Used guns - do you trust them?

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LeftyRed

As was typical, several years ago on Armslist (when the website was reasonable) every handgun, or rifle, I bought in those Face-To-Face (FTF) deals showed No signs of any alterations or much wear.
All of them worked out fine, even though there was no chance to shoot them before giving the cash to the seller..

Of course I could not test them - these were low traffic areas (outer corners) of Gander Mountain and McDonald's parking lots! :scrutiny:
 
Let's see, now,
STI shot in yesterday's USPSA bought second hand mail order unknown round count. Needed only trigger adjustment to my likes.
Ruger LC9s hideout gun bought at dealer, original owner traded it in because his wife did not like it. Got her Glock 43, too.
Sig P226 CPO home defense gun ordered by dealer.

Several others but these are the ones I count on.

The only faulty used gun was a S&W .22-32 Kit Gun. I think Bubba had been into it and I did not notice at the store. Repair wiped out the used gun price savings but it is fine now. I sold it to my gunsmith who shot a snake with it last week.
 
I trust them if I know enough about to them to check them out effectively. Some guns I know enough about to buy used--some I don't.
 
Interesting, i wouldnt guess there will be so many trust for used guns.

I know, its mechanical tool made to last (unlike 90% of other goods) i just got little bit itchy if im going to use, lets say, decocker on used gun or safety. We have quit strict laws about proofing firearms so im not worry about surplus guns from dealers exploding or something like that (but i test fire tham as carefully as can), just about that secondary things whats probably arent that much look at

But nice thing about used guns is that expectation arent that high and generally its more likely that i will adjust that gun to my liking - paint job, duct tape improvments and so...
 
Sometimes you can't fire a used gun before purchase so buyer beware. If I can inspect it, check out the action and look down the barrel I would feel comfortable.

If it's a revolver with a very light action I may take a chance if I can see that the strain screw has been modified. In that case it may just need to be tightened for the gun to work. Too light of an action is a no-no.

Once I buy it and run 100 rounds out of it I will trust it.
 
I haven't found a gun I couldn't "fix" yet, and trust is earned. If I LIKE a gun and it dosent have obvious signs of bad damage, neglect, or mutilation, and even then sometimes......ill buy it.
 
Ninety percent of my guns were bought used. My first three were new because I wasn't confident I had enough knowledge to properly inspect them. Some used revolvers I was able to inspect in person and some bought online. I don't buy used guns online that show any signs of abuse or neglect and I check out the sellers info and reviews. I contact the seller for more pictures or with questions. If I don't get a response from the seller I don't buy. Only one gun failed to function properly and Ruger fixed it for no charge. So yes, I trust used guns after inspection and testing.
 
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dranrab said:
I have been using online forums for two decades. I cannot tell you how many times I have see a gun owner essentially gloat that they sent a problem or an inaccurate gun "down the road." Realize that when you buy a used one.
Click to expand...
"Caveat emptor"
 
dranrab said:
I have been using online forums for two decades. I cannot tell you how many times I have see a gun owner essentially gloat that they sent a problem or an inaccurate gun "down the road." Realize that when you buy a used one.
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Same goes for anything used and if you know what to look for or have somebody with you that does it is not a problem.
 
Used gun are like used cars you got to have a good eye for seeing the good ones. I guess I don't have that eye because I've gotten burned a few times & had to sell them off for less than I paid for them, the same goes for cars. LOL
 
Idahou said:
But nice thing about used guns is that expectation arent that high and generally its more likely that i will adjust that gun to my liking - paint job, duct tape improvments and so...
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My expectations for used guns are HIGHER than for new guns. That's why I buy them. I like the way they were built in their day better than how current guns are built. BTW, I've had 22 that I bought used that were built in your country (assuming your country is the one in your listed location.) Only one had any issues when I received it, and that was because the seller sent me the wrong gun out of two similar ones that he had listed.
 
I’ve owned hundreds of guns over my lifetime and have only bought one complete firearm brand new.

The only problems I have faced were poor accuracy which is probably why the gun was for sale in the first place. No functional problems ever. I am pretty good at inspecting firearms from working at a pawnbroker for a number of years and I would become proficient in that before you buy anything used.
 
^^ In other words, never buy a used gun you can't hold, inspect and fire. Who would buy a used car without driving it first?
 
I buy used guns all the time. No big deal. You just have to learn how to shop for them, what to look for and what your non-negotiables are.


Otto said:
^^ In other words, never buy a used gun you can't hold, inspect and fire. Who would buy a used car without driving it first?
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When possible but it rarely is.
 
Otto said:
^^ In other words, never buy a used gun you can't hold, inspect and fire. Who would buy a used car without driving it first?
Click to expand...

I'm glad that works for you. I would not have many of the fine used and milsurp guns in my collection had I insisted on holding, inspecting, and firing them before purchase. And I did buy a classic used car sight unseen and undriven. It's in my garage at the moment, no regrets.
 
My favorite pastime is going around to gun stores to see what's on consignment, haggle a little on price and then more often then not I go home with a "new to me" gun. Sometimes I find some real gems. For some reason I find new/recent guns boring for the most part. Finding some older history pieces are a lot more fun to buy. Hence a big part of my collection was used when I bought them. Not all, but probably 80% of them.
 
Isn’t the main concern, if regarding modern guns- whether:

A) a previous owner did internal modifications,

B) or swapped a component Without telling the buyer?

This general idea has been my only skepticism with modern guns.

With older types, the odds certainly multiply.
 
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IMO you can trust any used 44 mag revolver. My experience is that a person will buy one, shoot one to two cylinders of full load and then trade it in for a 9mm. Therefore any 44 mag, no matter how old will have only had a max of 50 rounds through it.:):):):)
FWIW I have one in my present collection, a SA blackhawk with a 7-1/2" barrel. I sold the S&W that had a 4" barrel. Guess why?:eek::eek:
OBTW I still have a 1/2 box of 44 Mag ammo.:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
 
epags said:
IMO you can trust any used 44 mag revolver. My experience is that a person will buy one, shoot one to two cylinders of full load and then trade it in for a 9mm. Therefore any 44 mag, no matter how old will have only had a max of 50 rounds through it.:):):):)
FWIW I have one in my present collection, a SA blackhawk with a 7-1/2" barrel. I sold the S&W that had a 4" barrel. Guess why?:eek::eek:
OBTW I still have a 1/2 box of 44 Mag ammo.:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
Click to expand...
A gun shop I used to frequent had a 460 Weatherby magnum with a box of factory ammo that would occasionally disappear off the rack for a few weeks. It would invariably return with 2-3 rounds missing from the box. He sold and rebought that gun at least four times.
 
Idahou said:
so many trust for used guns.
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You might be better off, over in Czechia, your owners are going to be a bit more dedicated and committed to keeping their arms "good."

Now, that will have a flip side, too. If you can only have nn guns on your license, a person might be inclined to resell a less-than good firearm, rather than tinker with it.

Don't know which way to call that coin flip.
 
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