor to Cerakote and I think it is better. We only use Durakote for stock painting, its really good for that but don't love it on the barrels

In my research that I've done, that's what I've been hearing. If I were to cerakote the receiver and barrel and Duracoat the stock, would the color & texture be noticeably different?