Used guns - do you trust them?

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Idahou

Idahou

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As always, im thinking about my next gun - this time Beretta 92 compact - and deciding between new and surplus.

So just for curiosity - assuming you chceked the gun, there are no red flags, round count is for reassobla numbers and you bought it from decent source: How much do you trust to used gun?
Would you carry, grab it in case of apocalypse or its just range toy for you or test before you buy new one?

I do have surplus Beretta M71 in 22LR, bought just for fun time at range but now i actually sometimes carry it when i cant/dont want carry my 9mm APX. I do believe it will shoot, so far it was reliable, yet im not that comfortbale to carry one in chamber - i would say thats little bit silly in this case, because its singla action only and with manual safety

My Vz 58 is also surplus and it fail me once (trigger group pin got loose and internals jammed bolt to upper while shooting), the stock and front handguard were wobly and overal i "upgraded" it with duck tape, anti slip plate, some junk metal and nickle wire. Still i do believe it will not blow in my face and its my primary rifle - mostly because i still dindt find rifle what would suit me better and this one was cheap

So how about you?
 
There are different "used" guns

Used as in trade in, low mileage and military surplus,
Some of the Mil Surplus are completely arsenal refurbished

To broad of a question and to many variables

Most of my guns are used, I go over them completely and usually change recoil springs, hammer springs, mag springs. Then test them out at the range

I have had new guns fail more often then they should,
 
Lets see...I trust the guns I have kept.

My Daewoo DP51 was in almost un fired condition, so its good to go.
Same for the Beretta M1951.
Super Star B in 9mm Largo is for the range only, fun gun to shoot. No problems thus far.

Most used guns that i have had have been reliable. If they are not, then off they go.
 
My procedure for a used gun:
1) full disassembly & close inspection & thorough cleaning
2) functional test with dummy rounds / snap caps (rifles also get a headspace check and a primer ignition check)
3) live-fire function test at indoor range (where people can call 911 if the gun blows up) (rifles first shot is with a half-load cartridge)
4) close inspection of fired casings and gun's open action after firing
5) if 100% success with #1 - #4 then, yes, I do fully trust a used gun just as much as I'd trust a new gun*

*the new gun gets pretty much the same treatment except #1 may follow #4 in sequence.
 
Ignition Override said:
Your VZ must have had worn out parts used by the Czech Army?
Click to expand...
Handguard is worn out, but i like that beaver barf so i did salvage it instead replacing, folding stock was either worn or filled little bit too much after repainting - so just stuck some piece of metal on back of receiver. The main problem - walking pin - was caused by refurbish. That lever which holds pin was out of place, after repair, it sliped away again. Hopefully its now solved by glue + duct tape that prevents pins walking out the receiver :D
Everything else was like new gun after few trips on range
 
I’d trust a decent condition surplus before I’d trust a normal used.

Generally, a not-too-abused police or military surplus firearm can give you a pretty good idea of the condition of the piece by external wear n’ tear.

With your average gun ship civilian trade in, you can have a pristine gun that may have had all kinds of crap done to it by the kitchen table gunsmith. Dremel tool trigger work, WD-40 soaked action, red loctited screws, the list is almost endless of the things I’ve seen dummies do to guns.

Nothing worse than buying what you think is a really nice unmolested firearm that looks great in the shop window, but has been touched by Bubba’s “wisdom” in some lamentable fashion.

Police and military, whether foreign or domestic, are unlikely to do these sorts of things to guns they handle. Beat them up, sure, but most guns in that role will survive quite a bit of that before issues arise.
 
Much depends on the seller. If it is a local gun or pawn shop, they will tell me what they know and stand behind it. If it is offered by a private party, I ask about function, confirm that it seems in good working order, and make sure I have good contact information. If the gun does not appear to be well treated and maintained, I assume that work will be needed and it must be priced accordingly.
 
When you could sell Guns on Facebook, I had 100% luck! fiction and clean. Used guns from Pawn and LGS, 20% had issues, and Now I only buy new
 
The majority of my guns were bought new. But many were used. I'll usually check it out thoroughly, see how it was used/abused, and ask a lot of questions. Never had an issue or even had cause to think anybody lied.
 
I trust some of my most used guns much more than would trust ANY new gun.

I won’t carry a firearm for protection unless I have used it. The only firearms I am likely to have been the first to fire a bullet from would likely be one I built myself. Most all of the rest were probably at least test fired. These days, they collect samples for .gov https://www.encyclopedia.com/social...me-and-law-enforcement/ballistic-fingerprints
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/ne...t-ballistic-standard-helps-tie-guns-criminals

Kind of like finger printing your baby when it comes out of Mom. Not all States require it, despite that fact, the MFG’s seem to do it anyway.
 
I generally trust them assuming the condition looks acceptable. There are lots of used guns out there with a few boxes or less of ammo through them. Usually you can tell if a gun was cared for and how much use it has seen with a few decent pictures. It is always kind of a crap shoot since a gun can look OK but have many hidden problems, but that is generally the exception.
 
idahou:
Am glad to read that the VZ’s mechanical function is fine.

I’ve only bought gun “brands” which are known to have the best quality control.

If wear on a Used gun is very moderate, based on photos, I don’t worry about them:

Imported AKMs, Izhevsk .380 Makarov, German (made) Sig P-225 & P-228, CZ PCR, CZ-82, S&W 3rd/4th Gen (semi-auto) SKS etc.
 
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Jeff62 said:
Most of my guns are used, previously owned. With a thorough inspection, spring kit when applicable, shooting/function test, yes no problem
Click to expand...

Same here. All of my used weapons are Smith & Wesson revolvers, and have been inspected and function tested by me. Most have been or will go to my Gunsmith for his check over and improvements for good measure.
 
It comes down to this: Would anyone resell a rifle or pistol that they know has a problem, or potential safety issue without telling the store or person shopping?

If you are confident that all used guns in the marketplace are GTG, there's your answer.

One of my favorites in a gun thread: the large number of owners, many of which have little experience that choose to blame a magazine or ammo problem on the gun itself. A wise man once said, "am I doing something wrong or is the equipment at fault?" Learn how stuff works, and leave the drama at the door. If a small spring can fly across your room, it might happen to you, try learning how others limit that possibility.

Back on topic.
 
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Let's see-milsurps are always "used", police trade-ins are always "used" yet people jump for joy when they find them. There is a problem with magazines with older guns, especially limited production ones, long discontinued ones-the Virginian Dragoon, e.g., spare parts are extremely rare. Back in the day when the gun magazines were the source of information, they regularly ran articles on how to check used handguns. Only used handgun I had a problem with was my Dan Wesson Model 12, the transfer bar broke, the gun shop owner/gunsmith I bought it from sent it back to the factory under warranty-he had sold it to the original buyer.
 
Hey would you buy a used car? I have gotten plenty of them some were so so but there were a couple I should have kept same with firearms. Had a prewar mauser from my uncle Jack a bring back from WWll really nice rifle stupidly traded off.
 
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