Behind the Scenes: Custom Shotgun Graphics Like You’ve Never Seen

If you have experience with custom Cerakote, laser engraving, or shotgun finishes, please let us know your thoughts in the  TFL COMMUNITY!

Behind the Scenes with DeadEye Finishings

We rolled into DeadEye Finishing with a mission: to get four shotguns customized—two for Target Focused LIVE shows and two for Shotgun Fest 2025 prizes. Leading the charge was Mike, the owner and finishing wizard, who welcomed us into the shop and helped talk through the designs.

The standouts of the bunch?

1. A Mossberg 940 Pro that will go to the fastest shooter in our Fastest Five challenge.

2. A high-overall trophy gun with a Shotgun Fest colorway so bold, you might need sunglasses just to look at it.

We kicked off by tearing down the guns—every pin, every spring. I was surprised by how deep they go in the disassembly process. Even the trigger groups were stripped to avoid contamination during sandblasting.

After degreasing and sandblasting (yes, I got to do some blasting myself), it was time for the real artistry. First up was the camo gun, which involved layering Cerakote coats with individually printed stencils. It’s a process that requires patience, precision, and a sharp eye for detail. Meanwhile, the receiver on the trophy gun got a gradient fade from orange to yellow to match our Shotgun Fest branding. Risky? Maybe. But the result was 🔥.

Then came the hiccup. Our initial laser engraving on the trophy stock didn’t turn out like we hoped—it cut through too much of the Cerakote. But Mike and the team didn’t miss a beat. They sandblasted, refinished, and nailed it the second time around. That quick pivot is a testament to their craftsmanship.

By the end of the day, we had two showstoppers. The vintage camo gun featured deep laser-engraved ducks and green accents that made it pop. The Shotgun Fest trophy gun? A little flashy, a little bold—and absolutely unforgettable.

Summary: Steve’s Take

Spending the day at DeadEye Finishings was an eye-opener. I’ve had guns done by them before, but I’d never seen the full process from start to finish. What really stood out was how meticulous the team is—from stripping each gun to the bare bones, to the thoughtful layering of each Cerakote coat, to the willingness to redo a mistake until it was perfect.

That said, not everything goes perfectly on the first try—and that’s part of the charm. Watching a hiccup get turned into an even better end result showed the heart of the operation. These guys care. A lot.

My favorite? Hard to say, but the camo gun stole my heart. I want another just like it. The trophy gun is show-stopping and turned out better than expected, though it might be too pretty to drag into the duck blind.

If you’re looking to turn your shotgun from plain to insane, DeadEye Finishings delivers the goods—and then some.

Seen a cool Cerakote job or got one of your own? Share it with the TFL COMMUNITY and let us know what customizations you’re dreaming up next.

And remember…

Whether targets in the field or targets in life, we will only hit what we're focused on, so live the #targetfocusedlife 

Steve Gould