Seeing the "your best deal" threads had me thinking about the other side of the coin. I've been fortunate not to overpay, although I've definitely paid top dollar a few times when I could have done better. Anybody care to share stories where they didn't realize what they had or got the shaft from an unscrupulous seller?
Worst firearms deal you ever made?
- Thread starter gp911
- Start date
- Status
Liberty1776
Member
I've thought about this post a lot, and actually I've been very lucky - 40 years buying (and selling) and the only complain is a Winchester 69 .22 with a bad sear, but I only paid like $35 for it, so I guess I've had a great run. (I can't count the Century Arms L1A1 that was assembled in their drunk monkey shop, because they all were...)
ApacheCoTodd
member
As posted in: What were your all time great gun deals/steals?
A nearly new CZ99 for a case of Bacardi and two tires for a Volkswagen Golf.
Bringing it back to America was... problematic.
A nearly new CZ99 for a case of Bacardi and two tires for a Volkswagen Golf.
Bringing it back to America was... problematic.
First rifle I purchased was an Ishapore Enfield 7.62mm for I think about $100 in the late 90's. Except for shooting .22's at summer camp when I was a little kid, I was pretty ignorant when it came to firearms. I bought the Enfield thinking it would be a cheap, fun plinker.
Took it out to the desert and loaded 10 rounds of 7.62 in the magazine. Fired one shot and blew up a big pile of dirt. That was the last shot the rifle ever fired. The brass had expanded in the chamber and would not eject for anything. It took quite a bit of force later at home to get the spent round out.
Took it to a gunsmith who said it looked like the Pakistani's had put 50,000 rounds through that rifle and it would cost 2 or 3 times the value of the gun to put but in good working order. Cost me another $25 for him to look at it.
I ended up throwing it away.
About 7 years later I bought my second gun and first pistol, a brand new Colt 1911. I made out considerably better on that one.
Took it out to the desert and loaded 10 rounds of 7.62 in the magazine. Fired one shot and blew up a big pile of dirt. That was the last shot the rifle ever fired. The brass had expanded in the chamber and would not eject for anything. It took quite a bit of force later at home to get the spent round out.
Took it to a gunsmith who said it looked like the Pakistani's had put 50,000 rounds through that rifle and it would cost 2 or 3 times the value of the gun to put but in good working order. Cost me another $25 for him to look at it.
I ended up throwing it away.
About 7 years later I bought my second gun and first pistol, a brand new Colt 1911. I made out considerably better on that one.
MedWheeler
Member
Two I sold years ago to pawn shops. Don't remember what I got for either the stainless PPK/S or the 659, but I'm sure it was pitiful.
As far as those I've purchased, I did have some regrets for a little while after paying $250 for a used Bersa Thunder 380 in 2008, when I started seeing them go for less than that afterward. But, I wouldn't necessarily say I got a bad deal, because I'm sure I could recoup that today.
As far as those I've purchased, I did have some regrets for a little while after paying $250 for a used Bersa Thunder 380 in 2008, when I started seeing them go for less than that afterward. But, I wouldn't necessarily say I got a bad deal, because I'm sure I could recoup that today.
Naybor
Member
Probably a Cobra 9 MM Derringer I bought a few years ago.
It was nearly impossible to pull the trigger and when it did go off it about tore up the hand. Awful!
I bought it at full price and after about 10 shots traded it off.
I'm sticking to anything with "Ruger" on it.
It was nearly impossible to pull the trigger and when it did go off it about tore up the hand. Awful!
I bought it at full price and after about 10 shots traded it off.
I'm sticking to anything with "Ruger" on it.
NosaMSirhC
Member
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2009
- Messages
- 58
Trading a H&K USP .40 Compact for a Springfield XD .45 plus cash my way. I have three other USP's.
Traded off the XD one week later toward my Glock 23 which ironically is my carry gun.
Making lemons out of lemonade.
This was 4 years ago and I will NEVER do another horse trade for a gun again.
Be Safe!
NosaM
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD
Traded off the XD one week later toward my Glock 23 which ironically is my carry gun.
Making lemons out of lemonade.
This was 4 years ago and I will NEVER do another horse trade for a gun again.
Be Safe!
NosaM
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD
primalmu
Member
Trading a CZ75 Semi-compact in at a LGS toward an XD40. The XD was a great gun, I just wish I had sold the CZ outright rather than lose money on the trade...
swalton1943
Member
bought a jennings .22 for $100. took it to my daughters' place; third shot it blew up in my hand. minor burns, but a piece of metal hit the center of my glasses lens. new glasses and loss of $100; bought the gun at a gunshow. no way to get a refund!!!!
As far as a monetary deal, I guess you could say the gun I just bought. It was a DPMS Tac-20. It was used, but it had some upgrades. I paid about $400 more than what is was worth during this current craze. I'd wanted that gun for a long time, and over-paying for it now was worth more to me than the slight chance that I might never be able to buy it again. Other than that, I bought a few guns a few years ago that I ended up selling about a year later. They were guns that I bought just to have, and I wish I had spent the money on something else now.
JRH6856
Member
In spite of the known problems, I wanted a Ruger Ranch Rifle in 6.8 SPC. Then Ruger quit making them and I couldn't find one anywhere. I finally found a never fired one in December so I bought it and not at a bargain price. Then I got busy with the holidays and got sick with the flu and by the time I got well and felt like looking for ammo the panic was on and there was none to be had. And no brass, primers, or bullets. So I've got a gun that I haven't shot and probably won't be able to shoot for maybe a year.
OilyPablo
Member
They have some, but it goes fast: http://www.ssarmory.com/index.aspx
Worst deal? Nothing too nasty. I bought a Glock 20C, when I could have chosen a 20SF. Price was OK, though. My Colt Trooper III, the guy said it worked great but had some real issues. He out and out lied to me. Again the price was fine, I fixed it like new and was good experience for me. Maybe just recently - I started bidding on GB for a CZ-82, low bid, and then I figured I wouldn't win that one, so I bid on another.........long story short I ended up buying two CZ-82's. Just picked them up on Friday. I detail cleaned them both - they are both in great shape - and I only have two boxes of 9X18!
commygun
Member
Noble 33 pump action .22. Bought it off some random dude at a gun show and it was seriously defective. There's no way the guy couldn't have known if he even tried to fire it once. I ended up chopping it. In 25 years of gun deals that's the only time I've been lied to.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Never a bad deal on the purchase of a firearm ... at least to my recollection. Some I found I didn't like and eventually sold or traded off, but the purchase wasn't a "bad deal."
Selling is a different story. I sold a couple of guns that I later found had far higher market value than I thought. One example: sold a very nice Ruger SuperRedhawk with Leupold scope for less than the gun was worth alone. I was young(er) and less wise in those days ...
Selling is a different story. I sold a couple of guns that I later found had far higher market value than I thought. One example: sold a very nice Ruger SuperRedhawk with Leupold scope for less than the gun was worth alone. I was young(er) and less wise in those days ...
DC3-CVN-72
Member
I paid full MSRP for a RUGER M/77-.357 MAG. When it was anounced I was first on the list. I'M glad I did. 
wally
Member
Buying a factory freash Chiappa 1911-22 Total POS out of the box. I had to pay to send it back for "warranty" repair -- came back if anything worse.
Finally a steel insert that is the striking face of the hammer went flying off into never-never land rending the pistol totally unable to fire.
Finally a steel insert that is the striking face of the hammer went flying off into never-never land rending the pistol totally unable to fire.
Njal Thorgeirsson
Member
Although its not the worst deal imaginable, especially in the current climate, I paid $700 for a Saiga 12 in 2011. I could probably sell it for that or more right now, but it is a really fun toy, and I am somewhat happy because I can still buy 12 gauge at wal-mart or nearly anywhere else, so I guess I'm one of the minority who can still shoot an evil black "assault weapon" all I want at a pre-panic price. Still, its a piece of stamped metal and unrefined plastic that could once be had for less than $300.
Deus Machina
Member
Selling a Marlin 60 and a Maverick 88 20" and case for $125 together. It was literally sell right now or not pay the rent before they start telling me to hit the bricks.
stantheman1976
Member
February of last year was the first time I've actually bough a gun. I owned several but they were all gifts over time or ones I inherited.
I had a few hundred dollars burning a hole in my pocket and having seen recent news stories of random shootings in Mexican restaurants and Cracker Barrels I decided I was going to buy a small pistol and get my CFL.
So I went to a local pawn shop with the intent to buy a .380 without having actually done the research I should have. I ended up buying a used Taurus TCP 738 for $225 and a box of S&B ammo for $20. Then I looked at the Academy ads a couple days later and the Taurus was $199 new. So I didn't get ripped off THAT bad, but it did sting a little, especially after the Taurus couldn't shoot straight and had tons of FTE's. I ended up selling it pretty cheap with full disclosure of any issues.
I did learn from my mistake though. I applied for my CFL and while I waited I researched every choice out there and I also took the safety class required to get my MS Enhanced Carry endorsement. It took 45 days for my license to come in the mail and every one of those days I read intently and learned everything I could.
I ended up buying a Ruger SR9c and LC9. They both were reliable, priced well, and had safety features I was looking for. Some people don't like the thumb safeties and mag disconnect safeties but being a father it made sense to have as many safety features as possible.
The only issue I had was not buying the right belt and holster at first like I should have. I had to go through a few to find the right ones.
I had a few hundred dollars burning a hole in my pocket and having seen recent news stories of random shootings in Mexican restaurants and Cracker Barrels I decided I was going to buy a small pistol and get my CFL.
So I went to a local pawn shop with the intent to buy a .380 without having actually done the research I should have. I ended up buying a used Taurus TCP 738 for $225 and a box of S&B ammo for $20. Then I looked at the Academy ads a couple days later and the Taurus was $199 new. So I didn't get ripped off THAT bad, but it did sting a little, especially after the Taurus couldn't shoot straight and had tons of FTE's. I ended up selling it pretty cheap with full disclosure of any issues.
I did learn from my mistake though. I applied for my CFL and while I waited I researched every choice out there and I also took the safety class required to get my MS Enhanced Carry endorsement. It took 45 days for my license to come in the mail and every one of those days I read intently and learned everything I could.
I ended up buying a Ruger SR9c and LC9. They both were reliable, priced well, and had safety features I was looking for. Some people don't like the thumb safeties and mag disconnect safeties but being a father it made sense to have as many safety features as possible.
The only issue I had was not buying the right belt and holster at first like I should have. I had to go through a few to find the right ones.
- Status
